I thought for sure that Black Irish was going to be like Southie packed with crime. Turns out this movie goes for a deeper more troubling look at turmoil within in a family. That's what made this one so good. You've got the good brother who is a baseball star who has to live in the shadow of what his no good brother does as a low level street punk. The teenage sister gets knocked up bringing more shame to the family. The father is a tortured man down on his luck with a history of failure. The mother is the bread winner trying to hold the family together. All in all it's not an uplifting movie to watch. It does have heart and great acting. A gem of a movie to see.
23 Reviews
the south side of good living
WCS0225 March 2008
Problems are hurled at the McKay family as if they were in a batting cage with an endless supply of quarters and no bat. This South Boston Irish-Catholic family deals with the rock bottom side of life they best way they know how. Baseball quietly emerges as a rallying dynamic for the seemingly-defeated male McKays in this coming of age story. It has a lot of heart, and there's a lot to like here. My criticism is that there's too much misfortune for one 95 minute story - as if every stereotype in play today had to be included. It moved me nevertheless. I recommend it. It seems to have gone directly to DVD but should have enjoyed a stint in the theater first.
Great slice of life film
moviesleuth22 March 2008
"Black Irish" is a great film because it has an affection for its setting and its characters. Despite having some tough subject material, it left me with a somewhat warm and fuzzy feeling.
Normally when writing a review, it is customary to give a short synopsis of the plot to let readers know if it is a film that they would be interested in seeing. But "Black Irish" isn't that kind of movie. It's all about the characters, the McKay family. The McKay's aren't doing very well. In fact, their family is more or less in shambles. Katie (Emily VanCamp) is pregnant and unmarried, which causes much friction between her and her mother Margret (Melissa Leo). Terry (Tom Guiry) is a violent, out-of-control menace who is about to end up in prison, or dead, which ever comes first. Desmond (Brendan Gleeson) is struggling to earn enough money for his family while drowning his sorrows in alcohol (one of which being a tragic secret). Margret is trying to save face by believing this family is "normal," which it is not. Caught in the middle of it all is Cole (Michael Angarano), who's merely trying to stay afloat.
Therein lies its problem. Movies that sacrifice plot for characters are not bad, provided that its characters are interesting enough and portrayed with good performances (which "Black Irish" is filled with). But Brad Gann doesn't see his movie that way (which is kind of surprising, seeing as he wrote and directed it). It seems as if he made the film to have some underlying story or theme to connect the stories (other than the fact that all of the principal characters are related). Problem is, there isn't any.
Not that this makes "Black Irish" a bad film. It's actually very good. Credit goes to Gann for creating a great sense of atmosphere, and knowing the meaning of the word "subtlety," and how to use it. Nothing is heavy-handed like a sledgehammer as in mainstream films, yet it's not infinitesimally subtle like some of those intellectual films on the opposite end of the spectrum. "Black Irish" is smack dab in the middle.
The performances are great all around. The best performances go to Michael Angarano and Brendan Gleeson. Angarano is perfect as the conflicted, young man who is our window into the McKay family. The subtlety in his performance matches perfectly with Gann's approach. Cole is our window into what's left of the McKay family. Angarano plays Cole not as a film character, but as a normal kid. It's not easy to do, and because (when done well) it is so like real life, the performances often go unrecognized. Brendan Gleeson is great, too. He shows more dramatic skill than he's been able to in other, more mainstream roles. Desmond is a man who has lost everything, but is trying to do what he can, even if that means sinking to levels that are just tragic. The scenes he shares with Angarano are some of the film's best; his discussions about the birds and the bees are laugh-out-loud hilarious (which is especially surprising since this is not a comedy). The other actors are great as well, especially Tom Guiry as the "out-of-control" Terry, whom everyone seems to have given up on. This is interesting because while this hurts Terry (but doesn't show this to anyone), he doesn't know how to stop his downward spiral. You know the mark of a talented actor if they can create a good performance out of an undeveloped character, which is the case with the other members of the family (minus Cole and Desmond), if only slightly.
"Black Irish" is a great film to watch, and it's a shame that it didn't get a wider distribution, because it's really a great movie. Imperfect, but still well worth a watch.
My rating: PG-13 for some language and a scene of brief violence.
Normally when writing a review, it is customary to give a short synopsis of the plot to let readers know if it is a film that they would be interested in seeing. But "Black Irish" isn't that kind of movie. It's all about the characters, the McKay family. The McKay's aren't doing very well. In fact, their family is more or less in shambles. Katie (Emily VanCamp) is pregnant and unmarried, which causes much friction between her and her mother Margret (Melissa Leo). Terry (Tom Guiry) is a violent, out-of-control menace who is about to end up in prison, or dead, which ever comes first. Desmond (Brendan Gleeson) is struggling to earn enough money for his family while drowning his sorrows in alcohol (one of which being a tragic secret). Margret is trying to save face by believing this family is "normal," which it is not. Caught in the middle of it all is Cole (Michael Angarano), who's merely trying to stay afloat.
Therein lies its problem. Movies that sacrifice plot for characters are not bad, provided that its characters are interesting enough and portrayed with good performances (which "Black Irish" is filled with). But Brad Gann doesn't see his movie that way (which is kind of surprising, seeing as he wrote and directed it). It seems as if he made the film to have some underlying story or theme to connect the stories (other than the fact that all of the principal characters are related). Problem is, there isn't any.
Not that this makes "Black Irish" a bad film. It's actually very good. Credit goes to Gann for creating a great sense of atmosphere, and knowing the meaning of the word "subtlety," and how to use it. Nothing is heavy-handed like a sledgehammer as in mainstream films, yet it's not infinitesimally subtle like some of those intellectual films on the opposite end of the spectrum. "Black Irish" is smack dab in the middle.
