Best movies set in Ireland?

[begin_within]

Since I'm almost half Irish and my Mom is almost all Irish (her maiden name is Patricia Mullaly), we want to rent a movie to watch Saturday that takes place in Ireland. We have already seen "The Quiet Man" with John Wayne and "In The Name of the Father." Any recommendations - films made in Ireland and/or are set there?
Thanks

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. For humor: "Waking Ned Divine"

An elderly Irishman finally wins the lottery--but dies before he can claim his prize. His neighbors plot to keep his death a secret so that they can divide up the winnings.

[begin_within]

2. Thanks

[havocmom]

45. And that one for music! Such fun tunes.

And some lovely lyrics in some of the songs.

Hand me down the partin cup...

[Shine]

65. I loved that movie!!!

that was the first one I thought of when I saw this thread.

:thumbsup:

:hi:

[hippiechick]

89. First one I thought of!!

:applause:

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Lawrence of Arabia; Casablanca; Battle of Midway; Scott of the Antarctic

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. Or in other words...

Ireland with sand and camels, Ireland with Nazis, Ireland with Japanese battleships, and Ireland with blizzards.

[Rabrrrrrr]

10. It's a big frickin' country!

[begin_within]

I didn't realize Ireland was all sand

[hedgehog]

55. Some more Irish movies (some are even Irish)

The Departed

Road to Perditrion (based on the Japanese Mange Lone Wolf and Cub)

The Last Samurai

One Man's Hero (about the San Patricio brigade)

The General and Ordinary Decent Criminal, both based on the life of Martin Cahill

Millions

Ned Kelly

Sand Pebbles

Glory

Big Fish

Only the Lonely

Here's one no one's seen: The Molly Maguires with Sean Connery and Richard Harris

They aren't all set in Ireland, but they are very Irish none the less.


My daughter also claims Shawshank Redemption and Casablanca.

[bicentennial_baby]

5. The Secret of Roan Inish

"10 year old Fiona is sent to live with her grandparents in a small fishing village in Donegal, Ireland. She soon learns the local legend that an ancestor of hers married a selkie -- a seal who can turn into a human. Years earlier, her baby brother washed out to sea in a cradle, and some think that he is being raised by the seals. Then Fiona catches sight of a naked little boy on the abandoned isle of Roan Inish, and takes a more active role in uncovering the mysteries which abound"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111112/plotsummary

[begin_within]

6. OK thank you

[jobycom]

7. The very one I was going to recommend. nt

[Withywindle]

30. I love this movie, yes!

And it's by John Sayles, who made another of my favorites, Matewan.

[KT2000]

38. Oh yes!!

Love this movie.
Named my cat after the little girl - she was so determined.
A lovely story.

[Shine]

63. Excellent, excellent movie!!

I loved how magical it was. I loved how the grandmother invoked the goddess Brigid as she lit a fire in the hearth. It was beautifully filmed, too! A true Irish classic! :thumbsup:

[greatauntoftriplets]

67. I love that movie....

The acting and cinematography are amazing. One of my all-time favorites, and I am happy to say that I own it. I should watch it again soon.

[YankeyMCC]

85. That's odd

I don't think I'd ever heard of a selkie before last year but lately they've popped up in one form or another in several books and short stories I've been reading. Of course the novels I've been reading have been by one Scottish and one Welsh writer so that might have something to do with it ;) But they also appeared in a couple of short stories, I don't recall what the nationality of those authors were.

The movie sounds interesting I'm definitely going to keep this in mind. It sounds even a little like the last short story I read where selkie like creatures were included, it takes place on a lonely spit of land in a lighthouse.

"Wolves of the Spirit" by Liz Williams

[Kutjara]

8. "The Dead".

A very strong film, directed by John Huston and starring Anjelica Huston, based on a story in James Joyce's book "Dubliners." Beautifully acted and shot, it's a very moving film.

[kariatari]

28. OMG!! There's a movie on that story?!! I MUST see it! My fav JJ!!

[Withywindle]

31. Yes, and it's beautifully done.

The manly man I was with cried like a baby.

[CBHagman]

9. Remember too that many are also filmed there.

For example, Excalibur was filmed in Ireland, even if the story is set in Britain. And when I watched Educating Rita with an Irish friend, we both recognized the setting (It was Trinity College in Dublin, if I recall correctly) and she recognized people in the cast!

It's worth checking IMDB before you choose something; you know best where your mother's taste and yours run.

