Μύ Cillian Murphy dons high heels to play a transvestite tottering around 70s London in Breakfast On Pluto. Neil Jordan directs this "psychedelic haze" of loosely bound episodes, which are based on the novel by Pat McCabe (as was Jordan's Butcher Boy). Murphy bagged a Golden Globe nomination, but this otherwise got a mixed reception from critics while moviegoers stayed away in droves.
Play Among The Stars
"If you came to this expecting it to be a comedy," says Jordan, "it wouldn't work." Apart from this blunt justification for the lack of laughs, it's a rather haphazard commentary that he shares with Murphy (the latter saying hardly anything at all). Regarding the decision to have Kitten's life narrated by a couple of robins, the director explains, "It's weird. I don't know why I did that." Later he says it's "interesting" to present moral issues relating to the IRA and abortion - just as they are - without taking a stance, and then flits to the next thing. At least Jordan gives the nod to Paris, Texas when it comes to the most powerful scene of the film (where Liam Neeson's priest confesses his sins to Kitten in a peep show booth), but even that is grudging, ie "The bloody Paris, Texas thing..."
Murphy is a little more talkative in a short Making Of featurette. He gives an interview in full drag, but insists that the role of Kitten is a world away from his own existence. He explains that he was drawn to it, because "transformative roles are the ones that are most appealing". Supporting players Stephen Rea and Brendan Gleeson also chip in and of course Jordan appears to chat very briefly about casting and his efforts to recreate the look and vibe of 70s London.
Tea And Toast
A reel of extended scenes don't add much to the film. Kitten considers joining the IRA for the snazzy sunglasses and later experiences a very close shave when she agrees to serve as Stephen Rea's magician's assistant. The only revealing moment comes in a vignette with Irish rocker Billy Hatchet (Gavin Friday). Over a civilised cup of tea Kitten reveals that she does have knowledge about his secret stash of guns before the IRA come knocking on their caravan door.
A batch of cast and crew biographies and a photo gallery round off the extras menu. When it comes to revealing the behind-the-scenes story, this DVD edition of Breakfast On Pluto is as filling as coffee on the run.
EXTRA FEATURES
