 | |
List Price: $6.99 | | Label: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
Salesrank: 35287
Released: January 8, 2008 |
| Our Price: $4.04 |
| Used Price: $1.42 |
|
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
A powerful, "fine study of everyday heroism" (VARIETY) and featuring brilliant performances by an all-star cast, Black Irish is haunting and unforgettable. In South Boston, where Irish roots run deep and Catholic tradition reigns, two brothers face similar hardships but lead far different lives. While older brother Terry descends into drugs and crime, 16-year-old Cole (Michael Angarano) vies to make the state baseball championships--but must struggle to withstand his brother's destructive influence. When the two inevitably clash in a life-and-death confrontation, family ties--and futures--are at stake. DVD FEATURES include a Behind the Scenes of Black Irish and a Commentary Track.
Black Irish Reviews:
KUDOS FOR THIS INDIE FILM 
2009-12-05 - tHIS is a beautifully crafted film. I understand it was made in 22 days. Clearly small budget, but not small scope, poignancy, or amatuerish.
This film-maker knows what he's doing.
Make it a family experience. Human problems worth discussing afterwards.
sincerely,
sidney B. Simon
Prosaic 
2009-11-01 - A controlled, careful poignancy is both the crown jewel and mortar for this solid film.
What holds it back from greatness, however, is its adherence to the trappings of protagonist and plot. While the boy's character was fairly strong, the insistence on focusing on him often left me feeling like he was standing in front of me at a theater, with me straining to see past his moving head. Also, I secretly wished that he wasn't at all exceptional at playing baseball.
So very much depends on the difference between prosaic and prosaic.
On a personal level, as a side note, I once told someone that I couldn't picture a boy crying over a pet rabbit that had died. Well, now I can.
Black Irish
2009-08-30 - Thought this was a well done movie. A real American story of Family and not Fantasy.Little known actors that deliver big.I would recomend this movie to any one living in the real world.Some people don't get it that life happens and people get through it bye playiong the cards they are delt.
Great work not to be missed
2008-10-29 - It was such a pleasure to watch this realistic and compelling piece of work from writer director Brad Gann. It is the story of a family trying to cope and stuggle with many different issues all at the same time. Set in South Boston, it presents a very realistic and intense view of family life. Michael Angarano is simply fantastic as the younger of three siblings trying to cope with an Irish Catholic family that is both dysfunctional and bursting with intense love. Older brother Terry, portrayed with honesty and intelligence by Tom Guiry, cannot seem to find his niche in the world while daughter Kate struggles with a pregnancy that is shameful at first to her family. As these characters collide we discover a lost talent the father, Brendan Gleeson In Bruges, simply threw away has resurfaced in his younger child Angarano (he is a prodigy pitcher at baseball.) This Echo Bridge release should not be missed and the emoting of these actors are rare and first rate. The stunning conclusion, which I will not give away here, will make your heart swell. It is simply a gem and if you get the chance buy it. You will not regret it.
Black Irish Are Everywhere
2008-10-28 - I grew up in the city of Woodside, Queens New York. The whole neighborhood was Irish Catholic and as the mother in this movie protests the daughter's decision to have an abortion and cart her away so the neighbors won't talk. This also was the Black Irish of Woodside. In the end the mother was right and therefore my mom and dad had 11 children. I used to ask her why she had so many kids and she would say, "who would you like me to give back?" Then she'd name my siblings from the oldest to the youngest and I'd shiver in fear of the thought of losing any of them.
I had a tough older brother who always was getting into trouble and I was the passive one. It took the police to get him back into shape in his early teen years but since about the age of 19 he has been a fine upstanding citizen since with a wife from Woodside. In fact my other brother married her sister so it's all in the neighborhood. Since then we have all moved away from Woodside which looks like a different country now.
Yes my dad was as stubborn as the father here. He drank every day but did what ever he could to support us. He had a fine job with Ma Bell phone company for 25 years and used to wash down the altar at St. Theresa's Church and school around the corner to help pay the tuition. He died at 52 from cancer but not before holding his first grandchild who is Afro-American/Irish and the gem of our hearts.
I felt like I was watching my life pass by my eyes. My cousins live in Boston and they're the same as us but we didn't get to see each other as much as we wanted growing up since it was hard to bring 11 children over for the weekend.
My friend is of Danish ancestory and he enjoyed it as much as I did. I saw his tears swell in many of the scenes. Terry was tough from lack of understanding and love and when he reached out to the Marine recruiter he was cut down again. Cole loved his whole family as much as Terry but Cole had the ability to share it, keep quiet when he knew talking would do no good but persisted in his dreams. My first job was also in a fine Italian eatery. Like another reviewer the bird scene on Cole's first date is hysterical.
If ever there was a movie that was pitch perfect to the fact it surely is this one. I must say to another reviewer that streets are empty in a movie so the viewer can see the scenery otherwise if it was packed as I'm sure it usually is one might not know where they are.
The police also let us get away with things that were not so much crimminal but not always upright. Of course they also were Irish Catholic too. Everyone knew everyone.
Another great movie that's out on DVD is In BurgesIn Brugeswith the father from this movie and Colin Farell. It's not in the states but it's funny as all get out. My father was born in Galway, Ireland with his thick black Irish hair and my mother's mother was from County Claire.
Someone give that guy back his $24. I'm sorry he didn't enjoy it as much as the rest of us and I believe it's totally unfair to give it one star. But he certainly has the right to say what he thinks of it as we all have our own opinions.
