The Departed
The latest film from David O. Russell sees the director teaming up once again with Mark Wahlberg to bring the inspirational true story of unlikely boxing hero “Irish” Micky Ward to the screen.
Wahlberg stars as the floundering Ward – the pride of his Irish-American community, but suffering a string of defeats in the ring.
In anticipation of the nationwide release of The Fighter on February 2, we’ve taken this opportunity to look at Irish-American communities that have graced the screen in some great (and some not so great!) movies.
THE DEPARTED (2006)
More head of a crime family than family man, Jack Nicolson’s Irish-American gangster Frank Costello epitomises the mob-bosses of Boston in Martin Scorsese’s multi Oscar winning remake of Hong Kong’s Infernal Affairs.
Some Irish-American families associate with the police – others with the mob, but it’s where the two overlap that make this such a compelling thriller.
FAR AND AWAY (1992)
Ron Howard’s emigration epic starred American Tom Cruise and his then wife, Australian Nicole Kidman, as an Irish lower class young man and landlord’s daughter respectively.
For different reasons they leave Ireland together for the new world to find Boston’s Irish-American community happy to accommodate them in their struggle towards the promise of free land in Oklahoma, just so long as Cruise’s Joseph Donnelly keeps winning in the boxing ring.
GANGS OF NEW YORK (2002)
Martin Scorsese’s underrated epic about Irish immigrants’ bloody struggle for acceptance in the violent civil war era New York City is not for the squeamish and it’s two hour and forty-seven minute running time might put people off – but no finer film exists to dramatise the plight of the Irish-American community trying to claim their stake in the melting pot.
THE FIGHTING SULLIVANS (1944)
This lesser-known WWII film tells the tragic true story of five Irish-American brothers who are ultimately all killed while fighting in the US Navy.
The close-knit family and themes of camaraderie associated with Irish-American families is very evident in this emotional yarn.
BOONDOCK SAINTS (1999)
Two Irish-American brothers entwined with the Boston mob gain the support of the Irish-American community as they crusade to clean-up the streets of their home town – all the while pursued by Willem Dafoe’s FBI agent.
An Irish-American writer/director and stars offer this film immense authenticity.
GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997)
Winning two Oscars and a whole host of other awards, Gus Van Sant’s relatively mainstream Good Will Hunting tells the tale of Matt Damon’s young, troubled, self-degrading Irish-American man struggling to find purpose in his life.
It takes the support of his community of friends and family, along with a crusty psychologist (Robin Williams), to push Will Hunting in the right direction.
THE FIGHTER (2011)
“Irish” Micky Ward’s (Mark Wahlberg) close-knit Irish-American family, including half-brother Dicky Eklund portrayed by Christian Bale, are a major part of his life, and helpful or not they influence his decisions.
Initially under the management of his mother Alice (Melissa Leo), his strong-willed girlfriend (Amy Adams) has ideas of her own.
When a once-in-a-lifetime shot at the title comes Ward’s way it is the strength of his family that will give him strength in the ring.
See why family is so important in the Irish-American culture in The Fighter – released in the UK on February 2.