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Hard Times

Original title: Holy Water
  • 2009
  • R
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
John Lynch, Dermot Crowley, Lochlann O'Mearáin, Cian Barry, and Cornelius Clarke in Hard Times (2009)
The village of Kilcoulins Leap was once a thriving spa town, and was home to a famous Holy Well, but now offers little by way of employment for its people, and its decline seems inexorable. When local Postie, Podger Byrnes, comes up with a plan to hijack a consignment of Viagra, and sell it on the open market in Amsterdam, his friends are desperate enough to try it. Not counting on the muscular response of Viagra's makers, the boys panic and hide the lorry load of Viagra down the town's Holy Well.
Play trailer2:32
1 Video
11 Photos
CaperDark ComedyComedyCrime

The town of Kilcoulin's Leap will never be the same after a down-on-his-luck mailman botches a get-rich-quick scheme.The town of Kilcoulin's Leap will never be the same after a down-on-his-luck mailman botches a get-rich-quick scheme.The town of Kilcoulin's Leap will never be the same after a down-on-his-luck mailman botches a get-rich-quick scheme.

  • Director
    • Tom Reeve
  • Writer
    • Michael O'Mahony
  • Stars
    • John Lynch
    • Cornelius Clarke
    • Lochlann O'Mearáin
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    3.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Tom Reeve
    • Writer
      • Michael O'Mahony
    • Stars
      • John Lynch
      • Cornelius Clarke
      • Lochlann O'Mearáin
    • 31User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Holy Water
    Trailer 2:32
    Holy Water

    Photos10

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    Top Cast26

    Edit
    John Lynch
    John Lynch
    • Tom Gaffney
    Cornelius Clarke
    • Podger Byrnes
    Lochlann O'Mearáin
    Lochlann O'Mearáin
    • Donal O'Connell
    • (as Lochlann O'Mearain)
    Cian Barry
    Cian Barry
    • Sean Casey
    Susan Lynch
    Susan Lynch
    • Geraldine Gaffney
    Deirdre Mullins
    Deirdre Mullins
    • Kate Mulvey
    Linda Hamilton
    Linda Hamilton
    • Cory Williams
    Tom Lister Jr.
    Tom Lister Jr.
    • SixPac Jordan
    • (as Tommy 'Tiny' Lister)
    Stanley Townsend
    Stanley Townsend
    • Inspector Brian Hogan
    Angeline Ball
    Angeline Ball
    • PC Anne Mooney
    Ray Callaghan
    • Uncle Tim
    Frank Dunne
    • Old Ned Lynch
    Dermot Crowley
    Dermot Crowley
    • Father Grogan
    Pascal Scott
    • Mihal Casey
    Marianne March
    Marianne March
    • Sheila Casey
    Lisa Catara
    Lisa Catara
    • Kimberley Lopez
    Dara Clear
    • Pat
    Conor Moloney
    • Mike
    • Director
      • Tom Reeve
    • Writer
      • Michael O'Mahony
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews31

    5.93.1K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    7g-hbe

    Fairly decent, sort-of.

    A group of Irish mates can see no future in their village, so they decide to get rich quick by hi-jacking the Pfizer van as it picks up a vast consignment of Viagra tablets, or 'shag the missus pills' as they like to call them. Needless to say their plans go awry and in a panic they hide their spoils down a local well, and when the canisters begin to leak, the locals get a bit of a lift... and with the Americans turning up to see what's going on there's plenty of scope for lots of running around and even more panic. A good natured, lightweight, middle of the road comedy.
    6PinkPuffin

    Not as good as I had hoped, but still entertaining

    It's been a long time since I saw an Irish film, so when I came across this, I thought I'd give it a go.

    I was however, underwhelmed. I didn't laugh once. The characters' plan and execution was just too ridiculous to believe (think Allo Allo), and the main characters seemed a bit over acted. It's a shame, because I think the entire storyline could have been done so much better! I don't think it was a complete waste of time though, and would recommend if you want to turn off your brain for the evening and just want something a bit different.
    6StarPolymer

    Not a masterpiece but quite funny

    This is a great movie for a rainy Tuesday evening. It's not a masterpiece and the storyline has no great dept but the actors are putting in a great effort to make this movie enjoyable.

    It does start a bit slow but picks up speed towards the end. If you however are one for bold American comedies, this is not for you. It's more a giggle here and there. That fact that there is a happy ending (no pun intended) that is rather unbelievable but wholesome nonetheless helps. It did rush through the last bit though and after the slow start in the beginning I sort of expected more. Good bit of fun though.
    8rkeen80

    A fun, feel-good movie

    In a sleepy Irish village, nothing much is happening and the only exciting part of everyone's week is when the local band play in the pub. Then with job cuts and no prospects of financial security, local postman, Podger Burns (Cornelius Clarke), hatches a plan to hijack a shipment of Viagra and together with his band-mates (John Lynch, Lochlainn O Mearin, Cian Barry), the heist is set in motion. This is a fun film. It reminded me a little of A Fish Called Wanda, Waking Ned and many of the old Ealing Comedies. Full of Irish character actors, bursting with charm, good performances, this is an ideal way to spend 90 minutes. There are some truly comic moments and the dialogue cracks along. There's something for everyone here.
    8yris2002

    extremely amusing

    A small, sleepy Irish town, on wonderful cliffs, some funny characters, a comic plot bursting with gags and sound fun and the movie appeals, in every sense. If you want to enjoy a truly amusing picture, full of humanity, sounding picturesque but never grotesque, take a chance on "Holy water". You will spend 90 minutes in good company, with those realistic and true characters that only movies like these have (see for example the French "Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis" to find a similar authentic cast), not being ruined by Linda Hamilton and company coming from the great Hollywood environment, on the contrary they amalgamate very well, to create a pleasant and always familiar atmosphere. Another enthusiastic, exciting, and authentic Irish-made comedy.

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    Related interests

    Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, and Elliott Gould in Ocean's Eleven (2001)
    Caper
    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Included in the credits are some recipes! Seriously - about 5 recipes. Bizarre.
    • Quotes

      Podger Byrnes: The American Swat Fellas, You should see the big fella they have with them. God! the big black fella he took out a big sniffer, and waived it all over me.

      Donal O'Connell: Yeagh! Well, will be seeing a lot more of that in prison!

    • Crazy credits
      Coq au Vin (serves 6) 1 Large Coq 18 shallots, 1 Bouquet Garni 1 litre Coq Stock 200 g diced back bacon 6 cloves garlic, 1 bottle of Merlot Method: Have your butcher prepare your Coq into 8 joints. Fry your coq pieces until a lovely golden colour forms, set aside. Fry bacon, add garlic and then shallots until a lovely golden colour emerges. Add above ingredients to your lovely golden Coq and keep frying in a casserole dish. Pour on Coq stock and bring to boil, add wine, put a lid back on and simmer, then... do the laundry, collect kids from school, do more groceries, rant and rave at the state of the traffic and congestion charges. Rush home, put youngest kid on naughty step. Cry briefly in laundry room, set table and Serve Coq with crusty bread... Then make pasta and ketchup because the kids don't like it. Give up, have a drink, and go to bed crying. Feck the dishes, you are nobody's slave!
    • Connections
      Featured in The Wright Stuff: Episode #12.25 (2010)

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    FAQ15

    • How long is Hard Times?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 2013 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Waters Rising
    • Filming locations
      • Devon, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Centurion
      • Feature Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $148,498
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 34m(94 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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