The performances are great all around. The best performances go to Michael Angarano and Brendan Gleeson. Angarano is perfect as the conflicted, young man who is our window into the McKay family. The subtlety in his performance matches perfectly with Gann's approach. Cole is our window into what's left of the McKay family. Angarano plays Cole not as a film character, but as a normal kid. It's not easy to do, and because (when done well) it is so like real life, the performances often go unrecognized. Brendan Gleeson is great, too. He shows more dramatic skill than he's been able to in other, more mainstream roles. Desmond is a man who has lost everything, but is trying to do what he can, even if that means sinking to levels that are just tragic. The scenes he shares with Angarano are some of the film's best; his discussions about the birds and the bees are laugh-out-loud hilarious (which is especially surprising since this is not a comedy). The other actors are great as well, especially Tom Guiry as the "out-of-control" Terry, whom everyone seems to have given up on. This is interesting because while this hurts Terry (but doesn't show this to anyone), he doesn't know how to stop his downward spiral. You know the mark of a talented actor if they can create a good performance out of an undeveloped character, which is the case with the other members of the family (minus Cole and Desmond), if only slightly.
"Black Irish" is a great film to watch, and it's a shame that it didn't get a wider distribution, because it's really a great movie. Imperfect, but still well worth a watch.
My rating: PG-13 for some language and a scene of brief violence.
All in the family
jotix1004 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
One wonders about the reason for Desmond McKay, the father of the family being at the center of this story, going into the despair he is in, as we meet him. A dominating and stoic wife might be one of the reasons. Frustration at not being able to make a decent living for his family, or just the drink problem that has gotten the best out of his health, or just plain tiredness of seeing life get out of his control.
Cole, the younger member of the family is the only one that seems to be in some kind of control. He is an excellent athlete with what appears to be a future in organized baseball. Unfortunately, his world gets out of his control when he is informed he will have to leave the catholic school he attends and go to the same public school as his brother Terry, a punk that is becoming a real problem. On top of that, his own sister Kathleen has become pregnant.
The young man suffers humiliation the first day of school as Terry demands the pants Cole had borrowed without permission and has to go back home. His beginning in the new school prove to be difficult. Cole is saved when the coach, who sees the potential, decides to give him a break as a pitcher. To make matters worse, on his first date with a girl from school he makes the mistake of killing her pet bird.
Cole decides to ask the owner of an Italian restaurant, Joey, to give him a break. Joey sees an eager young man trying to help his own family. Terry, who is a loose canon had another idea by wanting to rob the place in order to get the money for a new car that Cole had wrecked, with terrible consequences.
Brad Gann is the man responsible for infusing credibility to this story of a working class family in South Boston. In doing so, he gets excellent acting from every one connected with the film. "Black Irish", which evidently did not get a wide distribution, or only was seen at different film festivals, was a surprise when it showed on cable recently. In a way the picture gets unfair comparison with "The Departed", and "Gone Baby, Gone", but in reality this is a drama that paints a credible situation about an Irish family in turmoil.
Brendan Gleeson, the wonderful Irish actor, makes a tremendous impact with his Desmond. By underplaying his role, he gives life to this father whose own world collapses from under him. Melissa Leo, another great actress, is seen as the stoic mother, Margaret. In spite of being married to a man that has not given her a good life, she has stayed to take care of her family. Life has not been kind to either parent though.
Michael Angarano, who is seen as Cole makes an excellent impression. He is a new face in the movies who will go to bigger and better things judging by his work in the movie. Tim Guiry is the rotten brother Terry, a total lost soul without showing any remorse for his actions. Emily VanCamp doesn't have much to do as the pregnant sister. Michael Rispoli, on the other hand is perfect as the good natured restaurant owner that sees goodness in an eager Cole.
"Black Irish" deserves to be seen by a wider audience. Brad Gann seems to be a new force to be reckoned with.
Cole, the younger member of the family is the only one that seems to be in some kind of control. He is an excellent athlete with what appears to be a future in organized baseball. Unfortunately, his world gets out of his control when he is informed he will have to leave the catholic school he attends and go to the same public school as his brother Terry, a punk that is becoming a real problem. On top of that, his own sister Kathleen has become pregnant.
The young man suffers humiliation the first day of school as Terry demands the pants Cole had borrowed without permission and has to go back home. His beginning in the new school prove to be difficult. Cole is saved when the coach, who sees the potential, decides to give him a break as a pitcher. To make matters worse, on his first date with a girl from school he makes the mistake of killing her pet bird.
Cole decides to ask the owner of an Italian restaurant, Joey, to give him a break. Joey sees an eager young man trying to help his own family. Terry, who is a loose canon had another idea by wanting to rob the place in order to get the money for a new car that Cole had wrecked, with terrible consequences.
Brad Gann is the man responsible for infusing credibility to this story of a working class family in South Boston. In doing so, he gets excellent acting from every one connected with the film. "Black Irish", which evidently did not get a wide distribution, or only was seen at different film festivals, was a surprise when it showed on cable recently. In a way the picture gets unfair comparison with "The Departed", and "Gone Baby, Gone", but in reality this is a drama that paints a credible situation about an Irish family in turmoil.
Brendan Gleeson, the wonderful Irish actor, makes a tremendous impact with his Desmond. By underplaying his role, he gives life to this father whose own world collapses from under him. Melissa Leo, another great actress, is seen as the stoic mother, Margaret. In spite of being married to a man that has not given her a good life, she has stayed to take care of her family. Life has not been kind to either parent though.
Michael Angarano, who is seen as Cole makes an excellent impression. He is a new face in the movies who will go to bigger and better things judging by his work in the movie. Tim Guiry is the rotten brother Terry, a total lost soul without showing any remorse for his actions. Emily VanCamp doesn't have much to do as the pregnant sister. Michael Rispoli, on the other hand is perfect as the good natured restaurant owner that sees goodness in an eager Cole.
"Black Irish" deserves to be seen by a wider audience. Brad Gann seems to be a new force to be reckoned with.
Black Irish - the quality of Cole McKay
jdeureka20 August 2012
What makes "Black Irish" specially valuable is the quality of the protagonist, Cole McKay. He embodies a wonderfully believable, realistic, and valuable example of virtue.
Popular psychomythology tells us that all teenagers are a mess; as even Anna Freud claimed: "to be normal during the adolescent period is by itself abnormal". The wholly credible figure of Cole McKay put the lie to this claim. He's a person with solid common sense who respects his family and community, who knows the difference between right and wrong -- and is willing to back up his knowledge up with hard, mature decisions.
