Rating: 
Summary: Edward Burns Ash Wedensday doesn't lack soul
Review: I have enjoyed every Edward Burns film. He is an inspiration to all new filmakers. He keeps making great dialouge driven movies that spark humor and also it adds a quailty that allows us to think about where we are in our lives. Ash Wed. is a film that shows loyality between brothers. Burns films mention chacters that wander though life searching for redemption and worth. The story is about people wanting answers about the past and the choices they made that created the world they live in. Wood's character choice was to protect his family. Burns's choice gave his brother a better life. The story breaks down a system, you either live a certain way or you break the mold and move and pave your own way. The characters in this movie want to take care of the past and move on but how do they deal with what Sean did or what kind of impact did he leave behind.Question arise for instance who are your fake friends and who a your real ones. That is what makes this film a gem. The look of the film is classic and the acting is great for a movie that was shot in 20 days. Burns could be a big shot hollywood type but he has stayed true to his work and he continues to make low budget films that deal with true themes. If you like his other work you will notice that all this is true.
Rating: 
Summary: Ash Wednesday, a gritty surprise
Review: I have to be honest. I first rented "Ash Wednesday" to see if Frodo would come out of the Shire. I was aware of and had seen a few of Ed Burns' films too, so I wanted to see the mix. I wasn't disappointed in either gentlemen, or in the film for that matter. Burns captures a grittiness that I found somewhat refreshing, as this definately was a small budget film. But big budgets don't always mean better films. The acting was right on the mark. I really liked the 'dark' aspects to the characters, the almost tin-type filming, not quite black and white, not quite color. It added to the grit and tension. The plot (yes, there was a somewhat typical plot about Hell's Kitchen and brotherly love, family devotion above all else, and you knew who would have to get killed pretty much right off the bat, you just held your breath until they fell) wasn't too convoluted to get lost. Burns was excellent as the older brother trying to leave the past behind. All the side players were fine, too (though the Grace character was the leakest IMHO). The first time you hear "Frodo" use the "F" word is startling (^_~) but then Elijah's acting talent comes through and he becomes part of the story. It's good to see him tackling more adult roles. I found him to be reasonably believable as a family member, he just didn't have the tough accent the rest of the characters did. But he was the sheltered brother, he was the brother the family wanted to keep innocent, so it was perfectly acceptable to me that he came across the way he did. But he had the same secret as the entire family, so looks are deceving. Heck, even the family priest had a secret. And the undercurrent of faith <hence the title> was very convincing (notice Burns'position at the end of the film). The scenery, the music, the cast - it all worked in this film. I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Film
Review: I loved this movie. I picked it up after seeing Edward Burns on the cover, rather than Elijah Wood. And the fact that Edward Burns directed intrigued me as well. Plus with Rosario Dawson (one of my favorite actresses), it seemed like a can't-miss.The movie itself was awesome. A wonderful story. It was a bit predictable at the end. But surprising at the same time. This film kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It was superb.
Rating:
Summary: So worth it
Review: I rented this a while back, admitedly for Elijah Wood, but I've very glad that I did. It was surprisingly unpredictable...not to say it was entirely unpredictable...one can figure out the general ending, however there is a lot that happens before that ending making one wonder if that initial thought it right or not. Elijah Wood and Edward Burns are both fantastic, and they play off of each other so well one can believe they truly are brothers. There is a great deal of swearing, so if heavy language is offensive don't watch it...but if you don't mind the language, definitely check it out. And watch out for the last scene because it will catch you completely off guard and leave you with a satisfyingly disturbed feeling.
Rating:
Summary: ash wednesday
Review: i thought it was really good. great story, keeps you interested. i was surprised elijah wood could pull off a character like that. the ending is bad though.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: I was impressed! This movie was a lot better than I expected it to be. I ordered this DVD which arrived two days before Ash Wednesday, and why not watch it on Ash Wednesday. So I did. Not a big cast but impressive story and acting by all accounts. I've seen a couple of Ed Burns movies, and this one is one of his best. Elijah, of course, did a great job. You kind of know that when Elijah chooses to do a movie, it's probably going to be a pretty good one. I'd recommend this one; however, if you're not a fan of a lot swearing in movies, this may not be for you. Great flick.
