Motherf#$!@ Snakes on a Motherf#$!@ Isle: St. Pat’s Film Fest
By Dennis Hartley
Since this week’s post happens to fall on everybody’s favorite drinking holiday, I thought I would share some of my recommendations for a green-themed DVD night (this isn’t meant to be a mountaintop pronouncement of “the best”, just some suggestions):
The Crying Game -Neil Jordan’s unique IRA political thriller/trannie love story is still a jaw-dropper; with killer performances from Stephen Rea, Jaye Davidson, Miranda Richardson and this year’s Oscar/Golden Globe winner Forest Whitaker.
The General-Brendan Gleeson explodes onscreen like an Irish Tony Soprano as real-life gangster Martin Cahill. A real sleeper from cult director John Boorman.
The Butcher Boy-Yes, another one from director Neil Jordan, featuring one of the most extraordinary performances I have ever seen by a child actor (midget Brando Eamonn Owens). Alternately heartbreaking and savagely funny-a real gem.
U2 – Rattle and Hum-Artfully produced rock doc from Phil Joanou. They’re a band from Dublin, y’know. P.S.-Fook the Revolution!
State of Grace-Another film from Phil Joanou; a contemporary NYC Irish gangster story with Westies Sean Penn, Gary Oldman and Ed Harris all doing their best to out-DeNiro each other (to label their performances as “intense” would be a gross understatement).
The Quiet Man -Yeah yeah I know “Duh-obvious choice” but hey-that is one kickass donnybrook, and Maureen O’Hara is a babe. This is one of the few John Wayne movies I’ve ever been able to watch more than once (and besides, John Ford’s no slouch, either).
The Secret of Roan Inish-More effortless genre-hopping from John Sayles; an engaging fairy tale, devoid of the usual “magical family film” clichés. And you can’t lose when you match up that gorgeous Irish coastline with god of cinematography Haskell Wexler.
Into the West-Okay, okay, it’s another “magical family film” (so shoot me). Actually much darker in tone than “Secret of Roan Inish”, but just as good. Beautiful humans (Gabriel Byrne, Ellen Barkin) and a magic horse-what more could you ask for?
Denis Leary-OK, enough with all the warm and fuzzy family crap. This DVD compiles Leary’s earlier, funny stuff (before he went all “serious actor” on us). So invite some friends over, raise a glass of green beer and sing along with “I’m An Asshole” at the top of your lungs-c’mon, you know the words!