Studies show that 80% of American adolescents experience "generally positive moods and harmonious relations with their parents and peers" (see: D. Offer et alii, "Adolescent and Family Health" 2003). That's fact. That's Cole McKay who's factually & intelligently willing to fight for and to try to keep constructing this harmony with tough love for his messed-up, bad-seed brother, respect for his ambiguous mother, insightful care for his kind sister and, specially, for his wounded, Vietnam-veteran dad. Who's almost lost the best things he's ever achieved in his life. But not his son. Who binds the family with a love that releases, harmonizes, and illuminates those nearest and dearest to him.
The poetry of baseball is the key to Cole's strength. Why? The game's coherence anchors his moral values; as Bill Veek once said: "Baseball is an island of surety in a changing world." And, for Cole, it provides that energy of decency which love of the game can still provide.
Popular psychomythology tells us that all teenagers are a mess; as even Anna Freud claimed: "to be normal during the adolescent period is by itself abnormal". The wholly credible figure of Cole McKay put the lie to this claim. He's a person with solid common sense who respects his family and community, who knows the difference between right and wrong -- and is willing to back up his knowledge up with hard, mature decisions.
Studies show that 80% of American adolescents experience "generally positive moods and harmonious relations with their parents and peers" (see: D. Offer et alii, "Adolescent and Family Health" 2003). That's fact. That's Cole McKay who's factually & intelligently willing to fight for and to try to keep constructing this harmony with tough love for his messed-up, bad-seed brother, respect for his ambiguous mother, insightful care for his kind sister and, specially, for his wounded, Vietnam-veteran dad. Who's almost lost the best things he's ever achieved in his life. But not his son. Who binds the family with a love that releases, harmonizes, and illuminates those nearest and dearest to him.
The poetry of baseball is the key to Cole's strength. Why? The game's coherence anchors his moral values; as Bill Veek once said: "Baseball is an island of surety in a changing world." And, for Cole, it provides that energy of decency which love of the game can still provide.
Gleeson's the true star of this film
movieman_kev19 January 2008
This Boston Irish-American flavored coming-of-age film is extremely typical of any other film of it's type complete with alcoholic father, doting over-bearing mother, fighting siblings, a family in disarray, and so on and so forth. You've likely seen something like it in some variation a million times before. What sets it a tad above films of the same ilk is very commendable performances by Micheal Angarano as Cole and especially Brendan Gleeson as his father, Desmond (the latter is simply riveting) Will this film revolutionize coming of age flicks in any way? no, not at all, but it's a well enough told tale well acted enough to be worth a watch.
My Grade: C+
Region 1 DVD Extras: audio Commentary; a 36 minute behind the scenes featurette; and trailers for "Razor Eaters" & "Antonia"
My Grade: C+
Region 1 DVD Extras: audio Commentary; a 36 minute behind the scenes featurette; and trailers for "Razor Eaters" & "Antonia"
A family tears itself apart.
michaelRokeefe13 March 2008
Warning: Spoilers
An Irish family in Boston is far from tight. Cole McKay(Michael Angarano) is a young Catholic mid-teen who has ambitions of being a pro baseball player. His father(Brendan Gleeson)has trouble keeping a job and putting food on the table. Mrs. McKay(Melissa Leo)is deep in her faith and depends on it to take care of her family. But trouble definitely brews in this family. Cole's sister Kathleen(Emily VanCamp)is pregnant and leaves the house. Big brother Terry(Tom Guidry)is the bad seed and detrimental to the family as a whole, as if it were whole. Drastic circumstances pit brother against brother and Cole must make a decision that suites his advantage to move forward. Not exactly good versus evil here, but it does show the two don't mix well. Predictable at best. Interest does build toward the last twenty minutes of the movie...at least to the extent you care about the characters. This family takes a body blow; but beats the count...barely.
A new benchmark in the coming-of-age genre
larry-41123 October 2006
I attended the World Premiere of "Black Irish" at the Hamptons International Film Festival. Initially, the blurb in the program guide suggested a fairly formulaic coming-of-age drama. But looks can be deceiving, and the synopsis just barely scratches the surface of what is, in reality, one of the most complex, rich, and heartwarming stories I've seen in quite some time. Remember those drawings in art class? The ones where the page is covered with black crayon and as you scrape off the outer layer you find multicolored wonders underneath? That's the most apt description that can be applied to "Black Irish." Because, as you'll discover, nothing is at it seems. And that is the singular achievement of Brad Gann, directing from his own script, with an ensemble cast that lends such passion to the material that I left the theater shaking my head in awe.
Webster's defines "hero" as, "one that shows great courage, an object of extreme admiration and devotion." It's hard to grow up without one, especially as a teenager in hardscrabble South Boston. Often the father possesses the traits a boy needs to survive those difficult years and prepare for the world he's about to enter. An older brother will usually suffice in cases where Dad is absent or unable or unwilling to fit the bill. Many coming-of-age stories place a teacher or clergyman in this position. But someone always appears, the boy grows up, he moves on, and they all live happily ever after. But what if all fail or don't show up to the table? "Black Irish" poses that question, and more. So much more.
Meet the McKays. Brendan Gleeson is Desmond, the father who doesn't quite qualify as hero due to years of heavy drinking and wallowing in self-pity, a legend in his own mind but not to his family. Tom Guiry is Terry, the older brother who's headed down a path of violence and self-destruction not unlike his father, giving up the hero role in the process. Sister Kathleen (Emily Van Camp), pregnant, wants little to do with the chaos around her. Amidst all this, Melissa Leo is Margaret, the mother who tries to hold it all together at the risk of losing her own somewhat sane self along the way. And our protagonist, 16 year-old Cole, is stunningly portrayed by Michael Angarano, as the boy who yearns for that moral compass that he needs to help guide the way into adulthood.
