Michael Ledo This is a film about family drama with a little bit of humor tossed in. The movie appears to have all the pieces of a decent film, yet afterwards, I couldn't help but think, "Is that all there is?"Cole (Michael Angarano) is a decent kid who attempts to lose himself in baseball. Unfortunately the family drama becomes a distraction. Mom (Melissa Leo) works for social services. Dad (Brendan Gleeson) drinks and looks for jobs in the paper. He has a secret. Terry (Tom Guiry) is the messed up older brother who has become a small time criminal. He hates his father. The sister, Kathleen (Emily VanCamp) is pregnant. She has moved out of the house. She was thinking about an abortion, but mom's guilt trip prevents it.The film progresses slowly so there are no surprises. The family, which should have come together long ago as a family, now attempts to do it after disaster has hit. The title, "Black Irish" didn't play into the film very well. This could have been anybody's family. I did not like this odd family film as much as "Another Happy Day."Parental Guide: F-bomb, no sex, no nudity.

Greg Mullins What an excellent movie. With surprises all around. It would have been so very easy to make this exactly what was expected of it - a mediocre Indie Drama about a typical dysfunctional American family, with this one happening to be Irish and from Southie. What we get instead is one that fell through the cracks, as it went right to DVD. The critics and distributors missed this one. Had someone besides the author believed in it and packaged it right - it would have been a hit. It is well written, well acted, with several unexpected turns toward the Light - by multiple characters facing their own dilemma. The kind of differences that separate the bland from the sublime. I'm speaking of subtleties not the spectacular. So if you go in looking for the spectacular - you'll miss the supernatural. Which is almost always, subtle. It even manages a happy ending, which is tricky at best with a story like this. Well done all.fullgrownministry.com

Linda I happened by this movie,flipping through the channels. What a wonderful surprise. I love Brendon Gleeson, one of our best actors in this time...I like Michael Angarano and am enjoying watching him grow with each project. Melissa Leo is a outstanding, understated actress who brings a lot of depth no matter how big or small the part. The story of this Irish family ebbed and flowed so beautifully, I was surprised when it was over. I won't give any spoilers, but I will say, I personally found the ending perfect. If you want to give yourself a wonderful, tender gift. Watch this movie, you will not be disappointed. No matter your ethnic heritage, you can relate to all the trials and tribulations in this family.

Raging_Bull27 A young man struggles to grow up with principles as his family begins to self-destruct around him in this coming of age drama. Cole McKay (Michael Angarano) is a boy in his middle-teens growing up in an Irish-Catholic family in Boston. While Cole has dreams of playing major league baseball some day, his parents Desmond (Brendan Gleeson) and Margaret (Melissa Leo) are blind to his ambitions, and his older brother Terry (Tom Guiry) is a petty criminal who is unwittingly drawing Cole into his orbit. While Margaret is obsessed with projecting an image that the McKay family are happy and God-fearing folk, Desmond has been sinking deeper into depression ever since he lost his job, and his marriage is slowly but surely falling apart. The family's pride takes a body blow when Cole's teenage sister Kathleen (Emily Van Camp) discovers she's pregnant, but Cole decides it's time he took on some adult responsibilities, and gets himself a part-time job at a restaurant. Black Irish was the first directorial effort for screenwriter Brad Gann.