Abdon M. Pallasch ponders the truth of a provocative line from the movie The Departed. “What Freud said about the Irish is: We’re the only people who are impervious to psychoanalysis,” declares Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) in Martin Scorsese’s film The Departed. So what exactly did the father of modern psychiatry, Sigmund Freud, mean by that, anyway? Are we Irish all crazy? Or … [Read more...] about The Last Word: Freud, The Irish & The Departed
Film & Television
Man at Work
Lauren Byrne talks to Brendan Gleeson, one of Ireland's most prolific actors, about his varied career. In real life he’s trimmer than his oversized movie presence, but at over six feet and with his thatch of red hair, several heads turned as actor Brendan Gleeson strolled into the lounge of Jury’s Hotel in Boston, the rain beating against the windows as if to make him feel … [Read more...] about Man at Work
Slainte: Dinner & A Movie
As many readers know, I live in Los Angeles, home to Hollywood and famous for year-round sunshine where even in winter it’s frequently warm enough to get a tan. Personally, I love the dark, cold, wet winter days of more northern locales. A pal from New Zealand – where the climate closely resembles Ireland’s – chides me for belittling LA’s “glorious weather.” Hogwash. We don’t … [Read more...] about Slainte: Dinner & A Movie
Irish Eye on Hollywood
Irish actor Brendan Gleeson can always be relied upon to star in independent movies on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as Hollywood blockbusters. For example, next year, Gleeson will star alongside Sir Anthony Hopkins in a new screen version of the literary classic Beowulf. This latest sci-fi version of the book that has tortured high schoolers for decades will be directed … [Read more...] about Irish Eye on Hollywood
Proud Is Part of Fleet Week
When the USS Mason sailed into New York Harbor on May 25 for Fleet Week, the ship’s banner displayed a coat of arms rooted in a shamrock. Commissioned in April, 2003, the destroyer was named for the World War II USS Mason DE529 as a tribute to the brave service of the crew – the only African-American sailors to take a warship into combat. The story of the sailors, who went on … [Read more...] about Proud Is Part of Fleet Week