Personally speaking' I enjoyed the film a lot. I haven't read the book and while I like a lot of American folk music I wouldn't understand the subtlety of the difference between Old Timey and bluegrass or the various fiddle styles.

Brendan Gleeson is from near where I come from in Dublin and I have known him as a fiddle player for many years. I thought the casting decision was great in terms of the availability of a name known in Hollywood and the US in general who could actually play the fiddle. I doubt if there would be may alternatives available. He also put his fiddle playing talent to good use in "Gangs of New York".

I'd be interested in hearing opinions as to how well his fiddle playing worked given that his native Irish style would be quite different to the old timey style required in the film.