Day - Lewis vividly portrays anguish in his torture
scenes and radiates a forthright resolve when
fighting to clear his name later in the film, but «In the Name
of the Father» is most effective when
dealing with the difficult relationship between Day - Lewis» Gerry Conlon and his father Giuseppe (Pete Postlethwaite).
A great
deal hinges on one
scene that he plays before a mirror, as various aspects
of his personality
fight for control, and the way he plays this
scene is further evidence
of his power as an actor.