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Nick Thurston, Geoffrey Wigdor, Karen Allen, Stephen Lang, Peter Riegert ... see more see more... , Leslie Murphy , Zachary Booth , Robbie Sublett , Michael Drayer , Henry Zebrowski , Ken Jennings , Regan Mizrahi , Anthony Amorlm , Geoff Wigdor

Two young men are looking for a better life but may have to go to the wrong side of the law to get it in this independent drama from director John Gray. Brian Leary (Nick Thurston) and Danny (Geoff Wi... read more read more...gdor) are brothers living in a decaying Brooklyn neighborhood in 1975. Tired of dealing with their angry and abusive father (Stephen Lang) and high-strung mother (Karen Allen), both Brian and Danny want to move out and do something different with their lives, but their ambitions travel different paths. Danny, the older brother, is a petty criminal who is trying to finance a new life one hold-up at a time; Brian, meanwhile, works at a movie theater and paints in his spare time, though he doesn't tell anyone about his dreams of becoming an artist. Brian thinks he might be able to bankroll a few years at art school when Whitey (Peter Riegert), the manager of the theater, tells him they have a shot at booking the Rolling Stones for a special show at the theater, which would mean a big payday for everyone. But when Danny hears about the big show, he starts making plans of his own to rob the box office the night of the concert. White Irish Drinkers received its world premiere at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

71% liked it

2,056 ratings

Critics

44% liked it

34 critics

R, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: John Gray

Release Date: March 25, 2011

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DVD Release Date: July 12, 2011

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Flixster Reviews (138)

  • moonrivers
    May 3, 2012
    moonrivers
    In Brooklyn in the 70's there's only 2 kinds of people: those stuck there in lower middle class doldrums or those who get out. Although cliched the performances save this trifle about two brothers (one's a crook and one ain't). Stephen Lang does well as the bad parent.
  • itsjustme2004
    October 11, 2011
    itsjustme2004
    Excellent movie! Refreshing script, excellent acting. I really liked the pace of this movie, and the subtle camera work. Fantastic ending, also, which often seals the deal for me when it come to really good movies. Kudos!
  • LWOODS04
    October 4, 2011
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Nick Thurston, Geoff Wigdor, Karen Allen, Stephen Lang, Peter Riegert, Leslie Murphy, Zachary Booth, Robbie Sublett, Michael Drayer, Henry Zebrowski

    Director: John Gray

    Summary: In a blue-collar Irish section of 1970s Brooklyn, brothers Danny (Geoff Wigdor) and Bria... read moren Leary (Nick Thurston) come of age in a family dominated by their longshoreman father, Patrick (Stephen Lang), whose hard-drinking leaves them scrambling for a way out. As delinquent Danny and dejected mom Margaret (Karen Allen) take the brunt of Patrick's assaults, aspiring artist Brian hides his dreams. But desperate acts will threaten them all.

    My Thoughts: "Like so many other films, I went into this one knowing nothing. What I ended up with was a great indie drama. Great acting, great story, and some fun and also intense character's. It's such a heavy story dealing with some very serious issues of alcoholism and physical abuse. It was at times hard to watch or listen as some things were happening. But along with the brutality there was a lot of heart as well. You really start caring for these character's. The bond between these brother's is something special. Danny goes to great lengths to protect Brian. The film definitely brought laughter and some tears. Nick Thurston was charming and funny and just so likable that he reels you in. He did a great job in the movie. Geoffrey Wigdor as Danny was great as well. The whole cast was great. The critics hated it but I of course loved it. For me, it's a must see for sure."
  • muesli2005
    March 20, 2012
    muesli2005
    A sense of time and place you can step into. The plot has heart, but is predictable, but so is life sometimes. I gave it a chance and I'm glad I did.
  • christoddur11
    July 19, 2011
    christoddur11
    Boo and hiss to the critics on this one - just look at the wild difference of opinion between the audience and the critics here. On this one, the critics truly missed the mark. This is a wonderful movie about two brothers growing up in Brooklyn in the mid 70s. They come from a... read moren abusive household, where their father is an alcoholic who takes out his troubles on the oldest boy (and their mother). The performances are great all-around, with Stephen Lang and Karen Allen delivering Oscar-caliber work here.

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Critic Reviews

Colin Covert
April 28, 2011
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Every kitchen-sink dramatic cliché is trotted out in John Gray's Brooklyn period piece. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
April 21, 2011
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A movie that one watches with the sense of pushing it up a hill. Full Review

Elizabeth Weitzman
March 25, 2011
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

Despite the cliches that push every scene forward, there's an unexpected appeal to John Gray's modest drama, emanating from its center. Full Review

Anthony Venutolo
March 25, 2011
Anthony Venutolo, Newark Star-Ledger

The basic outline of the plot, built around a promised local concert by the Rolling Stones - well, if you don't know where that story is headed, you haven't seen as many movies as I think you have. Full Review

Peter Travers
March 25, 2011
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Writer-director John Gray digs into his own background to create the ardent and atmospheric White Irish Drinkers. The close, cramped intimacy of this film is so real it stings. Full Review

Rick Groen
March 25, 2011
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

White Irish Drinkers is a heavy borrower deep into the pocket of pop culture's loan shark, and lacking the grace to acknowledge the debt. Full Review

Kyle Smith
March 25, 2011
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Saturated with atmosphere and strongly acted, the movie is a far more resonant and convincing portrait of working-class life than the recent awards-bait phoniness that called itself "The Fighter." Full Review

John Anderson
March 25, 2011
John Anderson, Wall Street Journal

Frequently enough at the movies, an isolated scene can take place in which an actor who may or may not be the lead steals the whole film through naked emotion, or power, or eloquence. Mr. Lang certain... Full Review

Robert Abele
March 24, 2011
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times

The clichés are what make "White Irish Drinkers" a drearily predictable bout... Full Review

Stephen Holden
March 24, 2011
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Putting profane adjectives in front of every other noun in dialogue that wants desperately to sound streetwise doesn't make it feel authentic if the other words spoken by the characters are arranged i... Full Review

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Facts

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    • Shauna: Do you dare me to take all my clothes off and run through this cemetery naked?
    • Brian: I'm not going to dare you, but I might beg you...
    • Shauna: You're not going to ask to draw me naked, are you?
    • Brian: No, I always wear clothes when I draw...
    • Patrick: Hey Brian, what's a Irish seven-course meal?
    • Brian: Six pack and a potato.
    • Patrick: What, that's not funny?
    • Brian: I heard it.
    • Patrick: Gets a laugh down at Clancy's every time.
    • Brian: Where's Pop?
    • Margaret: Where do you think he is?
    • Brian: I don't know, maybe a parenting seminar?
    • Jerry: We are White Irish Drinkers! We don't do pills, we don't do weed, we don't do needles, we drink...that is what we do!
    • Brian: Danny, I don't want to steal anything anymore. Let's face it. I'm not exactly a criminal mastermind.
    • Danny: I'll teach you. That's what brothers are for.
    • Brian: Not really. But I appreciate the thought.
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