Irish-themed movies, ranging from twinkly fun to grim looks at the Troubles. Oh, and you'll find lots of non-Irish people in some of the casts. :shrug:

Waking Ned Devine
The Commitments
The Snapper
The Van
The Secret of Roan Inish
I See a Dark Stranger
Evelyn
Bloody Sunday
Omagh
Darby O'Gill and the Little People
Into the West
Da
Michael Collins
The Boxer
Some Mother's Son
December Bride
This Is My Father
The Playboys
Veronica Guerin
Cal

[July]

91. Wasn't a very young Sean Connery in "Darby O'Gill"? nt

[GenDem]

11. "Angela's Ashes" and "Far and Away"

Two more contemporary movies. "The Quiet Man" is my all time fave. :hi:

[Whoa_Nelly]

35. Angela's Ashes

An awesome book as well! It took me beyond my Irish background, and then some.

[GenDem]

75. I loved the book!

Even though the McCourt's had tragedy piled on more tragedy, I don't think I've ever laughed more reading a book. Eating the pig heads, standing in line for the dole, taking the walls apart for heat, the excitement. Nothing funny about that kind of poverty, but when I wasn't crying - I was laughing.

[peacefreak]

12. Hear My Song

takes place partly in Ireland (with one of the funniest scenes I've ever seen)
The Matchmaker
Commitments

[Awsi Dooger]

36. That's the one I thought of immediately

Actually I thought of the movie but not the title. I loved it in the theater, maybe 15 years ago. I remember I took a side trip to Ireland after visiting Barcelona (1992 Olympics) partially based on seeing that movie.

[Lex]

13. There's a cute one with Janeane Garofolo in it

but I can't remember the name right now.

From 10 years ago maybe?

[Oeditpus Rex]

15. The Matchmaker

That was when I fell in love with her. :loveya:




JANEANE!!!!!!!!!!!!! :cry:

[Lex]

Yes!

I just found it. Loved that movie.

[Kerrytravelers]

68. I love The Matchmaker.

[Lex]

18. Okay, here's the link for it

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119632/

[begin_within]

60. We rented it today. I liked it but my Mom didn't.

[Lex]

71. I'm glad you liked it.

Sorry your Mom didn't. :( Why not, if I may ask?

[begin_within]

77. A lot of movies are a problem for her.

She's 88 years old, and in general doesn't understand "modern" movies and the way they are edited and constructed. She is also hard of hearing, and I have the volume turned up pretty loud, with a good sound system, plus we have the closed captions on all the time. Even with all that, she still misses a lot of lines, and doesn't seem to pick up on plot points too well. I often have to stop the movie and explain what just happened. So she does not enjoy many films simply because she does not understand what is going on most of the time. Her favorite type of movie is A Romantic Drama Set Against A Backdrop Of Military Life. There are some that fit this description perfectly, such as From Here to Eternity, The Americanization of Emily, An Officer and a Gentleman, etc. But there aren't many that fit too well. She also loves Clark Gable and George Clooney, and any movie with either one of them is pretty much an automatic winner even if she doesn't understand the movie - she just enjoys seeing those two. (Solaris was an exception, she didn't watch more than 20 minutes of it.) So it's hit and miss, usually musicals are successful because she has wide-ranging musical tastes, although her true love is Glenn Miller-era big band music, she loves classical, jazz, some rock and even some very modern music if it is good stuff. I think she simply "didn't get" most of The Matchmaker. But I liked it so we got our $2.69 worth.

[mentalsolstice]

14. My Left Foot...

The Crying Game, Michael Collins, Waking Ned Devine, The Magdalene Sisters (very powerful), and Ryan's Daughter (first nude scene I ever saw, I was 10).

[Gormy Cuss]

16. The Commitments; The Snapper

Both about modern Ireland. Among older films I love "The Quiet Man."
Guys in a band:

pregnant unwed daughter:

[driver8]

17. The Commitments!!!!!!!

One of the best movies set anywhere!!

[driver8]

20. Oh yeah...and "Ryan's Daughter"

[Catshrink]

74. I love the Commitments!

I learned how to swear in Irish. :evilgrin:

[SeattleGirl]

84. Lurve that movie!!!!

Couldn't understand a damned bit of dialogue, but loved it anyway.

[driver8]

88. It takes awhile to figure out what everyone is saying...

I've seen the movie at least ten times and I still pick things up every time I watch it!!

