Colin Farrell’s two favourite Irish films should start a conversation worth having

"It's a gut-wrenching story of a dream nearly realised."

Ever since his big screen break-out role in Tigerland (2000), Colin Farrell has been prodigious in his acting roles. The Dubliner has appeared in 50 movies, since the turn of the century, three episodic shows and had a memorable, one-off appearance in the comedy Scrubs as 'Billy'. Farrell is attracting a lot of Oscar buzz for his performance as Pádraic Súilleabháin in 'The Banshees of Inishiren' and both he and Brendan Gleeson - who first appeared together in 2008's 'In Bruge' - should be kept busy during 2023's award season. On his role in 'Banshees', our very own movie expert Rory Cashin wrote:

'Its leading man Colin Farrell was only 32 years old at the time, with the movie arriving on his CV after the slick action thrillers (Phone Booth, SWAT, The Recruit) when nobody really knew how to utilise his talents properly, before they realised he's at his best when he's being a little bit weird (The Lobster, The Killing of the Sacred Deer, The Batman).'

Colin Farrell on his favourite Irish films

2023 should see Colin Farrell reprising his role as The Penguin in a Batman spin-off, while he is listed as being involved in upcoming projects 'Sugar' and 'Love Child'. In an interview, from 2019, when he was promoting Tim Burton's 'Dumbo', Farrell spoke on The Bill Simmons Podcast about a range of matters, including a crazy Miami Vice shoot, his first three pay-cheques for big movies and his love of the WWII film 'Escape to Victory'. During the conversation, the 46-year-old was asked for his favourite Irish film - 'What's the Citizen Kane of Ireland?'. Two jumped immediately to his mind. He commented:

"Can I toss a coin between two? The Commitments and My Left Foot. "The Commitments is a masterpiece. [Director] Alan Parker at the peak of his prowess. An amazing cast of actors, musicians and non-actors, who all blend seamlessly and just a gut-wrenching story of a dream nearly realised, then falling apart like a Zeppelin, in flames at the very last minute!"

"It's a brilliant movie, from start to finish," he added, "and, also, an incredibly socially responsible film to Dublin, at that time, and the poverty that prevalent there."

A conversation worth having

On My Left Foot, which was released two years prior to The Commitments and won Oscars for Daniel Day-Lewis and Brenda Fricker, Colin Farrell was near giddy discussing its impact. "My Left Foot is just extraordinary, as well," he said.

"That was when the whole room was standing up [for Day-Lewis] and going, 'Okay, there's something really, abnormally special going on here'. You had Brenda Fricker in there, too, and just brilliant actors. Jim Sheridan, again, at the peak of his powers as a filmmaker."

The only pause Farrell took was when he was asked to name Ireland's best sports movie, although he agreed there would be one hell of a film to be made about Roy Keane's career. Farrell starred in a few Irish classics himself, overs the years - Banshees, In Bruge [we're 100% claiming that!] and Intermission - there is an eve-lengthening list when mulling over our best ever film. It is a conversation worth having, though, as it makes you realise some of the gems this country, and its actors, directors and producers, have put out there in the age of cinema. Related articles:

• The Banshees Of Inisherin is not In Bruges 2, and here's why that's great
• Predicting the 10 biggest box office hits of 2023
• 9 must-watch movies coming to Irish cinemas in January

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