Black Irish (2007)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Brad Gann

Writer (WGA):

Brad Gann (written by)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

You can't choose family.

Plot:

A teenage boy (Angarano) longs to win the attention of his emotionally distant father.

Plot Keywords:

Catholic | Baseball | Life And Death | Irish | Family Relationships

Awards:

10 wins

Cast

Michael Angarano	...	Cole McKay
Brendan Gleeson	...	Desmond McKay
Tom Guiry	...	Terry McKay
Melissa Leo	...	Margaret McKay
Emily VanCamp	...	Kathleen McKay
Michael Rispoli	...	Joey
Finn Curtin	...	Coach
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ken Arpino	...	Valet
Wilson Better	...	Graves
Francis Capra	...	Anthony
Mark S. Cartier	...	Mr. Quint
A.J. Coppola	...	Hoodlum
Peter Darrigo	...	Track Buddy #1
Steven Paul Davis	...	Valet #1
Jeffrey DelliColli	...	Restaurant Cook
Bonnie Dennison	...	Donna O'Leary
William Ellis	...	Busboy / Student
John Fiore	...	Orsini
Steve Flynn	...	Stolen car victim
Joanna Herrington	...	Mrs. O'Leary
David Ian	...	Priest
Tom Kemp	...	Priest
Caryn Andrea Lindsey	...	Pregnant Girly #1
Andrea Lyman	...	Nurse
Dave Matt	...	Valet
Joe McEachern	...	Cop
Kate Murphy	...	Restaurant Patron
Kevin O'Donnell	...	Fired Busboy
Carmel O'Reilly	...	Sister Agatha
Danielle Perry	...	Sister Mary Elise
David Rasner	...	Various Voices (voice)
Harvey Soolman	...	Umpire
Stream	...	Dinner Guest
Frank T. Wells	...	Father Magruder
Bates Wilder	...	Officer Cowen
Scott Winters	...	Doctor
Joseph Zamparelli	...	Track Buddy #2
Peter Ziobro	...	Bus Stop Patron

MPAA:

Rated R for some language and brief violence.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Creanspeak Funding

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the scene in the McKay's living room where the Father is comparing life to baseball while watching the game, the first shots of the game are the Red Sox playing at Yankee Stadium, while the later shots in the conversation show the Red Sox paying home at Fenway Park.

Quotes:

Coach: You know what genealogy is?
Cole McKay: No.
Coach: Study of family tree. You can't escape it.
[after a pause]
Coach: Your father had a talent, and he threw it away.

the departed, gone, baby gone and black irish

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.