[evlbstrd]

19. The Commitments, The Van, The Snapper

All adapted from books by Roddy Doyle.

[dropkickpa]

21. The War of the Buttons is good

as are:
The Commitments
Dancing at Lughnasa
Breakfast on Pluto
Veronica Guerin (sp?)
Rory O'Shea Was Here
The Snapper
The Matchmaker (set in Ireland)
Agnes Browne
Ryan's Daughter
The Secret of Roan Inish
IIf I Should Fall From Grace: The Shane MacGowan Story
My Left Foot
The Boxer
Cowboys and Angels
Some Mother's Son
Frankie Starlight
Into The West

[CBHagman]

23. I was just going to mention Agnes Browne.

Agnes Browne is a nice adaptation of Brendan O'Carroll's The Mammy. It deals with a beautiful Dublin widow (Anjelica Huston, who has indeed spent many years in Ireland) and her brood of children.

Then there's Eat the Peach, an offbeat film about two men and the scheme they develop after they are laid off from their tech jobs.

[dropkickpa]

25. I haven't seen Eat the Peach

I'll have to get that one!

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

22. How about "The Field" with Richard Harris?

Great movie...

[tigereye]

24. I liked the movie that they attempted to make about JOyce's Ulysses

Stephen Rea was in it, I don't remember the title. Not the 1967 one, but a more recent version.

[begin_within]

26. Thanks to everyone here... I have a good list to take with me to the video store tomorrow.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

[edbermac]

27. Barry Lyndon

[bridgit]

51. oooh, me likey!!

[CGowen]

92. yes

http://imdb.com/title/tt0072684/locations

[kariatari]

29. bloody sunday

[Blue-Jay]

32. "The Van" with Colm Meaney.

Maybe not the "best", but certainly one of the funniest movies set in Ireland. I highly recommend it.

[u4ic]

33. The Magdelene Sisters

If you can find Ballykissangel, a tv series, check that out. A wonderful, wonderful show. (Series 1-3 is the best) http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/ballykissangel/lookbackmain.shtml


And Father Ted, of course! :D

[begin_within]

39. We haven't watched a good vicious-sadistic-nun movie in a while!

[CBHagman]

43. Evelyn has both good nuns and one bad one.

I've known both varieties in my life!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298856/

[VenusRising]

34. Circle of Friends

based on the Maeve Binchy book. Minnie Driver and Chris O'Donnell are great in this movie.

also Michael Collins with Liam Neeson. More of a historical movie about the movement in Northern Ireland. Interesting political movie, I thought.

Happy St. Patirck's Day!!

[ms liberty]

37. The Nephew, with Pierce Brosnan and Hill Harper...

a truly beautiful and well-done film. Produced by Pierce Brosnan, who is Irish, and uses the money from his 'blockbuster' type movies to finance these wonderful small, independent films.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0119772/

Another one that's really good is Evelyn, also by Pierce Brosnan, and it's another really good one.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0298856/

I'd add that most of the ones listed above are good too...

[havocmom]

46. THAT movie is wonderful!

Really works on the heart.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

50. I would have to agree with "The Nephew"

It was a wonderful, beautiful and touching movie which moved me immensely. Good acting, a good plot and a good script. In fact it was the first movie that came to mind when I read the topic of this thread and I was just about to look up the title on IMDB before I saw your post

[NashVegas]

40. Widow's Peak

Apolitical and fun.

[Digit]

69. I recently watched Widows Peak and thoroughly enjoyed it. n/t

[zingaro]

79. I LOVE this movie!

:thumbsup:

[Jade Fox]

93. That's the one I was trying to remember. n/t

[mduffy31]

41. The Snapper is a good one

About a Irish Catholic family and the oldest daughter gets pregnant out of wedlock, another great one with Colm Meaney.

[AngryAmish]

42. The Matrix

You and your Mom are getting stoned first, right?

[philosophie_en_rose]

44. Evelyn, Magdalene Sisters

Evelyn is a bittersweet movie about a father trying to regain custody of his daughter in Ireland.

Magdalene Sisters is probably not a movie you want to watch to celebrate Ireland, but it is an enlightening film.

[Graybeard]

47. Playboy Of The Western World

One of the greatest plays of all time. The 1962 version stars the wonderful Siobhan McKenna. Highly reccommended.

[hedgehog]

48. Anyone remember the movie Young Sean Cassidy?

I saw it on television about 35 years ago. It's based on the life of Sean O'Casey.

