There are so many reasons to love The Devil’s Own, but I’m going to give it my all to narrow it down to a few.

First, Harrison Ford. He’s an amazing actor, and he brings a sense of humanity and dignity to every movie he’s in. I can dig a film just because of him.

There are only a handful of actors who get this kind of sweeping thumbs-up from me — like Tom Hanks (the only reason for watching The Money Pit) and John Cusack.

And I’m almost starting to feel that way about Brad Pitt. (He’s reason No. 2.) Aesthetic qualities aside (ahem), I am really starting to move away from my just-a-pretty-boy image of the Pitt man because of the challenging parts he always chooses (I’m thinking 12 Monkeys here).

The Devil’s Own, for instance, stars Pitt as Frankie McGwire, a young gunman in the Irish Republican Army, who, for those of us who don’t know our world history, have been battling the British for independence for God knows how long.

In order to make the British strive for peace — instead of just giving the concept lip service — McGwire takes matters into his own hands.

He travels to America, “the land of the opportunists,” to stay with Sgt. Tom O’Meara, a NYC cop (Ford), and his family under the guise of Rory Devaney.

Once in New York, Devaney works with pals on a plan that will definitely get the Brits’ attention (let’s just say it sort of involves the Russians, a duffle bag full of $100 bills and a wad of missiles).

The plot is the third reason for liking the movie. Not only do we witness some major bonding between Devaney and O’Meara (their Irish heritage not being the least of their commonalities), a few sweet exchanges between Devaney and the young O’Meara children (three daughters who had to be swooning the entire time), but there are some majorly intense moments.

I was literally holding my breath during an entire fight scene in the O’Meara house, and it wasn’t because of the intense gore — it was just suspenseful as hell.

And I don’t mind admitting that I was listening hard throughout the film to see if Pitt’s Irish brogue faded in and out.

I don’t know if I wanted to hear him screw up or what, but I have to that he kept it up really well. I guess that just goes to prove my sneaking suspicion that Pitt truly is “a serious actor.”

I also don’t mind saying that I was annoyed when the obligatory Cranberries song popped up — I will never understand why, in any movie that contains any sort of blatantly Irish imagery, the Cranberries always filter in somehow.

Why can’t moviemakers throw some U2 in? They’re much cooler anyway.

Reason No. 4 is that there is not the typical Hollywood ending to this film. I’m not givin’ nuthin’ away, though, so I’m gonna leave it at that.

I do have a tiny complaint about some of the film editing. There are some scenes where there are some horrible, butcher-like cuts that even I noticed. C’mon, people! Have some pride!