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10. "Waking Ned Devine"
Charming comedy set in a tiny, rural Irish town. When lottery winner Ned Devine is found dead - lottery ticket in hand and all - the townsfolk ban together to fool the authorities into thinking Ned is alive so they can receive the cash and share it. Starring Ian Bannen and Fionnula Flanagan.
9. "Once"
A beautiful, romantic, original musical set in the streets of Dublin. Glen Hansard of The Frames plays a street musician who meets fellow musician and Czech immigrant (Marketa Irglova). Together they work through pain, the past and new love through captivating music. Hansard and Irglova won the Oscar for Best Original Song (2007).
8. "The Crying Game"
The controversial film that put Irish director/screenwriter Neil Jordan on the map. Set in rural Ireland and bustling London, IRA member Fergus (Stephen Rea) develops a friendship with his captive, Jody (Forest Whittaker), and the kidnapping goes horribly wrong. Fergus then flees to London, where he seeks out Jody's girlfriend, Dil. An intense and thorny plot ensues.
7. "The Snapper"
Endearing Roddy Doyle novel-turned-screenplay. An unwed 20-year-old named Sharon Curly shakes up a working class Irish community when she becomes pregnant and refuses to name the father. Though full of quick wit and sarcastic banter, the dramedy has its touching, "family values" moments. Starring Colm Meaney and Tina Kellegher.
6. "Intermission"
A dark comedy with an Irish star-studded cast. "Intermission" follows the lives of a handful of dysfunctional characters whose choices all unwittingly affect each other's lives. Set in Dublin, the film takes on the grand themes of life, love and the law. Starring Cillian Murphy and Colin Farrell.
5. "In the Name of the Father"
Oscar-nominated film based on the real-life experiences of Gerry Conlon, the alleged leader of the Guildford Four. Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Conlon, a Belfast man wrongly imprisoned for the 1974 IRA bombing of a pub in the U.K. Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, In the Name of the Father shows one man's 15-year struggle for his innocence and for truth.
4. "The Field"
A story about an Irishman's love of his land from director Jim Sheridan. Bull McCabe (played by Richard Harris, who was nominated for an Oscar for the role) is a farmer in Ireland's rural west. When his field is threatened to be sold to an outsider, Bull will do anything in his power to stop it from happening. An unforgettable film about the conflict between "old" and "new" Ireland.
3. "My Left Foot"
A true story about an Irishman who overcomes his disability to become an amazing painter, poet and writer. Another film from Jim Sheridan, the film documents the extraordinary life of Christy Brown (Daniel Day-Lewis), a working class Irishman born with crippling cerebral palsy. With the encouragement of his mother, played by Brenda Fricker, Christy learns to write and draw with his only functional limb - his left foot. Both Day-Lewis and Fricker won Academy Awards for their roles.
2. "The Quiet Man"
A beloved classic starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. A romantic drama from director John Ford, "The Quiet Man" tells the story of Sean Thornton, a retired American boxer who relocates to Ireland to reclaim his family's farm, and Mary Kate Danaher, the fiery Irishwoman he falls in love with. Though its portrayal of Ireland may be a bit outdated, the film is a genuine tribute to Eire, and both an American and Irish favorite.
1. "The Commitments"
Legendary Irish film about a group of down-and-out Dubliners who form a soul band. Jimmy Rabbitte has dreams of creating the ultimate soul group, and succeeds in bringing together a bunch of talented, eclectic characters. But eventually personalities clash, and the survival of the band is threatened. This adaptation of the Roddy Doyle novel featured a relatively unknown cast at the time, but was welcomed with critical acclaim and a successful box office run.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
"In America"
Touching film starring Samantha Morton and Djimon Hounsou, among others. Documents the adventures, struggles and triumphs of a family of Irish immigrants living in a rough neighborhood in New York City.
"When Brendan Met Trudy"
Yet another great product of Roddy Doyle's writing. Quirky, charming film about a teacher who meets and subsequently falls for a woman in a pub who turns out to be a burglar.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.MoMcGrath | Apr 18, 2011, 12:19 PM EDT
How is it that "A Love Divided" didn't make this list?
davidgavan | Apr 14, 2011, 11:33 AM EDT
I remember as a kid seeing a great Irish movie called Shake Hands with the Devil despite being warned off by the parish priest. A great cast, James Cagney, Robert Redgrave and a very young Richard Harris
howareya | Mar 14, 2011, 12:48 PM EDT
Did anyone see An Everlasting Piece? That was hilarious!
springs1 | Mar 14, 2011, 08:29 AM EDT
A Man of No Inportance should at least make the top 20...any movie that Albert Finney is in is A-1
boydshield | Mar 13, 2011, 04:37 PM EDT
Disagree. "The Quiet Man," should be #1!
boydshield | Mar 13, 2011, 04:37 PM EDT
Disagree. "The Quiet Man" should be #1.
