I know I know, it’s Scorsese. But The Departed is Fake Irish (FI) crap. So was Mystic River; ditto the new TV show The Black Donnellys.
Fake Irish, or FI, is huge nowadays, everybody wants blather and tribal blood oaths and the ancient clannish something-or-other. Plus hot guy-on-Guinness-action!
But first: What exactly is FI? Well, if a faux-brogue voice-over describes somebody onscreen as ‘tough’ because his father works for the steelworkers union (Black Donnellys), you got yourself some FI. After all, there are no unions in America anymore. Which brings us to a common thread in FI movies and TV – nostalgia!
Another sign of FI? Dialogue like this:
First guy says to second guy:
"You know I gotta do this. It don't matter what you say. I gotta make this right."
(The Black Donnellys).
FI is all about fightin and drinkin and bein tough-yet-tribal-yet-silent-yet-possibly-poetic-underneath.
The lassies dig it.
Heck, these guys might even spout a line of poetry or two in the middle of a brawl.
Cute, those Irishes.
Want Real Irish? Don’t Miss The Leprachaun Watch, right here! Sightings abound…
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I wondered about this myself. Scorcese said enough of the Italian mob toughies, what about those Micks? Studio 60 was shoved aside for this!?
Comment by marno March 8, 2007 @ 2:04 pmStay tuned for the next episode of Black Donnellys: “Tommy is shocked that Kate asks him to host the murdered ringleader’s wake at the Firecracker. But the brothers rapidly find out that they don’t have enough alcohol to host the event. Kevin and Joey Ice-Cream must find lots of alcohol, and fast.” (No joke. From the website!)
They also need to get some extra Patio Furniture so everyone can sit on the porch all summer.
Awesome post — maybe some day someone will actually write something good that explores Irish-American identity in a non-cliche’d way that doesn’t always involve brawling and poetry.
Comment by chestersdad March 8, 2007 @ 5:35 pmhi chet’s dad – um, it’s Paddy O’Furniture.
good catch marno, i thought you were being all satirical until i saw you got that off the website.
Comment by whatsleft March 9, 2007 @ 6:14 amthat is so lame, and wha kind of name is joey ice-cream? its low-rent Sopranos. at least that show is written so well and James Galdofini and edie falco and all the rest of them play complex and unpredictable characters. not so with all the Dreary Donnelly/Departed
Hey!
I understand everything except Mystic River! Dont’ diss Clint!
-p
Comment by Paul August 1, 2007 @ 1:10 pm