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The Daily PollSCREEN IRELAND HAS announced plans to invest €3 million in Ireland’s TV and film industry in an effort to address a growing demand for talent and crews.
The agency is announcing the stimulus measure as part of its new strategy for the next three years to drive “sustainable growth” in the Irish film industry.
Despite the challenges and production shutdowns faced by the industry over the course of the pandemic, Screen Ireland says 2021 is shaping up to “break production activity records”.
There have been plenty of great Irish productions and some brilliant homegrown films in recent years, and there’s more than a few classics to look back on.
Today, we want to know: What’s the best Irish film of the 20th century?
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Adam & Paul
@Mr Jerry Curtin: 20th century, not 21st century, though it is great.
@Mr Jerry Curtin: You can only pick one.
@Paul Cunningham: Not one mention of Excalibur??!
@Mr Jerry Curtin: The Crying Game . Ahead of its time and what a twist . Superb acting . And it’s made in the 20th century..
dear God Almighty all the knuckle dragging tadpoles mentioning 21st century films !!!!!! Read the ARTICLE yee absolute dense swamp eating gurgling fish heads.
Face palm … over n over again…
Darby O Gill
@Liam: it has a great charm. I remember as a child the scene where he is pushed from deaths carriage. S ary for a 10 year old – but an underrated film everyone should see once
@Liam: Made completely in California
@Gavin Tobin: No sh t Sherlock
You forgot: “Ryan’s Daughter”, for me, the best – cinematography, character parts:
John Mills, Trevor Howard, – brilliant!
@Rory Wilson:
Watched this recently. Knew about it, had heard loads about it but was never interested in watching it.
Absolutely stunning movie. Is an absolute masterpiece.
@Rory Wilson: brilliant film on all fronts, just wish I seen it on big screen. You could make a film about making it. Robert Mitchum was growing grass plants where he was staying apparently lol
@Rory Wilson:
I thought the casting was awful. Am a Mitchum fan but totally unsuitable for the part. Scenery spectacular – been there in real life
@Rory Wilson: Good acting, great cinematography, but too long. Could have been edited down to under two hours. The storm scene with the landing of arms had to be shot in Spain because the erratic Kerry weather didn’t come up with the real thing.
Shake Hands with the Devil, with a dramatic cameo role by Noel Purcell, was a Tan War film that posed questions about some of the goodies and most of the baddies.
War of the buttons I seem to remember being good, granted I haven’t seen it in years so it probably hasn’t aged well.
@Anthony McGovern: good movie but can we call it Irish? It was a remake of a French movie.
@Anthony McGovern: great film
The wind that shakes the Barley
@Sharon McIlhennon: Can’t understand how it was excluded from the shortlist.
@Nicky O’Donnell: 2006
@Sharon McIlhennon: read the article . (God give me patience)
@Nicky O’Donnell: The mind boggles how some of these are on the list
I went down
@Gavin Tobin: to the shop….
@K C: for milk
@Gavin Tobin: the town …
@Gavin Tobin: and got a pint of milk and a strimmer in Aldi !!
@Gavin Tobin: on yer aul one
@Gavin Tobin: Made in China
@Gavin Tobin: great soundtrack, love that Lir track
@Gavin Tobin: Far and Away.
Intermission
@Diarmuid: isn’t from the 20th century
@jl: Fair point. Still deserves a mention
@Diarmuid: great show. Definitely one of my favourite Irish movies ever
@Diarmuid: Not. From. 20th. Century.
@Diarmuid: No diarmuid, it doesn’t. It deserves a mention as much as Casablanca does.
Casablanca.. Now theres a movie!
Wow, tough crowd today! I mean, I’m only out by a few years…. In all the comments sections, in all the news apps, in all the world, you walk in to mine… and pick holes
@Diarmuid: now that’s good. *Claps*
@Diarmuid: Definitely the most quotable Irish movie of all time. “Even in your Nikeys, I’m more nimble. Me in me heavy brogues”.
@JusticeForJoe: would she give me a riding… She would Jerry… Da hoor…. She’s not a hoor Jerry
@Diarmuid: sure just mention The Godfather Part 2 with that logic why don’t ya ., or Back to the Future perhaps … pick whatever ya like Dirm
@Diarmuid: One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest gets my vote.
In Bruges
@David ‘Wear A Mask’ Harkin: What a film. Always been a favourite.
@David ‘Wear A Mask’ Harkin: 2008 movie.
“This is my father” from 98 or 99 is a brilliant movie. Aidan Quinn and James Caan.
@Brian Dunne: my vote too as it was faultless technically and has it’s real life storyline very well told.
