THIS is a very strong film. The scenes are powerful and emotional in many ways. It is generally accurate, although Ned Broy was not the main figure in gathering intelligence at Dublin Castle. It was David Neligan who put his life on the line, day in, day out, for Collins. And until the British sought a truce, they did not suspect Neligan. It is unfortunate that his name does not come into the film.
Neil Jordan had a lot of courage taking on this film. He must have known there were controversial things in it. It isn't easy to capture such a complicated period in celluloid in two hours. It is a violent film in places - but they were violent times.
Although Liam Neeson doesn't really look like Collins, he comes over as very genuine. When we were watching the film, someone said to me of Neeson: "God damn it, that could be your father walking down the street". My father was Collins's eldest brother.
The way the film is always showing Collins on a bicycle is absolutely accurate. He literally moved from one bolt-hole to another around the bay of Dublin. That's how he took on the British Empire. Every week, while Dev was in America, he cycled out to Greystones to visit Mrs Dev and bring her the Green Cross money. Even though Mrs Dev doesn't appear in the film, she and Collins were very close.
I disagree with people who say the film will give comfort to the IRA. Collins kept the fight to the fighting areas, whereas the IRA has committed countless acts of violence on civilians in the last 25 years. That sort of violence did not happen in Collins's time. It would have been anathema to him. He wanted to bring an end to hostilities. As we see in the film, Collins was delighted about the Truce, and eager to build up the country. He had great plans for the Irish economy.
The Civil War was hard for Collins. He was slow to turn against his own men. The film gets this across and I found it sad to watch. But it is a fantastic film and it will consolidate the part Collins played and the legacy he left.