"Black Irish" takes us along on young Cole's search, and as we emotionally invest ourselves in his quest, we are at turns confused and occasionally amused, as is he, but mostly we hurt. To say that we feel his pain does not do justice to a story that is, at its heart, real life. And this is the true surprise of this film. These characters are far from one dimensional, the reality far from the clichéd impression even the paragraph above might suggest. There were audible gasps at the numerous twists and turns that Gann has infused into this shockingly brilliant script, no less than 12 years in the making and 30 rewrites along the way, as he indicated in the Q&A following the screening. And just when you think you know these people, just as you relax when the film seems to enter territory in which we feel comfortable, something happens. We discover that those we thought were cold and distant have a heart, a vulnerability and tenderness conveyed by Gleeson and Guiry that left me dumbfounded. Those we thought were soft and sweet, innocent and vulnerable, have a soft, fuzzy animal inside ready to turn vicious when backed into a corner, as Leo, VanCamp, and Angarano all exhibit along the way.
In the Q&A, Gann mentioned VanCamp's long-running portrayal of Amy on TV's "Everwood" as the inspiration for her being cast in this role. Fans will not be disappointed, and those unfamiliar with this actor's ability to bring nuance to what could otherwise be a stock performance will be wowed. Guiry lends the film some of the most heart wrenching surprises, as his ability to turn moods on a dime is unparalleled. Leo carves out new territory, again, in a role that could have been tired and worn in the hands of a lesser actor. She truly shines. And Gleeson does a star turn in a magnificent performance that, and I rarely use this term, is Oscar-worthy. Finally, Angarano is perfectly cast in the role of the quintessential underdog, in what I believe is the performance of his career. No young actor today has the ability to say so much with his eyes and facial expressions, and as the boy who becomes father to the man he sets a new standard for others who follow to live up to.
"Black Irish" carves a new benchmark in the coming-of-age genre. Because it is so much more than that. The audience cheered at the end of the screening here. It was a response I've not heard at any of the 70+ films I've seen at 7 festivals this year. It is deserving of your time, and will truly touch your heart as it did mine.
Webster's defines "hero" as, "one that shows great courage, an object of extreme admiration and devotion." It's hard to grow up without one, especially as a teenager in hardscrabble South Boston. Often the father possesses the traits a boy needs to survive those difficult years and prepare for the world he's about to enter. An older brother will usually suffice in cases where Dad is absent or unable or unwilling to fit the bill. Many coming-of-age stories place a teacher or clergyman in this position. But someone always appears, the boy grows up, he moves on, and they all live happily ever after. But what if all fail or don't show up to the table? "Black Irish" poses that question, and more. So much more.
Meet the McKays. Brendan Gleeson is Desmond, the father who doesn't quite qualify as hero due to years of heavy drinking and wallowing in self-pity, a legend in his own mind but not to his family. Tom Guiry is Terry, the older brother who's headed down a path of violence and self-destruction not unlike his father, giving up the hero role in the process. Sister Kathleen (Emily Van Camp), pregnant, wants little to do with the chaos around her. Amidst all this, Melissa Leo is Margaret, the mother who tries to hold it all together at the risk of losing her own somewhat sane self along the way. And our protagonist, 16 year-old Cole, is stunningly portrayed by Michael Angarano, as the boy who yearns for that moral compass that he needs to help guide the way into adulthood.
"Black Irish" takes us along on young Cole's search, and as we emotionally invest ourselves in his quest, we are at turns confused and occasionally amused, as is he, but mostly we hurt. To say that we feel his pain does not do justice to a story that is, at its heart, real life. And this is the true surprise of this film. These characters are far from one dimensional, the reality far from the clichéd impression even the paragraph above might suggest. There were audible gasps at the numerous twists and turns that Gann has infused into this shockingly brilliant script, no less than 12 years in the making and 30 rewrites along the way, as he indicated in the Q&A following the screening. And just when you think you know these people, just as you relax when the film seems to enter territory in which we feel comfortable, something happens. We discover that those we thought were cold and distant have a heart, a vulnerability and tenderness conveyed by Gleeson and Guiry that left me dumbfounded. Those we thought were soft and sweet, innocent and vulnerable, have a soft, fuzzy animal inside ready to turn vicious when backed into a corner, as Leo, VanCamp, and Angarano all exhibit along the way.
In the Q&A, Gann mentioned VanCamp's long-running portrayal of Amy on TV's "Everwood" as the inspiration for her being cast in this role. Fans will not be disappointed, and those unfamiliar with this actor's ability to bring nuance to what could otherwise be a stock performance will be wowed. Guiry lends the film some of the most heart wrenching surprises, as his ability to turn moods on a dime is unparalleled. Leo carves out new territory, again, in a role that could have been tired and worn in the hands of a lesser actor. She truly shines. And Gleeson does a star turn in a magnificent performance that, and I rarely use this term, is Oscar-worthy. Finally, Angarano is perfectly cast in the role of the quintessential underdog, in what I believe is the performance of his career. No young actor today has the ability to say so much with his eyes and facial expressions, and as the boy who becomes father to the man he sets a new standard for others who follow to live up to.
"Black Irish" carves a new benchmark in the coming-of-age genre. Because it is so much more than that. The audience cheered at the end of the screening here. It was a response I've not heard at any of the 70+ films I've seen at 7 festivals this year. It is deserving of your time, and will truly touch your heart as it did mine.
CRY LIKE A GIRL, DRINK LIKE A MAN
nogodnomasters14 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is a film about family drama with a little bit of humor tossed in. The movie appears to have all the pieces of a decent film, yet afterwards, I couldn't help but think, "Is that all there is?"
Cole (Michael Angarano) is a decent kid who attempts to lose himself in baseball. Unfortunately the family drama becomes a distraction. Mom (Melissa Leo) works for social services. Dad (Brendan Gleeson) drinks and looks for jobs in the paper. He has a secret. Terry (Tom Guiry) is the messed up older brother who has become a small time criminal. He hates his father. The sister, Kathleen (Emily VanCamp) is pregnant. She has moved out of the house. She was thinking about an abortion, but mom's guilt trip prevents it.
The film progresses slowly so there are no surprises. The family, which should have come together long ago as a family, now attempts to do it after disaster has hit. The title, "Black Irish" didn't play into the film very well. This could have been anybody's family. I did not like this odd family film as much as "Another Happy Day."