Sparklet | Mar 13, 2011, 03:56 AM EDT
PS: My personal favourite is Into the West.
Sparklet | Mar 13, 2011, 03:54 AM EDT
No Angelas Ashes or Wind that Shakes the Barley?
Morninghours | Mar 12, 2011, 11:31 PM EST
Other contenders: "Dancing at Lughnasa" and "The Hanging Gale."
edmundburke | Mar 12, 2011, 07:23 PM EST
The downside on Waking Ned Devine -- the movie was filmed on the Isle of Man
GeorgeDillon | Mar 12, 2011, 03:48 PM EST
Quixotic: You won't get a "better understanding" of Irish history by watching "Michael Collins". The movie's treatment of the anti-Treaty side in the Irish Civil War is utter nonsense.
GeorgeDillon | Mar 12, 2011, 03:46 PM EST
I would second Ryan's Daughter, if only for the haunting music and beautiful beaches. Or better still, My Left Foot, for Day-Lewis' performance. As regards the worst ever, that's easy. The piece of garbage known as The Commitments. An utterly talent-free zone.
triciapeak | Mar 11, 2011, 09:35 PM EST
Didn't see this listed in either best or worst. Maybe it has too many plots to carry through, but thoroughly enjoyed "The Boys and Girls of County Clare"
hyattsville | Mar 10, 2011, 06:47 PM EST
PS)Notable mentions should also include The Butcher Boy and Breakfast on Pluto. Bit too bog gothic for most family viewing but still very valid and very Irish.
hyattsville | Mar 10, 2011, 06:43 PM EST
I think Into the West is a really great Irish family movie which covers a lot of Irish social issues as well as Irish mythology. And someone mentioned Frankie Starlight which I had forgotten and now need to see again, I loved it.
teddybear | Mar 10, 2011, 06:18 PM EST
The Quiet Man is my favorite.
KLennox | Mar 10, 2011, 06:06 PM EST
All good films; and I agree about "Angela's Ashes", too. But what about "The Matchmaker"? And, dare I say it, "The Devil's Own"?
grnd10ka | Mar 10, 2011, 03:50 PM EST
I really enjoy Angela's Ashes movie.
shenanigans.tri | Mar 10, 2011, 03:38 PM EST
I really enjoyed that film "The War Of The Buttons" Great film!
sorxia02144 | Mar 10, 2011, 03:08 PM EST
Ryan's Daughter?
connorailish | Mar 10, 2011, 02:42 PM EST
The General and The Van were both great movie's
fedupirish | Mar 10, 2011, 01:57 PM EST
Good choices, but there are MANY more good, if not great Irish movies, many are mentioned below. Ned Devine, great entertainment, The Commitments, I am a musician, they nailed it!!!! Nice Gabriel Byrne piece, Frankie Starlight. Lots of good stuff out there.
quixotic | Mar 10, 2011, 01:47 PM EST
Actually, a better understanding of the issues of the Irish History would involve watching the Michael Collins' movie (based on the work of Tim Pat Coogan) and The Wind that Shakes the Barley one after the other. Perhaps critics are not that enamored of either movie as art, but they clearly delineate the crucial conflict arising from the signing of the treaty..
Liamkeyes | Mar 10, 2011, 01:22 PM EST
As a Dub I can tell you that "The Commitments" was spot on. A Great "true to life" story about Dublin, also "Waking Ned Devine" was a Howl!!! A pity they could'nt make more movies like these.
inmudtime | Mar 10, 2011, 01:05 PM EST
Secret of Roan Inish? Not THE best but deserves mention.
tomgallagher | Mar 10, 2011, 01:00 PM EST
What happened to "The Wind that Shakes the Barley".?
jerrydonovan | Mar 10, 2011, 12:10 PM EST
What about Odd man out,starring James Mason.Set in Belfast during world war2.Mason claimed that this was his favorite movie.
mimi3324 | Mar 10, 2011, 11:14 AM EST
"Into The West" is the film I watch when I need to see home again. You see more of Ireland in that film more than any other. "Da" always makes me laugh because it is so tipical Irish family with their penchant for "family secrets". How about the Seal people?
SeamusMor | Mar 10, 2011, 10:57 AM EST
"War of the Buttons" is the most charming Irish movie ever!
tierfalc | Mar 10, 2011, 10:26 AM EST
And now how could you leave out John Ford's tragedy, "The Informer", Victor McLaglen's Best Actor Oscar win, a classic Irish film if ever there was one.
Cuanmara | Mar 10, 2011, 10:19 AM EST
Say what you will, I think "Waking Ned Devine" is the most entertaining film ever made about Ireland and after all, aren't movies supposed to be about entertainment?