--- title: "My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/my-left-foot-the-story-of-christy-brown/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/my-left-foot-the-story-of-christy-brown" critics_score: 88 critics_reviews: 8 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown (1989): what the critics said Critics' score 88 from 8 reviews: 8 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews are unanimous, and the praise clusters almost entirely around Daniel Day-Lewis. Most critics single out the precision of his re-creation of Christy Brown’s cerebral palsy and the absence of showiness: what comes through is a cussed, funny, hard-drinking man rather than an affliction. Hugh O’Conor, playing Brown as a boy, is named alongside him in several reviews, as are Ray McAnally and Brenda Fricker in support. Several also note that the film is funnier and earthier than its subject suggests, which is what keeps it from harrowing. Reservations are few and small. Time Out points out that the film takes liberties with Brown’s autobiography and adds a fictional character who works less well than the rest, the only structural complaint in the set. Slant is alone in dwelling on Jim Sheridan’s direction, crediting him with keeping the camera at Brown’s eye level; the others treat the film mainly as a vehicle for its actor. The spread is narrow, with every review positive. ## Radio Times — Sue Heal Rating 5/5. A superb movie chronicling Christy Brown's life, portrayed with astonishing passion and sensitivity by Daniel Day-Lewis. All involved earned well-deserved praise and Oscars, with nothing detracting from this all-round great film, also notable for Ray McAnally's performance. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-9rml13/my-left-foot/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 4/4. 2 February 1990. The film portrays Christy Brown as a ribald, boozing, gifted Irishman whose courage and determination overcame severe cerebral palsy. Ebert praises the seamless performances by Daniel Day-Lewis and Hugh O'Conor and the movie's blend of comedy and drama. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/my-left-foot-1990) ## Empire — Angie Errigo Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The film is an entertaining, earthy, funny, superbly acted and uplifting celebration of Christy Brown's life. Daniel Day-Lewis delivers a riveting, whole portrayal of the man whose humour and bloody-mindedness illuminate what might otherwise have been a harrowing story. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/left-foot-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Sheila Benson Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 1989. Benson praises the tough-minded, unsentimental writing and ferociously brilliant acting that portray Christy Brown's wild, difficult mind and achievements. She singles out the performances of Daniel Day-Lewis and young Hugh O'Conor. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-10-ca-943-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 18 August 2005. The critic praises Jim Sheridan's attuned direction for keeping the camera at the level of the disabled protagonist and highlighting intimate, unspoken familial love, especially between young Christy and his mother. Day-Lewis's performance is singled out for conveying profound intelligence and emasculation struggling to be recognized. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/my-left-foot/) ## Time Out — JMo Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 5 September 2012. The critic praises Daniel Day-Lewis's precise, detailed and matter-of-fact re-creation of Christy Brown's condition, which powerfully conveys the character's cussed, frustrated personality without showiness. Strong supporting turns from Brenda Fricker and Ray McAnally stand out, though the film takes liberties with the autobiography and features a less successful fictional character. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/my-left-foot) ## The New York Times — Vincent Canby Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 September 1989. Festival review. Canby calls the film an intelligent, beautifully acted adaptation of Christy Brown's autobiography. He highlights Brown's resilient coming of age as a writer and painter despite cerebral palsy and poverty. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/23/movies/film-festival-us-return-60-s-ireland-triumph-will-particular-coming-age.html) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1988. The review describes the film as a warm, romantic and moving true story lifted to excellence by Daniel Day-Lewis's brilliant performance. It notes the humor in the portrayal and strong supporting cast. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1988/film/reviews/my-left-foot-the-story-of-christy-brown-1200427905/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/my-left-foot-the-story-of-christy-brown.md