Parental Guide: F-bomb, no sex, no nudity.
Cole (Michael Angarano) is a decent kid who attempts to lose himself in baseball. Unfortunately the family drama becomes a distraction. Mom (Melissa Leo) works for social services. Dad (Brendan Gleeson) drinks and looks for jobs in the paper. He has a secret. Terry (Tom Guiry) is the messed up older brother who has become a small time criminal. He hates his father. The sister, Kathleen (Emily VanCamp) is pregnant. She has moved out of the house. She was thinking about an abortion, but mom's guilt trip prevents it.
The film progresses slowly so there are no surprises. The family, which should have come together long ago as a family, now attempts to do it after disaster has hit. The title, "Black Irish" didn't play into the film very well. This could have been anybody's family. I did not like this odd family film as much as "Another Happy Day."
Parental Guide: F-bomb, no sex, no nudity.
The Disintegration of a Family
gradyharp13 January 2008
BLACK IRISH is one of those little Independent films that manage to give more to the audience than the extreme constrictions of time and budget would suggest. Writer/director Brad Gunn (his first film) manages to tell a story about an Irish family from South Boston that is sincere, realistic, poignant, and profound, and though he worked with a small budget and a shooting schedule of 22 days, he has produced a fine little gem of a film.
The McKay family has problems: father Desmond (Brendan Glesson) lacks work and spends most of his time drinking beer and watching baseball on TV, having been a promising baseball player as a youngster but nipped by the Vietnam War into glum lethargy; mother Margaret (Melissa Leo) resents the shadow of the man she married and works as a social worker to support her family; daughter Kathleen (Emily VanKamp) is pregnant, unwed, and when denied the choice of abortion by her mother's strong Catholicism is determined to have the child by herself, giving it the loving home she feels she has been denied; son Terry (Tom Guiry) is a tortured delinquent who is a gang member and always in conflict with the law; and youngest son Cole (the excellent young 20-year-old Michael Angarano of 'One Last Thing', 'Man in the Chair', 'Snow Angels', 'Lords of Dogtown', 'Seabiscuit', etc) is conflicted by wanting to be a priest versus wanting to be a professional baseball player - he is the good kid and the last hope of his parents.
Terry tricks Cole into accompanying a house break-in and the trouble begins. The financial crisis at home drives Cole to get a job in a restaurant, and drives Desmond to menial work shining shoes. The family will support Kathleen's pregnancy, but that strips the income to the point that Cole must leave his Catholic school to be in public school, and while that seems to dash his hopes for a career in baseball, the coach at his public school (Finn Curtin) acknowledges Cole's talent and promises a future. Terry's lifestyle as a hoodlum presents increasing problems and at one point Cole gathers the courage to confront Terry during a robbery plot at Cole's work place and Terry is seriously wounded. We discover a hidden fact about Desmond that explains some of his sociopath behavior to his family and it is this discovery, coinciding with Terry's gunshot injury and Kathleen's tough life as an unwed working pregnant girl, that pulls the family unit back together.
If the plot sound like soap opera rest assured it is not. This is an intensely realistic examination of a fragile Irish Catholic family striving to makes sense of a world that is increasingly chaotic. All of the actors are excellent, but the extraordinary sensitivity and skill of young Michael Angarano make this a film to cherish. And Brad Gann is assuredly a talent to watch! Very highly recommended. Grady Harp
The McKay family has problems: father Desmond (Brendan Glesson) lacks work and spends most of his time drinking beer and watching baseball on TV, having been a promising baseball player as a youngster but nipped by the Vietnam War into glum lethargy; mother Margaret (Melissa Leo) resents the shadow of the man she married and works as a social worker to support her family; daughter Kathleen (Emily VanKamp) is pregnant, unwed, and when denied the choice of abortion by her mother's strong Catholicism is determined to have the child by herself, giving it the loving home she feels she has been denied; son Terry (Tom Guiry) is a tortured delinquent who is a gang member and always in conflict with the law; and youngest son Cole (the excellent young 20-year-old Michael Angarano of 'One Last Thing', 'Man in the Chair', 'Snow Angels', 'Lords of Dogtown', 'Seabiscuit', etc) is conflicted by wanting to be a priest versus wanting to be a professional baseball player - he is the good kid and the last hope of his parents.
Terry tricks Cole into accompanying a house break-in and the trouble begins. The financial crisis at home drives Cole to get a job in a restaurant, and drives Desmond to menial work shining shoes. The family will support Kathleen's pregnancy, but that strips the income to the point that Cole must leave his Catholic school to be in public school, and while that seems to dash his hopes for a career in baseball, the coach at his public school (Finn Curtin) acknowledges Cole's talent and promises a future. Terry's lifestyle as a hoodlum presents increasing problems and at one point Cole gathers the courage to confront Terry during a robbery plot at Cole's work place and Terry is seriously wounded. We discover a hidden fact about Desmond that explains some of his sociopath behavior to his family and it is this discovery, coinciding with Terry's gunshot injury and Kathleen's tough life as an unwed working pregnant girl, that pulls the family unit back together.
If the plot sound like soap opera rest assured it is not. This is an intensely realistic examination of a fragile Irish Catholic family striving to makes sense of a world that is increasingly chaotic. All of the actors are excellent, but the extraordinary sensitivity and skill of young Michael Angarano make this a film to cherish. And Brad Gann is assuredly a talent to watch! Very highly recommended. Grady Harp
Understated drama with fine direction and performances
drobino10 April 2009
As anyone who has seen any of his work will know, Brendan Gleeson is one of the finest British actors working in the film industry today; likewise, one cannot help but feel that Michael Angarano and Emily VanCamp are two of cinema's brightest upcoming stars, and the rest of the cast equally solid. Although a great admirer of all these three actors and Gann's 'Invincible', I was put off from watching this for an undue length of time by the IMDb Plot description 'A teenage boy (Angarano) longs to win the attention of his emotionally distant father.' - this film is so much more than that.
