When we saw that "Black Irish" had the tagline "You can choose your dreams. But you can't choose family."... we expected the worst.There was a great article a few years back (we're searching for it) on how to make a stereotypical Boston film. It advised setting the film in South Boston, where an Irish-American 20-something male protagonist must chose between a life of crime or a life of purpose. Rambunctious family members or a gang of friends have his back -- as well as obligatory Southie accents. Drinking ensues. A father figure from outside his circle counsels with wise advice. They drive shitty cars.
(Reference "Good Will Hunting", "What Doesn't Kill You", "Southie", "The Departed", "The Boondock Saints", and probably half a dozen others)
So we were actually surprise that "Black Irish" surpassed our expectations. The main characters are siblings in a dysfunctional family. They have teenage problems, with school, with meeting girls, with trying to get dad to show up for just one of their baseball games. The eldest brother is a bully and a petty crook, like Kevin Arnold's older brother... with a handgun. In fact, the whole film feels like a very depressing episode of The Wonder Years.
Despite this, there's something very nobel and uplifting about watching these characters push onward with their lives. Brendan Gleeson's alcoholic father brings the most comedy and tragedy to "Black Irish." He delivers a more compelling argument for baseball being a metaphor for life than anything in "Field of Dreams". Well done. And just in time for opening day.
Final Score = B+
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