Cillian Murphy's best ever performance in 'perfect gem' of a film now streaming
Prime Video has added a masterpiece drama film to its streaming service, which some fans believe features Cillian Murphy's 'best ever performance'
Amazon Prime has recently added what's been hailed as a 'perfect gem' to its catalogue, showcasing a film that has led some to declare Cillian Murphy's performance as his 'best ever'.
The film causing such buzz is the poignant Small Things Like These, especially remarkable as it follows just a year after Oppenheimer, for which Murphy garnered an Oscar. The 2024 release is now among the dynamic array of titles in the vast Amazon streaming collection.
Set against the backdrop of 1985, the movie sees coal merchant Bill Furlong, portrayed by Murphy, unravelling chilling secrets in an Irish town under the sway of the Roman Catholic Church. Based on Claire Keegan’s novella, published in 2021, the film draws from its multi-award-nominated literary blueprint.
The adaptation inherits its source material's acclaim, having secured a Booker Prize shortlist nod in 2022 and won the Orwell Prize for political fiction. Echoing this success, critics lavished praise upon the cinematic rendition, yielding a formidable 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Reviewers specifically pointed out Murphy's stellar acting and the film's masterful subtlety as principal reasons to watch, reports Surrey Live.
One critic stated: "Small Things Like These is beautifully observed and deftly assembled. It is furious without raising its voice, and heartbreaking without ever resorting to melodrama. This film is an absolute gem, and you'll be happy you saw it."
Another conveyed: "Depressing and claustrophobic, dealing with a traumatic past, this is a shattering story of redemption, a truly magnificent film."
Cinephiles are all abuzz on social media, marvelling at the stellar performance of the Peaky Blinders star.
Many are baffled as to why Cillian Murphy hasn't snagged an Oscar for two years straight, with one admirer posting online: "Best movie I've seen in a decade or more. Oscar worthy performance from Cillian Murphy."
Another fan expressed their admiration: "Cillian Murphy's brilliant performance elevates Small Things Like These into Oscar consideration."
Echoing that sentiment, someone else exclaimed: "Absolutely a perfect gem of a picture. Excellent acting by Murphy! Yes it does run slow but it follows the character's slow progression to take action on his feelings. Gosh I will watch this again!"
Furthermore, discussions have emerged amongst viewers about the potential benefits of reading the book prior to seeing the film. A viewer suggested it might have made the plot clearer, stating: "Powerful, thought provoking and mesmerising. Cillian Murphy is perfect in this role, of course! I do wish , however, I had read the book first as I had to unravel quite a bit of the story whilst watching , that isn't explained or obvious. Maybe that was deliberate though."
On the other hand, one individual argued that the film surpassed the book, saying: "I had read the book but found the film to be much more intense and powerful.
"I had known the story for many years but found the movie to be much more thought provoking. You didn't need to have the eventuality spelled out on the screen to know and feel what had actually transpired. The simple written message at the end was enough."
Small Things Like These is available to stream on Prime Video.