This is not a film designed to showcase dramatic highs and lows - rather, it is a film about the cold, often bitter truths of life living on the fringes of society; and the angst involved in growing up given the expectations of both immediate - family - and wider society. One gets the impression that, rather like the tale of growing up in South Boston achieved by Damon and Affleck in Good Will Hunting, this tale, its characters and their mannerisms are all drawn from first-hand experience; an excerpt of that life.
It makes for difficult viewing, but not because of Gann's direction: the story is one of little laughs, long moments of reflection; little highs and big lows; and the audience cannot help but feel the helplessness of the film's characters. It is a credit to Gann, however, that he does not milk the dramatic value of the more powerful scenes to no purpose (take note, Hollywood). My greatest criticism - and not a great one at that - is that one gets the impression that Gleeson was not entirely comfortable with the South Boston accent, and one suspects that this might be a criticism levelled at him unfairly; a simple script re-write might have done wonders to solve this problem.
Certainly, anyone who knows any of the work of Gann, Gleeson or Angarano would do well to watch this, although few would likely add it to their list of favourites. That aside, this is good, solid work from Gann in the director's chair, and I for one look forward to more from him.
This is not a film designed to showcase dramatic highs and lows - rather, it is a film about the cold, often bitter truths of life living on the fringes of society; and the angst involved in growing up given the expectations of both immediate - family - and wider society. One gets the impression that, rather like the tale of growing up in South Boston achieved by Damon and Affleck in Good Will Hunting, this tale, its characters and their mannerisms are all drawn from first-hand experience; an excerpt of that life.
It makes for difficult viewing, but not because of Gann's direction: the story is one of little laughs, long moments of reflection; little highs and big lows; and the audience cannot help but feel the helplessness of the film's characters. It is a credit to Gann, however, that he does not milk the dramatic value of the more powerful scenes to no purpose (take note, Hollywood). My greatest criticism - and not a great one at that - is that one gets the impression that Gleeson was not entirely comfortable with the South Boston accent, and one suspects that this might be a criticism levelled at him unfairly; a simple script re-write might have done wonders to solve this problem.
Certainly, anyone who knows any of the work of Gann, Gleeson or Angarano would do well to watch this, although few would likely add it to their list of favourites. That aside, this is good, solid work from Gann in the director's chair, and I for one look forward to more from him.
In case you missed *the* under-rated flick of the year...
victor_pap2 February 2008
This is a spectacularly well-paced and original drama with some incredible acting on both Angarano's and Guiry's parts. Some interesting cinematic techniques from time to time enhance the remarkable story-telling in this dark coming of age story. The bits of humor also help pull you in to a surprisingly authentic South Boston scenario. With a terrific and spirited cameo by Kevin O'Donnell, alongside a refreshing cast, the characters really outshine the stereotypes right down to the shrimp-stealing busboy. Great sets, a solid and occasionally edgy soundtrack, but what's most impressive is the strong story, which rescues you from the brink of a cliché' time and again. I happened to rent this just on word-of-mouth and can't stop reflecting on some of those haunting scenes. Think of this as a gritty Good Will Hunting with a lot more 'street cred'...and heart.
The most Sincere movie I've seen in many years . .
onewhoseesme31 March 2010
What an excellent movie. With surprises all around. It would have been so very easy to make this exactly what was expected of it - a mediocre Indie Drama about a typical dysfunctional American family, with this one happening to be Irish and from Southie. What we get instead is one that fell through the cracks, as it went right to DVD. The critics and distributors missed this one. Had someone besides the author believed in it and packaged it right - it would have been a hit. It is well written, well acted, with several unexpected turns toward the Light - by multiple characters facing their own dilemma. The kind of differences that separate the bland from the sublime. I'm speaking of subtleties not the spectacular. So if you go in looking for the spectacular - you'll miss the supernatural. Which is almost always, subtle. It even manages a happy ending, which is tricky at best with a story like this. Well done all.
fullgrownministry.com
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Black Irish
Raging_Bull2716 March 2008
A young man struggles to grow up with principles as his family begins to self-destruct around him in this coming of age drama. Cole McKay (Michael Angarano) is a boy in his middle-teens growing up in an Irish-Catholic family in Boston. While Cole has dreams of playing major league baseball some day, his parents Desmond (Brendan Gleeson) and Margaret (Melissa Leo) are blind to his ambitions, and his older brother Terry (Tom Guiry) is a petty criminal who is unwittingly drawing Cole into his orbit. While Margaret is obsessed with projecting an image that the McKay family are happy and God-fearing folk, Desmond has been sinking deeper into depression ever since he lost his job, and his marriage is slowly but surely falling apart. The family's pride takes a body blow when Cole's teenage sister Kathleen (Emily Van Camp) discovers she's pregnant, but Cole decides it's time he took on some adult responsibilities, and gets himself a part-time job at a restaurant. Black Irish was the first directorial effort for screenwriter Brad Gann.
Just bad luck
jack-96417 January 2008
Black Irish is a view on the lives of a family over a period of some months. They struggle with each other over recognition, understanding, love, but always seem to fail. It could be any family, anywhere, with some bad luck. I wanted to give it a 10, but i rate too many 1's and 10's and so i try to think of reasons for deduction when i find something really good. So i came up with that this one deserves a 9 because there is no 'obvious' moralistic lesson in it. Then again, moral is subjective, so passing on this maybe i should give it extra credit, but i cant give an 11. Its just a family with bad luck.
The acting of the non-celebrities is great, the story takes you into their lives, their hurt and leaves you wondering of your own family and all that ever happened.
What is great about this one is that we are used to pick a bad guy, or woman, that you can put all the blame on. Hollywood usually helps steering you in doing so, but this time not. And that is more real than the designated bad man. One moment you think its the father being the bad man, then the mother, then the brother, or sister, but in the end they all do their little thing and just have or had bad luck. There is no bad man. No one is really to blame.
And that is pretty insightful, yet difficult to understand, so i don't think a young audience would appreciate this movie. Its not a movie you walk away from with a smile on your face. Hence the title...
Go see it.
The acting of the non-celebrities is great, the story takes you into their lives, their hurt and leaves you wondering of your own family and all that ever happened.
