Clearly, this is a subject Jordan cares about passionately, but he hasn't found a form to make us share his passion. Unless you come to Michael Collins with strong feelings about its hero, it's unlikely you will be deeply engaged.

[Neeson] is superb as the principled, steely yet romantic action hero of Neil Jordan's film, which has been re-released for the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising in 1916.

There are pain and honor in [Neeson's] performance, and they constantly rise up to redeem a film that is less probing, less thoughtful than its director's claims and aspirations for it.

Jordan’s attention to detail and his ability to paint enemies and friends in differing, complex shades, exemplifies why his work as a director was frequently and criminally underrated.