The guard was my favourite
@Conor O’Neill: same. I think its the only Irish film I’ve ever watched. I’ve seen none on the list above, and have no interest in watching any of them either.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: try watching some of them. Some classics on there.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: that’s the spirit.
@Conor O’Neill: 21st century not 20th
@Mirabelle Stonegate: very narrow mind . Some of the above films would stand-up to the best out of USA. To name two, The Field or The Butcher Boy which is a masterpiece in acting by Stephen Ray and Eamonn Owens as the the young boy
@Mirabelle Stonegate: read the article properly . Dear lord
@Conor O’Neill: the Guard was one of the worst films I have seen, any century, any country.
Eat the peach.
@Tom kenny: I loved that film, so so funny
I did My Left Foot for my leaving cert and to say I can’t stand that film is an understatement, shudder.
@HunWithACause✊: let christy take it
The quiet man isn’t Irish realistically
@jl: horribly sexist film
@EillieEs: Faith ‘n begorrah woman shur weren’t they all sexist back then begob. Don’t be worryin’ yer pretty little head about it now colleen! It’s an awful movie for many reasons especially the stage Irish stereotypes and not least the way women are portrayed but in fairness it is of it’s time. It always reminds me of dreary, wet St. Patrick’s days growing up in the 60′s watching RTE. We were all stage Irish back then seemingly but at least change was starting to happen…
Surely Barry Lyndon deserves a mention too, beautiful film.
@Daithí Ó’hÁinle: A genuinely amazing film! It’s a work of art. I worked opposite Dublin Castle at the time and from our vantage point we could see the famous candlelight scene being filmed. Brings back some good memories everytime I see it…
@William Tallon: far better than anything on the list.
@john smith iv: Totally agree.
Always liked Ryan’s Daughter. Boggles the mind that The Commitments tops the poll / thought it was execrable in 1991 + haven’t changed my opinion in 30 years since.
@Pat O’Leary: true. Utter sugar. Where by sugar I mean redacted.
Quite hard to say The acting of Daniel Day Lewis is so far ahead of everyone else I’m not sure I can compare the films objectively
There’s a little known Martin Sheen movie called “Da” (based on a Hugh Leonard book/play).
Ignore the American pronunciation of the title & watch the trailer – https://youtu.be/BZhB2p38eBo
Very Tough choice. I went for The Commitments but could easily have gone for The Snapper or My Left Foot.
@Cian Nolan: i would have once picked The Snapper but with changing times i can’t not see what Georgie Burges did as assault. Other than that great film.
@Lisa Jones: Not to mention the fact that he is so old and unattractive as well as a total sleaze
THE VAN
@George J Stephens: THE MAN
Kept it to the 20th century so Wild Mountain Thyme wouldn’t run away with the vote!
Ryan’s Daughter
Inside I’m dancing and run of the country two brilliant films
adam and paul was 2004 sorry
Black 47
Ryan’s Daughter … I think it was excellent.
The commitments. I knew it. I always said. And you, yeh m@lignant little b@st@rd. I knew it.
@Roy Dowling: Is that upper Deco or bottom Deco?
The commitments
I went down
Into the west
Into the west is another great movie that deserves more credits
The Dead. dir.by John Huston.
Waking Ned Devine
@Mick Hyland: made in Isle of Man
@Gavin Tobin: Might as well be made in Norn Iron
@Gavin Tobin: Still Irish so.
@Gavin Tobin: Starring David Kelly and music by Shaun Davies? Not Irish ? Will ya get up the yard!
Far and away
@Brendan Devlin:
A lot would disagree, but this movie is fantastic. Tells a great story and tells it well.
@Brendan Devlin: “Tell me that you like me hat!”
‘Quackser Fortune Has A Cousin In The Bronx’. Gene Wilder as a Dublin horse manure collector is something to marvel over as is Dana as a Traveller in ‘Flight Of The Doves’…
@William Tallon: Featuring The Gravediggers Pub in Glasnevin in the 1st and Killeen’s in Shannonbridge in the other!
@Mary O’Kane McGowan: Both are a bit like a time capsule in terms of an Ireland that’s now gone. It’s fascinating to watch how Dublin used to be in my youth. There’s one scene in ‘Flight Of The Doves’ where the kids run through Merchant’s Arch and come out the other side in Rathmines/Ranelagh I think. I went through it last week and was still in Temple Bar! Now that’s the magic of the movies…
That Magdalen sisters was good a bit depressing and possibly liberties were taken. Surprisingly it’s not on the list
@Henry: made in Scotland
@Henry: 2002 so 21st century.
The wind that shakes the barley
All good movies in the list. The Commitments was great at the time but it hasn’t aged well. Veronica Guerin was a great movie. Of the ones in the list In The Name of the Father is probably the best for me. Breakfast On Pluto with Cillian Murphy is another great Irish movie.
