Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, September 18, 1993                   TAG: 9404070008
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: B12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

'WEST' AMONG THE BEST

There are numerous flaws in the film - it moves fitfully, drags at time and may be too complex for younger viewers - but in the end it's so powerful and moving that criticism seems out of place. Of all the children's movies that have been released this year, ``Into the West'' is the best.

Writer Jim Sheridan and director Mike Newell have managed to spin out a grand tale with the traditional Irish elements of magic and myth. But it's firmly grounded in the contemporary Ireland of slums, housing projects, alcoholism and poverty.

Papa Riley (Gabriel Byrne) can't afford to look after his two sons Tito (Ruaidhri Conroy) and Ossie (Ciaran Fitzgerald). He has cut them off from their roots as travellers, or Irish gypsies. But then their grandfather (David Kelly), who lives in a horse-drawn wagon visits them in Dublin. There's a beautiful white horse with him. Ossie immediately establishes a bond with the animal, and when Grandfather tells them the story of Tir na nOg, the magical horse that came from the sea, the boys are hooked.

So what if they live in a highrise apartment? Dad doesn't care if they have a pet. But other people do and without going into details, the two brothers find themselves on the run from crooked cops and a greedy horse breeder. Dad has to go back to the travellers and ask for help from Kathleen (Ellen Barkin) to find his kids.

As he did in ``Enchanted April,'' director Newell makes the landscape a key part of the film. Ireland has seldom been captured so well both in its beauty and its blight. The contrast will challenge some kids and there's nothing wrong with that. Still, parents should be warned that smaller children - say, those younger than 8 or 9 - may become bored.

For everyone else though, ``Into the West'' gets an enthusiastic recommendation. By any standard, it's one of the best. Just go see it.