[likesmountains 52]

49. I liked" Into The West " when my kids were little..

[bridgit]

52. Some Mother's Son...

http://www.reelviews.net/movies/s/some_mothers.html

[bridgit]

54. oh, but you can't go wrong with Darby O'Gill neither...

http://www.ultimatedisney.com/darbyogill.html

[Glorfindel]

70. Thank you! One of my all-time favorite movies

An Irish movie that actually isn't all tragedy and gloom. And who knew Sean Connery could sing?

[bridgit]

86. oh i know, who knew Sean could have been so young...

i think Darby was his 1st movie :hi:

[hedgehog]

53. Somewhere out there is a film version of Ulysses.

My dad loves to tell the story of a friend who took his wife to the movies expecting to see a toga and sandals epic. Instead, the opening scene involves some bare arsed guys!

[hedgehog]

56. The Informer!!!!

How could we all forget The Informer?

[VenusRising]

57. If you're up for a musical.....Finian's Rainbow

Look to the Rainbow Lyrics

On the day I was born,
Said my father, said he.
I've an elegant legacy
Waitin' for ye,
'Tis a rhyme for your lips
And a song for your heart,
To sing it whenever
The world falls apart.

Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow it over the hill
And the stream.
Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.
Follow the fellow,
Follow the fellow,
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.

'Twas a sumptuous
To bequeath to a child.
Oh the lure of that song
Kept her feet funnin' wild.
For you never grow old
And you never stand still,
With whippoorwills singin'
Beyond the next hill.

Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow it over the hill
And the stream.
Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.
Follow the fellow,
Follow the fellow,
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.

[poiuytsister]

58. "Quackser Fortune has a Cousin in the Bronx"

from 1970 starring Gene Wilder, set in Dublin. I haven't seen it in years but loved it.

[Graybeard]

59. Wonderfully funny and touching love story.

If you loved Margot Kidder in Superman, as I did, wait until you see her in this.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

61. Michael Collins...

It's not exactly light fare; but an excellent movie.

Tristan and Isolde looks good, too; though I haven't had a chance to watch it all the way through.

Darby O'Gill and the Little People is good if you're looking for leprechaunish family fare. :-)

[deucemagnet]

62. Well, if you're in the mood for something a little darker

there's "The Butcher Boy".

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118804/

It's not for everyone, but I liked it.

[eleny]

64. The Quiet Man

Even if nobody like John Wayne. The scenery is lovely.

Just giving it another plug. In other words - Ooops! :-/

[smoogatz]

72. Watching it right now, while sipping a pint of Guinness.

It's a classic--John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara (at her most beautiful), Barry Fitzferald, Victor McLaglin and Ward Bond, directed by John Ford (1952). Great script, several terrific performances--including one of Wayne's best--beautiful scenery, and the best fight scene ever filmed, IMO. My favorite line, from Barry Fitzgerald: "When I drink whisky, I drink whisky. When I drink water, I drink water."

[eleny]

73. And lots of hefty punching

A must in his movies. I love the scene where Barry Fitgerald realizes he's Little Sean Thornton.

(I'm surprised that TCM isn't showing it in tonight's lineup. But we have it on tape. They're playing Hud and A Face In The Crowd. Two other greats.)

[Poiuyt]

90. I liked the way they took a break from the fight to go into the pub for a drink

[Critters2]

76. Only John Wayne movie I've ever liked. nt

[Common Sense Party]

82. It took 64 posts to nominate Quiet Man?

Best John Wayne movie ever.

[NashVegas]

87. Double-Check the OP

Darlin'

[Graybeard]

94. It's the first movie mentioned (in the OP)...

...and very likely the first on most peoples list.

[SecularMotion]

66. Ballad of the Irish Horse

If you can find it, this is a great documentary about Ireland and horses.

[u4ic]

83. Oh, yes!

I taped that many years ago, and still have it.

I loved when they visited Ballydoyle, Vincent O'Brien's training facility. It was unlike any other at the time.

They also mentioned some of the yearling pedigrees as they walked by - now that I have the resources to do it, I'm going to figure out which horses they were!

[begin_within]

78. Wow, I've got a long list now... thanks to everyone!

[graywarrior]

80. The General with Brendan Gleeson.

[datasuspect]

81. the one filmed in excruciating dark hues

and rain slicked everything where the family is poor and the father is a drunk and the mother is catholic and the kids are dirty.

oh, that pretty much sums them all up.