Irish Films I Haven’t Seen
With the week that’s in it, I thought I’d do one of my disclosure posts.
You know the way I talk about all things Irish as if I know all there is to know about all things Irish and indeed have been Irish, have done Irish, and have bought the Irish t-shirt more than you?
Well I’m going to continue that.
But here’s a list of Irish films that I’ll admit to somehow never seeing, yet wanting to:
• The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (Amazon)
• High Boot Benny (Time Out NY)
• Rat (Amazon)
• Reefer and the Model (Trinity College)
• I Went Down (RottenTomatoes | Salon)
• Kings (IMdB)
• Broken Harvest (Amazon)
• Dancing at Lughnasa (Amazon)
• Inside I’m Dancing AKA Rory O’Shea Was Here (Amazon)
• Angela’s Ashes (Amazon)
• Some Mother’s Son (Reelviews)
• Bloody Sunday (Amazon)
I also haven’t seen the likes of The Nephew (Amazon), This is My Father (Amazon), The Matchmaker (Amazon), The Playboys (Amazon), or Da (Amazon), and I’ve no huge desire to. I suspect that they’re all the same film anyway.
Note that the Amazon links are affiliate links to the DVDs i.e. I’ll earn a few cents should you use one of those links to purchase the film.
If you’re American and wondering, I should add that I also haven’t seen Darby O’Gill and the Little People, and I never will. I won’t even look up a link for you.
It being Oscar Sunday I’ll post a companion list in a short while - a more positive list.
More On Movies:
• My Irish Tip for Last Year’s Oscars
• Sam Neill
• 3 Kids Movies (with Irish Actors) I recommend
• What Means Motley? A Review by Me!
• The Irish Gay Icon Who Shot Michael Collins
• Pirates: Dead Man’s Ren Fest
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
I saw “Once” lately. Pretty good film, if you get the chance.
Ha! Nice one, Sam.
Push Inside I’m Dancing to the top of the list, Eolaí. Class altogether.
Sam, there’s an outdoor screening of Once here in Dublin in a couple of weeks as part of the St Patrick’s Festival, and it’s followed by a talk from the makers. It’s free but limited and FilmBase have told me they’ve reserved a couple of spaces for me.
Primal, Inside I’m Dancing is actually very high because the story and original script were written by a very close friend of mine when we were housemates, and I would have met the man who one of the main characters is loosely based on. In the US it only got a limited release of a couple of art houses in New York and Sundance I think.
Once came in the mail this week but I’ve been putting off watching it because I fear that I’m going to hate it.
eolai,
Like you I have never had a desire to see Darby O’Gill but screwed up my courage and had a look at it for a review awhile back. And I have to admit it wasn’t at all as horrible as I thought it would be. It’s no Wind That Shakes the Barley and I would certainly never recommend anyone assume it comprises the totality of Irish culture, but I have had to take it off my “would rather have a root canal without anesthetic” list.
Of course, I will also admit that I have always really enjoyed the metaphysical aspects of Da, so there you go.
Oh, and another flick you might want to add to the list is Brendan Gleason’s “The General.” One of my favorites.
Pete - I can’t add The General to the list because I’ve seen it and this is a list of films not seen (only by me of course so it’s very unfair on everybody else) - however the sister post of the other list is on the way, and I can tell you that The General is on that one.
The brand new Brendan Gleeson one (and Colin Farrell) - Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges I expect to add to list immediately.
Medbh - Maybe Once will keep until after your trip to Ireland, and that might change your outlook on it, if only to look at the Dublin that you’re refreshed yourself on?
I’d like to recommend you see (and add to your “see it” list):
Inside I’m Dancing (US: Rory O’Shea Was Here) which was on cable several times during the last year. WONDERFUL film (even though James McEvoy is actually scottish; he did a terrific job)
Mickybo & Me: again saw it on cable; glad I saw it because I haven’t been able to find it to buy or rent. It was terrific - based on a play (about two boys from “opposite sides in Belfast” who become friends at the start of the Troubles in 1970. The boys share an obsession with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid).
I also liked An Everlasting Piece (though it’s not everyone’s cup of tea). Again Belfast, Catholic/protestant relationship, 1980’s, some comedic elements.
Am I totally lame to recommend Waking Ned Devine? I really love that film.
I agree w/ you: I loved Millions, too (though technically not Irish film, it does have a terrific Irish actor playing the dad and I wish the boys were Irish. They’re brilliant kid actors - very natural and really act like brothers).
Darby O’Gill & the Little People - again, I’m lame (and I hate to possibly lose all credibility on this), but it’s got a special place in my heart for sentimental reasons: it was the first “Irish” film I remember seeing (I think even before Quiet Man). I know Sean Connery isn’t Irish and his accent is soooo not Irish: but it was easier to discuss/explain some Irish legends/stories to my kids after viewing it together. It’s definitely not Irish Art, but not horrible for a “Disneyfied” version of an Irish story.
Irish Mama - thanks very much for the suggestions, though I’m not doing the Darby O’Gill thing. I should add that I despise The Quiet Man with a quiet passion.
Inside I’m Dancing is on the list - Although I haven’t seen it I am very familiar with the story (see my comment #3 above)
Mickey Bo & Me I’ve seen so I can’t include it on this list but I hope others are noting your recommendation for it. Similarly Waking Ned Devine (or just waking Ned as it’s known in ireland and Britain) is another film I’ve seen so can’t put on the list of films I haven’t seen - but I’m not a huge fan of it anyway so it won’t be making the list of my favourite Irish films either. I can see why some people do like it however.
The story behind why so many people, including me, haven’t seen An Evertasting Piece is a fascinating one of dreams not coming true.
I must say that I’ve never had a problem with Sean Connery playing Irish roles - probably because he tends to just use his normal Scottish accent. It’s a bit like German soldiers speaking English; I can get past it in a way I can’t with badly faked accents.