To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, BWE.tv has compiled a list of The 10 Best Irish Movies. As in the case with most limited lists, some of your favorites were probably left off. Feel free to add your own in the comments. And happy and healthy beer crawl! BONUS: This list features one bullet point written almost entirely by my own mother. Enjoy!
10. The Crying Game. To quote my favorite American movie Mrs. Doubtfire, “She’s a he-he.” But putting aside that fact that you get to spy a tranny’s ballsack, The Crying Game happens to be a moving love story and crushing drama, starring one of the best ugly-hot actors of all time, Stephen Rea. And yeah, I owned the Boy George cassette single in the 7th grade, but thankfully I had no friends with which to make fun of me for it.
9. Waking Ned Devine. This adorable Irish comedy combines two of our top 5 favorite things ever: Old people and the lottery. Added to this list as it features many a familiar Irish face, not to mention boatloads of runaway coffin b-roll footage.
8. The Commitments. We had to limit our Top 10 Irish Movies List to just one musical, and when it comes down to The Commitments vs. Once, there is only one clear winner… and it isn’t Once. Based on a short story by famed Irish writer Roddy Doyle, The Commitments chronicles a group of out-of-work Dubliners who join forces to create a one of a kind soul band that’s got flare to spare. The music from the film became a huge success independently of the movie, and you know? It still holds up today. Your quintessential Irish film: Ups, downs, laughs, tears, underdogs, cigarettes, bars, Irish things, Ireland.
7. The Magdelene Sisters. Are you a fallen woman? Wonder what life would have been like back in 19th century Ireland? Well, according to fabulous Irish drama The Magdelene Sisters, life would have been pretty f**kin’ terrible. The sotry follows four girls forced to live in a Convent Laundry — Irish slang for religious ladies prison, or “nun jail” — where they proceed to get treated like animals. Some manage to overcome the abuse; other succumb to it. Deeply disturbing? You bet your Irish ass.
6. Michael Collins. Check it out… his name is like my name! Only his name brings to mind an Irish radical who founded the Irish Free State, whereas my name brings to mind a Jewish blogger who enjoys Activia shakes (the food and also the side effect) in her spare time. Plus, the movie features my favorite Irish actor Liamaidan Quinneeson. (It’s like picking between children.)
5. Angela’s Ashes. Added to this list for its featuring of bicycle tire shoes, my favorite style.
4. Patriot Games. Technically, an American film, directed by an Australian, but at its heart, a moving and suspenseful action movie about the IRA starring Harrison Ford before he got his ears pierced. No rolling hills or rousing bar scenes in this one, but proof that you don’t ever want to f**k with the Irish.
3. The Brothers McMullen. The original Blair Witch Project, in that it was made for something like $28,000 to make, the movie follows three of the most Irish-looking bastards you’ve ever seen. It is also the work that brought perhaps Ireland’s best looking actor Ed Burns to Hollywood’s attention. Thanks to The Brothers McMullen, we were able to enjoy such other cinematic classics such as She’s the One… 15 Minutes… One Missed Ca– I’ll stop.
(Above, a scene where the two main characters of Ryan’s Daughter meet.)
2. Ryan’s Daughter. Sad to say, but I’ve never actually seen Ryan’s Daughter. Thankfully, it happens to by my mother’s favorite movie ever. I decided to call her this morning, while she was running late for work, to get her direct review. And here is what she had to say: “Uch Numero uno. The best music, best cinematrography. David Lean directed it, the director of Dr. Zhivago. It’s sprawling! The acting is flawless. Nevermind the acting, the music! It’s the same composer that wrote the music for Dr. Zhivago — I think his name is Maurice Jarre — you’ll have to Google it up for the spelling. John Mills won Best Supporting Actor for playing the Village Idiot. And it’s really the story of the IRA. Northern Ireland wants to secede from the other Ireland. I saw it at the Ziegfeld about 5 times when it came out… well first of all the music, on the big screen, it’s almost like being there! It’s the fabulous story of a young girl, the daughter of a tavern owner, that marries a teacher. And England is occupying the territory. And a new English officer that any girl who would lay eyes on would want to shtup — Christopher Jones, Michelle you would sh*t if you saw him. And he starts an affair with this girl to end all affairs, I mean to die for. He was in a war and so he’s dragging his leg. And the village idiot — even he is mocking them! And how the town ostracized her. Michelle, it’s the best movie ever, I’m telling you. It sounds lame when I’m telling you but it’s a killer. Michelle, I’m late for work, you can’t Red Tomato it and see what it’s about?”
1. In The Name of the Father. Not just my favorite Irish movie of all time, but one of my favorite movies ever. The movie is based on the life story of Gerry Conlon (whose equally intriguing book was used as the basis for the screenplay), and directed by acclaimed Irish director Jim Sheridan. This true story follows Conlon, played by master actor Daniel Day-Lewis, a young man who, along with a group of family and friends, is convicted of an IRA bombing of two pubs in Belfast. Conlon and his father spend 15 years in prison trying to prove their innocence. It is at once empowering and moving, crushing and spirited. If you haven’t seen it… why am I even talking to you? Go, now. (pause) Well go!
