December 25 , 2000 - Director Barry Levinson's latest movie titled "An Everlasting Piece" debuted in limited release on Christmas day. The latest movie from Academy Award®-winning director Barry Levinson (Rain Man) is a comedy set against the turbulent backdrop of Belfast in the 1980s. Two fellow barbers--Colm, a Catholic, and George, a Protestant--form an unlikely partnership to corner the toupee market in Northern Ireland. But with a rival hairpiece company, Toupee or Not Toupee, getting a jump on the competition, Colm and George have to come up with some creative sales techniques to bring a different kind of piece to Northern Ireland.

Barry Levinson directed An Everlasting Piece from a screenplay by Barry McEvoy, who also stars as Colm, with Brian F. O'Byrne (a Tony nominee for The Beauty Queen of Leenane on Broadway) starring as George. The film also stars Anna Friel (from Broadway's Closer) and popular Scottish comedian Billy Connolly (Mrs. Brown, Indecent Proposal). The film is produced by Barry Levinson, Paula Weinstein (Analyze This), Oscar® winner Mark Johnson (Rain Man), Louis DiGiaimo, Sr. (Donnie Brasco), and Jerome O'Connor. Patrick McCormick is the executive producer.

Critics have given the movie mixed reviews.

Kristy Martin from Mrshowbiz.com gave the movie a 57 out of 100 score. Says Martin, "Levinson gives the film a great '80s feel: Its soundtrack is rugged and amazing, while street shots of Belfast, its political billboards, and its grimy pubs make one feel both exhilarated and afraid for what must have really happened when its citizens clashed in that tumultuous decade. But An Everlasting Piece's failure to elaborate on the sinister tension between church and state results in a bog of missed opportunities."

Kevin Thomas from The Los Angeles Times says, "An Everlasting Piece" is a film rich in picturesque settings and varying moods, all of which is beautifully enhanced by Seamus Deasy's camera work, with its play of light and shadow, and Hans Zimmer's lively yet poignant score. It is also a film of some notably sharp supporting performances, most notably by Colum Convey as an IRA man in need of a toupee and Des McAleer, who wants a rug but doesn't want to pay for it. "An Everlasting Piece" is a tad long and a bit rambling, but you're not likely to mind too much."

The movie soundtrack is produced by renowned German composer Hans Zimmer and features music from himself, The Talking Heads, Valentine, David Bowie, Queen and the Clancy Brothers.

The movie is Rated "R" and has only opened in limited markets.