EDITORIAL: The 10 best Irish-themed films

As normally the resident Irishman just about everywhere I go (the last name says it all), I felt obligated to update an editorial list I made five years ago in 2012 of the best Irish-themed movies in time for celebrating St. Patrick's Day. It was due for a dusting with two new additions. For this list, I opened the field to either movies set in Ireland or those that feature notable Irish characters or stories outside of the Emerald Isle. That possibilities spanned movies both foreign and domestic. Pour the Guinness, heat the corned beef, and enjoy my list of the 10 best Irish-themed movies!

1. The Quiet Man

Bringing John Wayne to Ireland for The Quiet Man was a perfect recipe for success. On paper, his American bravada fits right into the blustery, cocky Irish culture, yet the Duke goes against type to play the pacifist to great success in John Ford's 1952 film. Exemplary elements of romance, the best Irish photography in any movie, and a classic ending brawl that only John Wayne and Hollywood could pull off, The Quiet Man has it all for showcasing Ireland. Within the Connemara countryside where The Quiet Man was filmed and all forty shades of green splash about, there's a famous stone bridge used in the film that still stands to this day. (trailer)

2. Brooklyn

I cannot compliment enough the sweetness of Brooklyn. It is the perfect Irish immigrant story. John Crowley's film, has an earnest and honest sincerity not normally seen in historical dramas. The central love triangle of this tale is delicate and real without sacrificing passion. Starring Saoirse Ronan, this is courtship as it should be and at its finest. This film is an absolute treat. (trailer) (full review)

3. The Boondock Saints

While The Departed is an outstanding look at the Irish mob and police, the wild chicanery, panache, and style of The Boondock Saints beats it by a nose. Led by Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, and Billy Connolly, The Boondock Saints has a bit more true Irish flavor and flair than The Departed (see later on the list). On its own, it's an exciting, twisted, sometimes religious, and often hilarious vigilante shoot 'em up. It's a cult classic worth watching if you've never seen it. (trailer)

4. The Departed

Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning Best Picture Boston crime saga The Departed is so good. Excellent ensemble casting (Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Alec Baldwin, and more) meets real Boston grit in every measure of perfection. It's hard to find flaws in this movie and is one of my all-time favorites. (trailer)

5. P.S., I Love You

This movie is my soft spot entry for the list. Go ahead and make fun of me. Expecting nothing more than a poorly constructed romantic comedy in late 2007, I was extremely impressed by the movie's emotion, heart, and outstanding Irish scenery. Gerard Butler, Hilary Swank, Harry Connick, Jr., and Kathy Bates deliver an excellent and touching story of grief and moving on that hit me like a ton of bricks. Ladies (and maybe even a few gents), get your tissues ready. (trailer)

6. Michael Collins

Easily the best movie for Irish history, director Neil Jordan's biography of the titular Irish Civil War revolutionary features an outstanding lead performance from Ballymena's own native son Liam Neeson. Also starring Julia Roberts, Aidan Quinn, and Alan Rickman, the history pops off the screen. It's an extremely well done movie. (trailer)

**7. (TIE) In the Name of the Father and ‘71**

The plight and difficult IRA times of Northern Ireland are the center of focus in this 1993 Jim Sheridan film and 2015 Yann Demange thriller. Nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Actor for star Daniel Day-Lewis, this biography outlines the true story of four wrongfully accused bombers and their long court trial. Great acting and powerful drama are well done. On a much smaller scale, ‘71 is a relentless chase film when a British military office is caught behind the lines in the Belfast streets and has to survive the night on his own to escape. Unbroken star Jack O’Connell makes for an engaging lead and the film has a knockout pace. (trailer) (trailer) (‘71 full review)

8. The Commitments

Unemployed Dubliners form an off-beat soul band in director Alan Parker's well-regarded 1991 favorite. Winner of the British Academy Award that year for Best Picture and voted 'Best Irish Film of All-Time" by Jameson Whiskey in 2005 (how about that endorsement!), The Commitments deserves a spot on this list. (trailer)

9. The Wind That Shakes the Barley

Featuring a very local cast, including emerging Hollywood star Cillian Murphy, this story of a pair of Cork country brothers fighting during the Irish War of Independence from 1919-1921 won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006. (trailer)

10. Ryan's Daughter

In 1970, David Lean brought his Lawrence of Arabia epic scale to the Emerald Isle for a very long movie (3 hours+) on forbidden romance and small-town affairs. Filmed entirely in western Ireland, the movie does a great job showing off the country, but is far from Lawrence of Arabia. It's beautiful, but pack a pillow or an espresso. (trailer)

HONORABLE MENTION: Gangs of New York and Good Will Hunting

In Gangs of New York, Irish immigrants, led by Liam Neeson and Leonardo DiCaprio, clash with the "native" New Yorkers, led by Daniel Day-Lewis's brilliant Bill "The Butcher," and spill blood all over the 1860's streets of the Five Points district in Martin Scorsese's post-9/11 tribute to NYC. We all know the South Boston Irish flavor of Good Will Hunting crafted by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Both movies do a fun job of presenting different Irish-American stereotypes. (trailer and trailer)