Rating:
Summary: The acting was really good...
Review: I watched it with my roommate, she's Jewish, and she was completely lost. She didn't get why it was called "Ash Wednesday"... And she didn't get the ash crosses on their heads. It's really good if you get some of the Catholic things that are going on. I don't think it's terribly hard to follow.
Rating: 
Summary: Edward Burns and Elijah Wood fans would like this.
Review: I'm an Elijah fan, so I went out and rented this movie as soon as I found out about it. The plot is pretty interesting, but is drowned out by the movie's overabundant shots of Edward Burns walking dramatically down the street to the movie's redundant soundtrack. I must admit that Burns does a pretty convincing job in his character, although I'm not really sure if that is attributed to his acting or because he may actually be like that, since the last Burns movie I saw was ages ago. Rosario Dawson gives a pretty good performance in this movie, as does Elijah Wood. The only complaint I have about Elijah's performance is that he lacks the tough New York accent that Burns (who plays his brother) has throughout the movie. I'm not sure that if they grew up together, why Burns' character has an accent and Wood's does not. Oh well.
Rating: 
Summary: Ash Wednesday
Review: It was an okay movie though I would only watch it again because it has Elijah Wood in it.
Rating:
Summary: "Ash" burns
Review: It's gritty. It's dirty. It's violent and scary. It has little ash crosses on it. In a nutshell, it's Edward Burns' latest movie, "Ash Wednesday," a surprisingly poignant and thrilling action movie about two Irish-American brothers caught in a very dangerous position. Though it's a little uneven, especially in the first half, the intensity makes it worth seeing. The date is Ash Wednesday, 1980. The place: Hell's Kitchen. Sean Sullivan (Elijah Wood) is tending bar when he overhears three thugs plotting to kill his brother Francis (Edward Burns). So takes out a gun and kills all three of them to keep Francis alive. After that night, everyone hears that Sean is dead, and life continues for Francis and Sean's young wife (Rosario Dawson) for three years. What no one knows is that Sean is really alive. And soon Francis begins to hear rumors that Sean has been seen hanging around the neighborhood. Little brother wants his wife back (unaware that he now has a baby son). Problem is, if he is still alive, then there are some scores yet to be settled. And Francis may have to pay the price to keep his family safe. Revenge stories have been with us since... well, a very long time. And "Ash Wednesday" is noteworthy less for the complexity of its story (it really doesn't have any) than for HOW it's told. Family loyalty in movies is something that can rarely be done without sappiness, but amazingly Burns strips it down and makes it very moving. The first half is kind of slow, with a lot of Burns walking around and looking grim. But things pick up and compensate in the second half with more guns, dangerous strangers and family problems. Burns' directorial style is as gritty and shadowy as the place he sets his film in; the brief twenty-day shooting schedule probably added to the feeling of urgency. Symbolism abounds in Burns' latest flick; for example the ash crosses, part of a Roman Catholic ritual right before Lent, serve as a reminder of mortality. During some of the most important (and potentially deadly) scenes, Burns and Wood have those marks on their foreheads. It's a nice extra dimension, considering that most action flicks don't have more than one or two levels on them. Burns does an excellent job with a character who has a rather rotten past, and now has a need to protect the people he loves. Wood doesn't appear for much of the movie, but does an exceptional job when he does; his wide range is evident through the movie, whether he's cooing at his baby son or snarling as he guns down the thugs. Dawson doesn't really have a chance to do much, but is quite good with the confusion her character feels. Burns' sharp-edged flick about choices and loyalty goes a bit deeper than your average revenge flick. Though flawed by an uneven pace and simple story, "Ash Wednesday" is well-acted and very compelling. Certainly worth a watch.
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