Our Favorite Irish Films
Whether or not it was apparent, this year was actually a pretty big year for Irish filmmakers and actors. Michael Fassbender was nominated for his performance as Steve Jobs; Irish filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson made his breakout hit ROOM, and BROOKLYN, from an Irish filmmaker, about Ireland, adapted from an Irish novelist’s book, and starring an Irish lead, was massively popular. We’ve seen new movies with Saoirse Ronan, Colin Ferrell, the irreproachable Brendan Gleeson, and these days it’s impossible to avoid seeing a movie starring his son, Dohmnall Gleeson (for example). And so, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite Irish films either set in Ireland, starring Irish actors, or made by Irish filmmakers.
CALVARY
From 2014, Calvary is a fantastic slow-boil thriller from John Michael McDonagh and starring Brendan Gleeson and the typically comedic Chris O’Dowd. A sort of moral whodunit that follows a priest, played by Gleeson, who is anonymously threatened during a confession and spends a week contemplating his doomed fate. I know that sounds heavy, but there are some moments of levity and the Irish countryside is captured in all of its stunning glory.
FRANK
Room director Lenny Abrahamson first came international notoriety with 2014’s dark musical comedy, Frank about an enigmatic and obsessive-compulsive musician who is never seen without wearing a giant fake head. A young musician, played by the ever-present Domhnall Gleeson (seriously, he was in 4 MAJOR movies in 2015), finds himself joining a band led by the mysterious front-man Frank while they are recording their most ambitious album yet. This movie is quirky, funny, and fascinating and accomplishes something that is rare in music movies: making up fake songs for a fictional band that are actually good! Think Frank Zappa meets the Talking Heads. Not a great movie if you want to see Michael Fassbender’s handsome face, but the product is an incredibly unique movie experience! Check out one of the songs from this movie below. That’s actually Fassbender singing! (You can celebrate with this one tonight — it is currently streaming on Netflix.)
THE QUIET MAN
Somewhat of a departure for the actor-director pair John Wayne and John Ford from their traditional Western fare, this 1952 romantic comedy was set in a fictional Irish village in the 1920’s. A retired boxer from Pittsburgh, played by John Wayne, travels back home to Ireland to reclaim his family’s farm — once there he falls in love with a young woman, played by the phenomenally talented Irish actress Maureen O’Hara. The Quiet Manis based on a short story by Maurice Walsh originally published in the Saturday Evening Post. Ford read the story in 1933 and immediately bought the film rights from the author for $10. Don’t worry, Walsh was later paid $3,750 once the film was made twenty years later. Unlike many other movies from the same era, this film was shot on location in Mayo and Galway, and the results are spectacular. The film took home Best Director and Best Cinematography for Winton Hoch’s gorgeous technicolor photography. (Also streaming on Netflix.)
HUNGER
The harrowing true story of activist Bobby Sands leading a hunger strike in a Northern Irish prison in 1981. This film was the first feature-length release from director Steve McQueen who would go on to produce Shame and the Best Picture winner 12 Years a Slave. McQueen’s regular collaborator Michael Fassbender gives a heart-wrenching performance as Sands in this provocative film. There are many hard-to-watch moments in Hunger, given the historical atmosphere and the subject matter, but McQueen’s direction and Fassbender’s acting create a film of insurmountable talent.
THE DEAD
What would a list of Irish films be without a James Joyce adaptation? John Huston’s final film The Dead is adapted from the brilliant final story in Joyce’s Dubliners. It’s a difficult task to reproduce all of the subtle nuances of Joyce’s writing on screen and the master John Huston manages to do so gracefully. He handles it particularly well in the final moments of the film which are taken verbatim from the final lines of the story. I’m not sure if this could be categorized as a spoiler, but below is the powerful ending of Huston’s film which also serves as a beautiful conclusion for his prolific career.
Bonus fun fact: James Joyce founded the first ever movie theater in Ireland in 1909!
IN BRUGES
Irish writer/director Martin McDonagh is typically known for his stage productions which are chock-full of wit and murder. McDonagh has also directed several films (with a new one in production!): the powerhouse short film Six Shooter, the darkly comedic puppy-caper Seven Psychopaths, and 2008’s philosophical hitman tale In Bruges. Colin Ferrell stars as a hitman dealing with a doubt of faith after a botched job, and cooling his heels in Bruges, Belgium. Brendan Gleeson plays the older, wiser hitman who helps Ferrell cope with his struggles. On the surface, what looks like a typical gangster movie unravels into a brilliant and surreal exploration of the human condition. It’s funny, introspective, exciting, and thoughtful — I really can’t recommend this movie enough. (This is your third Netflix option if the other two did not suit your fancy.)
Speaking of Martin McDonagh, we’ve got the National Theatre Live production of his play HANGMEN coming this spring to our theaters! Visit our website for more information.
Obviously there are plenty of other great Irish titles like My Left Foot, The Crying Game, Waking Ned Devine,The Commitments, Once, and a bevy of great actors such as Peter O’Toole, Liam Neeson, and Geraldine Fitzgerald — what are some of your favorites? Share your picks in the comment section or on social media. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