What is great about this one is that we are used to pick a bad guy, or woman, that you can put all the blame on. Hollywood usually helps steering you in doing so, but this time not. And that is more real than the designated bad man. One moment you think its the father being the bad man, then the mother, then the brother, or sister, but in the end they all do their little thing and just have or had bad luck. There is no bad man. No one is really to blame.
And that is pretty insightful, yet difficult to understand, so i don't think a young audience would appreciate this movie. Its not a movie you walk away from with a smile on your face. Hence the title...
Go see it.
One of the best movies of the year
thorn96918 January 2008
If you want a traditional story, with a main conflict, a villain, a hero, and a resolution, you may not enjoy this movie. But as an independent coming-of-age movie, I found it to be excellent.
The characters all demonstrate great depth, as other reviews have said. The acting is wonderful. This movie captures life - growing up - in south Boston. There is pregnancy. There is cancer. There is baseball. There is theft. But the movie is not about any one of those things. It is about humanity and living.
Other movies this year have done a better job in building tension. Other movies have been funnier. Other movies have included more commentary - a better moral - about human life. But no movie has captured the essential roller coaster of life better than this movie.
The twists, while not as shocking as others, are more real. The sadness of the movie comes in part from your familiarity with the situations. I highly recommend this movie and I hope you choose to watch it and enjoy it.
The characters all demonstrate great depth, as other reviews have said. The acting is wonderful. This movie captures life - growing up - in south Boston. There is pregnancy. There is cancer. There is baseball. There is theft. But the movie is not about any one of those things. It is about humanity and living.
Other movies this year have done a better job in building tension. Other movies have been funnier. Other movies have included more commentary - a better moral - about human life. But no movie has captured the essential roller coaster of life better than this movie.
The twists, while not as shocking as others, are more real. The sadness of the movie comes in part from your familiarity with the situations. I highly recommend this movie and I hope you choose to watch it and enjoy it.
the departed, gone, baby gone and black irish
woodjump3952 March 2008
IN the past few years we have had plenty of south Boston films, and then there are the big ones: the departed and gone baby gone. And now black irish.
The departed focused on the criminal and violent element, then gone baby gone was focused more one the police and physcological element. And black irish is now the south Boston family story.
The performances are beyond exceptional but the stand out is Michael Angarano. I haven't seen him in anything but i knew who he was. But he blew me away with the emotional depth and range he portrayed.
One of the things that surprised me was the lack of profanity and violence. Don't get me wrong there is cursing and a little bit of violence but nothing like the departed and gone baby gone.
I think any fan of the other South Boston movies should see this, but even if you didn't like those others you should see this. Truly amazing.
The departed focused on the criminal and violent element, then gone baby gone was focused more one the police and physcological element. And black irish is now the south Boston family story.
The performances are beyond exceptional but the stand out is Michael Angarano. I haven't seen him in anything but i knew who he was. But he blew me away with the emotional depth and range he portrayed.
One of the things that surprised me was the lack of profanity and violence. Don't get me wrong there is cursing and a little bit of violence but nothing like the departed and gone baby gone.
I think any fan of the other South Boston movies should see this, but even if you didn't like those others you should see this. Truly amazing.
A Great Family Story
nturner7 November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This independent film is an excellently done drama covering just a few critical months in which all the members of a South Boston Irish family undergo significant changes.
Desmond McKay is the brutish, out-of-work husband and father who has become a disappointment to himself, his wife, and his children. Margaret, his wife, is a woman bound to tradition who has become overly self-righteous in her views toward her family and her husband. Older brother, Terry is a brutish teenager well on his way to prison. Kathleen is the daughter and sister who is trying to cope with all the family conflict but who has her own problems as she is pregnant by a boyfriend not interested in his unborn child. Cole, the younger brother, is the innocent victim of all of this turmoil who is a promising baseball player at the local Catholic School and - in the hopes of his mother and priests - a future priest.
Cole is delivered a blow when he finds that he must be withdrawn from his private school to attend public school in order that his parents pay for their daughter's entry into a Catholic home for unwed mothers.
All of this appears to be extremely cliché, but considered in light of real life, this cliché is an experience being experienced over and over daily by uncountable families world-wide, and to each and every family member, their own personal struggle is far from cliché.
What makes this all work is a superior film containing superior acting and superior writing and direction.
The thing I really like about DVD's - especially those of independent films - is the insight, through the extra features, as to their making and the "blood and tears" that bring them to fruition. In the extra features we learn that Brad Gann wrote his screenplay based upon the life of his friend Finn Curtin who plays the baseball coach in the film. This gives us an insight to the actual events that lead to this fictional portrayal of a boy in crisis.
Added to the script and excellent direction, the wonderful acting makes this film a must-see.
Brendan Gleeson is great as the father reaching the end of his life who has not been the perfect man but has retained his sense of humor and irony to the very last.
Melissa Leo is unforgettable as the mother trying desperately to maintain the dignity of her family who finally realizes that heart wins over dignity.
Emily VanCamp is both heartbreaking and heartwarming as the daughter and sister who has sacrificed her own self-image in the quest for family unity only to find it and become a pillar of strength after she becomes pregnant.
Tom Guiry is superior as the object of hate and compassion as the older brother who has become the "bad son." And finally, Michael Angarano steals your heart and soul as the son trying to love all of his family no matter each of their weaknesses.
Unless you grew up on the perfect family, you should be able to find identity with one or more of these characters. This is a great family story surely worthwhile of viewing.
Desmond McKay is the brutish, out-of-work husband and father who has become a disappointment to himself, his wife, and his children. Margaret, his wife, is a woman bound to tradition who has become overly self-righteous in her views toward her family and her husband. Older brother, Terry is a brutish teenager well on his way to prison. Kathleen is the daughter and sister who is trying to cope with all the family conflict but who has her own problems as she is pregnant by a boyfriend not interested in his unborn child. Cole, the younger brother, is the innocent victim of all of this turmoil who is a promising baseball player at the local Catholic School and - in the hopes of his mother and priests - a future priest.
