It is March once again, and we are celebrating Irish-American films this month! The comedy drama Red Roses and Petrol, starring Malcolm McDowell, is packed full of Irish-American traditions and culture which the viewers can relate to, or identify with in their own families, while the upcoming The Secret Scripture, starring Eric Bana and Rooney Mara, will be bringing the thrilling novel to the big screen.
To further engulf ourselves in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, here is a hand-picked list of excellent Irish-American films that are timeless, captivating, and filled with the “luck of the Irish.”
Whether that means good or bad luck, it is for the audience to decide!
Be sure to watch "Red Roses and Petrol" this month on Vimeo, indiemoviestore.com and other streaming movie websites.
Top 5 Favorite Irish-American Movies of all Time
Gangs of New York ( 2002 ) - Irish immigrants in 1860’s New York City, led by Liam Neeson and Leonardo DiCaprio, clash with the "native" New Yorkers, led by Daniel Day-Lewis in his brilliant performance as Bill "The Butcher,” and spill blood all over the ghettoes of the Five Points district in Martin Scorsese's post-9/11 tribute to New York City.
The Commitments (1991) - A couple of unemployed Dubliners form an off-beat soul band in filmmaker Alan Parker's 1991 favorite. Winner of the BAFTA for Best Picture in the year it was released, it has also been voted Best Irish Film of All-Time by Jameson Whiskey in 2005. The Commitments well deserves a spot on this list.
Rudy (1993) - Rudy is an American sports film which depicts the the life of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, who harbored dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame (the “Fightin’ Irish”) despite significant obstacles. It was the first movie that the Notre Dame administration allowed to be shot on campus since Knute Rockne, All American in 1940.
The Fighter (2011) - The Fighter is a timeless drama about boxer "Irish" Micky Ward's (played by Mark Wahlberg) unlikely road to the world light welterweight title. His Rocky-like rise was shepherded by half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer on the verge of being KO'd by crack cocaine and crime. Christian Bale won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Dicky, and Melissa Leo won the Oscar as well for Best Supporting Actress.
Boondock Saints (1999) - While 'The Departed' was the traditional look at the Irish mob and a corrupt police force, 'The Boondock Saints' parodies the crime drama and creates its own personality of an Irish American tale told many times over. The film has been described as exhilarating, distorted, at moments philosophical, filled with witty dialogue, as well as over the top violence throughout. It's a cult classic worth watching if you've never seen it.