@Ger: both of the movies you mentioned are 21st not 20h century:)
@EillieEs: you’re right :) Ah well, great movies all the same.
@Ger: so is The Godfather. Well done
Honourable mentions to “Philomena” and “inside I’m dancing”
@Aindréas Mac Shiomóin: read the article properly . Sweet divine
Lamb
The field, best comedy ever.
I love how split the poll is. Many great movies there.
Poitín
The wind that shakes the Barley
Barry Lyndon is the greatest Irish film and after that John Huston’s The Dead (is it a coincidence that they were made by two truly great directors?). Of the films on the list, The Crying Game and after that The Field.
Waking Ned
@GrumpyAulFella: Made in Isle of Man
@Gavin Tobin: but more importantly, starring the late great David Kelly.
Interesting choices – lots of older Irish movies we never see, maybe uk production companies. “A man of no importance” is amazing
The Guard – Brendan Gleeson. A classic.
@Enda Layng: thats 21st century though
Rocky IV
@a.l: hup ya boyo
Excalibur (1981)
The clash of the ash from 1987
Rawhead Rex …. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AXI_cllOs4
Haha nealry a whole comment section of half the people mentioning 21st century films and the other half smuggly pointing that out.
Adam & Paul.
Into the West The horse in the lift so funny.
The Matchmaker filmed in Roundstone. A cracking comedy!
@Mike Ruddy: yes..searching to see if anyone else included it.
It seldom happens but Roddy Dolye films as good as the books
I Went Down
20th century: Poitín, with Cyril Cusack. 21st century: Song of the Sea/Amhrann na mara. Also for the 21st century anything by Lenny Abrahamson (Adam and Paul, Garage, What Richard did).
The boy from Mercury
For different reasons I don’t like any of those. I recommend the 1987 movie The Dead, directed by John Huston.
The field by far , the commitments and snapper are embarrassing watched them in U S when they came out 90 percent of cinema got up and walked out as foul language and poor acting plus they are a disgrace .
No War of the Buttons??
@Damo: i know, absolutely disgraceful Damo!
When Brendan met Trudy. Released in 2000 so it may not qualify but its a comedy gem that deserves much more attention.
The Butcher Boy would be great if it wasn’t for the awful, gurning performance by the ginger kid
I picked Michael Collins but the film I would have picked but it is not mentioned is the Wind that shakes the Barley
@JK: that’s because it was made in the 21st century . Did you not read the article ?
Reefer and Model
The Crying Game . Ahead of its time and what a twist . Superb acting . And it’s made in the 20th century..
dear God Almighty all the knuckle dragging tadpoles mentioning 21st century films !!!!!! Read the ARTICLE yee absolute dense swamp eating gurgling fish heads.
Face palm over n over again
Clash of the Ash.
Classic Irish story of a dysfunctional education system, familial & societal repression, emigration & the GAA
@Graham Ryall: it’s very good alright, but mostly a made for TV movie. I liked it.
Anyone remember You Me & Marley ?
Wind that shakes the barley
Two of my favourites – not featured on the list – would be “Pigs” and “Korea”, both of which were directed by Cathal Black. Also a big shout-out for Barry Lyndon as well. Of those on the poll, it is a tie between “The Field” and “My Left Foot”.
War of the buttons
What a bunch of culture cultures we are. The Snapper? Really? Hilarious movie, but the best from the 20th Century? Good girl, Sharon…
Spin the bottle
Once
Zardoz, Sean Connery in leather boots and red underpants!
Adam & Paul , tragic and funny, and so true to life, and the two main actors should have received Oscar’s.
@Patricia Finlay: you didn’t read the article . Give me strength lord god
Did you not see me over by the vegetables?
What, no Space Truckers in the list?
@Reuben Gray: I’m afraid it rather fits in like a square pig in a round hole when it comes to being on a list of great Irish movies…
Into the west
War of the buttons
I went down
Man about a dog
It’s a redo ridiculous poll. Why not just Irish movies up until 2021. It’s shitting the door on most people under the age of 20 ..There is not that big of a list of Irish movies before 2020 the whole consept is flawed and ageist.
@Henry: you like the crying game ?
@Henry: lol. You can watch movies made before 2000
The Wind That Shakes the Barley, starring Cillian Murphy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wind_That_Shakes_the_Barley_(film)
@Willie Penwright: its not a 20th century film warrrrrrgh
Good vibrations
Ryan’s Daughter
The wind that shakes the barley.
@Fergus O’Connor – LOL haven’t endured it but the reviews were stellar!!
Waking Ned
@Dublin – Overheard: Not made in Ireland
The wind that shakes the barley
have your say