Cole is delivered a blow when he finds that he must be withdrawn from his private school to attend public school in order that his parents pay for their daughter's entry into a Catholic home for unwed mothers.
All of this appears to be extremely cliché, but considered in light of real life, this cliché is an experience being experienced over and over daily by uncountable families world-wide, and to each and every family member, their own personal struggle is far from cliché.
What makes this all work is a superior film containing superior acting and superior writing and direction.
The thing I really like about DVD's - especially those of independent films - is the insight, through the extra features, as to their making and the "blood and tears" that bring them to fruition. In the extra features we learn that Brad Gann wrote his screenplay based upon the life of his friend Finn Curtin who plays the baseball coach in the film. This gives us an insight to the actual events that lead to this fictional portrayal of a boy in crisis.
Added to the script and excellent direction, the wonderful acting makes this film a must-see.
Brendan Gleeson is great as the father reaching the end of his life who has not been the perfect man but has retained his sense of humor and irony to the very last.
Melissa Leo is unforgettable as the mother trying desperately to maintain the dignity of her family who finally realizes that heart wins over dignity.
Emily VanCamp is both heartbreaking and heartwarming as the daughter and sister who has sacrificed her own self-image in the quest for family unity only to find it and become a pillar of strength after she becomes pregnant.
Tom Guiry is superior as the object of hate and compassion as the older brother who has become the "bad son." And finally, Michael Angarano steals your heart and soul as the son trying to love all of his family no matter each of their weaknesses.
Unless you grew up on the perfect family, you should be able to find identity with one or more of these characters. This is a great family story surely worthwhile of viewing.
And the Best Kept Secret Award for 2007 goes to
Black Irish
g0dolphins9 March 2008
Is this a baseball movie? Maybe. But if it isn't it certainly is a gut wrenching, laugh out loud, sob and sniffle, slice of life pic that is just magic from beginning to end movie. Simply put, this is one of the best movies that you have never heard of, and in today's age of instant gratification, that is remarkable.
I have already told you more than what I knew about this movie before I rented it, and that's saying too much. Trust me. If this has piqued your curiosity, then RUN, do not walk, to your nearest video rental store and bring home a copy. You'll thank me for it. What a pleasant surprise it was. 8 out of 10
I have already told you more than what I knew about this movie before I rented it, and that's saying too much. Trust me. If this has piqued your curiosity, then RUN, do not walk, to your nearest video rental store and bring home a copy. You'll thank me for it. What a pleasant surprise it was. 8 out of 10
Mistakes on web site
lexvmi7 December 2009
To put it bluntly, there is no error in the officer and enlisted uniforms as depicted in the movie. Enlisted Marines do not have a 'blood red stripe' down their dress blue trouser legs; only NCOs, SNCOs, and officers have 'blood red stripes' down their trouser legs in memory of all the blood lost in the taking of Chapaultepec Castle during the Mexican War. General officers have a 2 inch 'blood red stripe;' company grade and field grade officers have a 1.5 inch 'blood red stripe;' and non-commissioned officers and staff non-commissioned officers have a 1.125 inch 'blood red stripe' down their dress blue trouser legs. The hanging dress blues is a staff sergeant uniform and probably is there as a model for recruits to see. It definitely does not belong to the lieutenant, or sergeant at the desk in front of the lieutenant. The lieutenant's dress blues uniform is darker, almost black, than a NCO or SNCO uniform per regulation. I served in the USMC 1968 to 1972 and was released as a sergeant. I wore dress blues on active duty as that was the uniform of the day. Again, there is no mistake in dress blues except your call in judgment of who wears dress blues in USMC which is completely wrong. Semper Fi
Film making and acting at its finest
tzewaichung13 March 2009
This is simply one of the best films I've seen. It's not about adrenaline fuelled action or big set pieces. It's about real life and real people. And what makes this film work is the masterful directing and the first class acting.
All the main cast members pull out great performances. Michael Angarano is terrific as the lead in a career defining performance. I agree with a previous reviewer about the emotional depth in his eyes and facial expressions which are both subtle and complex but always on the money.
Many things I can relate to in this movie, it's quite tragic but warm and satisfying at the same time.
Watch this movie if you like films that are more real and enjoy great acting and direction.
All the main cast members pull out great performances. Michael Angarano is terrific as the lead in a career defining performance. I agree with a previous reviewer about the emotional depth in his eyes and facial expressions which are both subtle and complex but always on the money.
Many things I can relate to in this movie, it's quite tragic but warm and satisfying at the same time.
Watch this movie if you like films that are more real and enjoy great acting and direction.
A terrific movie with great performances
jmurraymeriden5 June 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I'd heard about this movie in an interview Emily Van Camp did at the time she joined the show Sons And Daughters,so when I saw it at my local Hollywood Video store on sale used for $5.99,I decided to pick it up,and boy,am I glad I did! This is a powerful and moving film about the disintegration of an Irish-American family in South Boston.First time director Brad Gann also wrote the screenplay and did a remarkable job.The performances by the actors playing the family are excellent to a one.Brendan Gleeson is magnificent as the Vietnam vet father,whose loss of work and descent into alcohol-fueled despair make him a shadow of the man who was.Melissa Leo as the Irish born mother(her brogue is perfect)clinging to faith and tradition shines.Emily Van Camp is great as the pregnant daughter who decides to go it alone.Tom Guiry shows both love and menace as the thuggish older brother.Michael Angarano,as the center of the film,younger son Cole who has baseball dreams is a revelation.10/10
Give yourself a Gift of a lovely couple of hours
wanbliwinyan29 August 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I happened by this movie,flipping through the channels. What a wonderful surprise. I love Brendon Gleeson, one of our best actors in this time...I like Michael Angarano and am enjoying watching him grow with each project. Melissa Leo is a outstanding, understated actress who brings a lot of depth no matter how big or small the part. The story of this Irish family ebbed and flowed so beautifully, I was surprised when it was over. I won't give any spoilers, but I will say, I personally found the ending perfect. If you want to give yourself a wonderful, tender gift. Watch this movie, you will not be disappointed. No matter your ethnic heritage, you can relate to all the trials and tribulations in this family.
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