Frank McCourt has been giving accent coaching to veteran American actor Paul Newman. After a dinner one night, Paul told Frank that he was playing an Irish character and would like some `accent' coaching. It was arranged that Paul would visit Frank at his apartment where Frank proceeded to read Paul's lines into a recorder. They then enjoyed coffee and a chat as Paul regaled … [Read more...] about McCourt Returns to Teaching
Irish Film
Liam: The Shock
of Recognition
Los Angeles Times film reviewer Kenneth Turan wryly observed that Liam, director Stephen Frears's British film about an Irish family in 1930s Liverpool, "does a better job of re-creating the ambience of Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes than that film did." Avoiding the dramatic and visual monotony that makes Alan Parker's 1999 film of Angela's Ashes such an unrelievedly dreary … [Read more...] about Liam: The Shock
of Recognition
Film Reviews: Tigerland
Starring Colin Farrell. Directed by Joel Schumacher. 20th Century Fox. ℘℘℘ Faster than a speeding bullet, it seems, onetime Ballykissangel actor Colin Farrell has shot to fame as the next "it" Irish actor. When you see his Vietnam war flick Tigerland, you'll see it's not just his good looks that got the young Dubliner all this attention. Swapping his Dublin accent for … [Read more...] about Film Reviews: Tigerland
Film Review: Two Family House
Starring Michael Rispoli, Kelly MacDonald, and Kevin Conway. Written and directed by Raymond De Felitta. Lion's Gate Films. ℘℘℘ In the tradition of films as diverse as Saturday Night Fever and Working Girl comes Two Family House, a charming movie about a blue collar guy who wants a little bit more than his drab background offers. Just don't go to this movie expecting … [Read more...] about Film Review: Two Family House
We’re Here and We’re Irish
By Patsy Murphy July August 1992
There is a creative wave happening in Ireland that is stretching all the way across the Atlantic and washing up on the shores of America. Patsy Murphy examines this phenomenon. Across many a billboard in New York and, I presume, throughout this great land, you can see the poster for Universal's blockbuster movie Far and Away starring Mr. and Mrs. Cruise. It's the story of a … [Read more...] about We’re Here and We’re Irish