YMMV / Rory O'Shea Was Here

• Alternate Character Interpretation:
  • It's quite easy to view Rory as a Troll who enjoys antagonising everyone he meets, just so he can benefit from positive discrimination - which Siobhan accuses him of later in the movie. Or it's also possible that he wants to be treated the same, and so does so many dickish things to provoke people into retaliating.
  • It's also possible that Eileen had a personal vendetta against Rory - and deliberately wanted to Break the Haughty early on.
• Anvilicious: The care home is obviously shown to be like a prison or boarding school, where the residents are treated like children ("we don't allow coarse language here"). This was based primarily off the screenwriter's own experiences working in a care home.
• Broken Base: To this day there are still debates raging over the fact that Rory and Michael weren't played by disabled actors. The camp that dislikes it cites taking away meaty roles from actors with disabilities. The camp that approves of it says that the performances were still good. Particularly Stephen Robertson was praised for his near spot-on portrayal of a man with Cerebral Palsy.
• Genius Bonus: People who are familiar with Duchenne muscular dystrophy will see the birthday scene in a different light.
• Jerkass Woobie: Rory is a huge dick, but it's immediately understandable. To his credit, he shows his softer side early on and establishes himself as a Jerk with a Heart of Gold.
• Overshadowed by Controversy: Early on, the movie got lots of criticisms for not casting disabled actors as Michael and Rory. But the performances were held in high-regard and it's seen as a good film these days.
• Retroactive Recognition: James McAvoy is best known for portraying the younger Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men Film Series.
• Strawman Has a Point: Well playing loud music in the middle of the night is actually quite rude, especially when there are other residents to think of. Of course Eileen and her staff never thought of giving Rory a set of headphones so he could listen to his music and not disturb anyone.
• Tear Jerker:
  • Rory's death in the hospital towards the end of the movie. And his poor father's reaction.
  • Rory's speech to Michael about how he has his entire life to live, while he himself is on borrowed time.
  "that is what I call a gift."
  • And this exchange as Rory lies dying.
  Rory: Rory O'Shea was here.
  Michael points to his heart.
  Michael: Rory O'Shea is here.
• What Do You Mean, It's Not Symbolic?: The first time we see Rory he's being loaded out of the van doors which have a very cagelike appearance.

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