History Film / Calvary

''Calvary'' is a 2014 Irish BlackComedy, and the second written and directed by John Michael [=McDonagh=] (his first being ''Film/TheGuard''). It stars Brendan Gleeson as Father James, as well as an EnsembleCast of Irish and British actors.

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: One of the reasons Father James gives to the Bishop for not going to the police is to preserve the confessional seal. The Bishop quickly points out that the confessional seal only applies if the person speaking is seeking forgiveness and absolution, which the culprit is clearly not.

* {{Cuckold}}: Jack Brennan is unbothered that his wife cheats on him. Played not quite straight as he appears to be the one who hit her.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Dr. Harte tells an obviously distraught Father James a horrible story about a child who became blind, deaf and paralyzed after a botched surgery and then likens the story to victims of church abuse. [[{{Sadist}}Although Harte is clearly taking pleasure in describing the child's pain]], but he's unfortunately correct about how abuse victims are unable to tell the world about the things that have happened to them.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Dr. Harte tells an obviously distraught Father James a horrible story about a child who became blind, deaf and paralyzed after a botched surgery and then likens the story to victims of church abuse. [[{{Sadist}}Although Harte is clearly taking pleasure in describing the child's pain]], he's unfortunately correct about how abuse victims are unable to tell the world about the things that have happened to them.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Dr. Harte tells an obviously distraught Father James a horrible story about a child who became blind, deaf and paralyzed after a botched surgery and then likens the story to victims of church abuse. [[{{Sadist}}Although Harte is clearly taking pleasure in describing the child's pain]], but he's unfortunately correct about how abuse victims are unable to tell the world about the things that have happened to them.

* FreezeFrameBonus: [[spoiler:Most of the blood is coming from Father James' knuckles, and the next time we see the barkeep he's covered in bruises and bandages.]]

* JerkassHasAPoint: Dr. Harte tells an obviously distraught Father James a horrible story about a child who became blind, deaf and paralyzed after a botched surgery and then likens the story to victims of church abuse. [[{{Sadist}}Although Harte is clearly taking pleasure in describing the child's pain]], he's unfortunately correct about how abuse victims are unable to tell the world about the things that have happened to them.

* HollywoodAtheist: Dr. Harte keeps bringing up his atheism to Father James. He's a jerkass nihilist with a morbid and cruel sense of humor. However, on the subject of Church corruption, JerkassHasAPoint.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Dr. Harte is a real asshole in general. When he tells an obviously distraught Father James a horrible story about a child who became blind, deaf and paralyzed after a botched surgery and then likens the story to victims of church abuse, it's a cruel thing to do, but he's got a point.

* BlackComedy: It is but it's about as far as one of the [=McDonagh=] brothers has gotten from their bread and butter.

* TheButcher: {{Subverted|Trope}} with Jack the town butcher, though he's a goofy, harmless guy; PlayedStraight, however, in that James has to have a word with him because his wife is wearing [[DomesticAbuse unusually large sunglasses for the weather.]] [[spoiler: He's also the parishioner who threatened Jack at the beginning of the movie]]

* {{Confessional}}: The fim starts with the scene in the one.

* {{Cuckold}}: Jack Brennan who is unbothered that his wife cheats on him. Played not quite straight as he appears to be the one who hit her.

* EthicalSlut: Veronica Brennan.

** Arguably yes, although the ''Film/InBruges'' killings [[spoiler:of the priest and the little boy]] took place in London, according to the voiceover at the start of the film.

''Calvary'' is the second feature film of John Michael [=McDonagh=], perhaps (currently) most famous by proxy, his brother being Creator/MartinMcDonagh. The film received strong praise and even a few British and Irish film awards, including two Best Actor awards for Gleeson.

* TheButcher: {{Subverted|Trope}} with Jack the town butcher, though he's a goofy, harmless guy; PlayedStraight, however, in that James has to have a word with him because his wife is wearing [[DomesticAbuse unusually large sunglasses for the weather.]]

* DrJerk: Harte is such a sneering little JerkAss during his first appearance that it's a bit of a shock to learn that he's a doctor. His first reaction to seeing a woman who has recently attempted suicide (judging by the bandages on her wrist) is to tell her, "Next time, cut deeper," like he's making a witty little joke.

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: One of the reasons Father James gives to the Bishop for not going to the police is to preserve the confessional seal. In reality, the confessional seal only applies if the person speaking is seeking forgiveness and absolution, which the culprit is clearly not.