Southie

After watching 'Southie' I was surprised at its low rating on the IMDb; and somewhat puzzled because almost everyone who took the time to post a comment found it an excellent film. Although in overall effect it is not on the level of 'Mean Streets', it a still a very solid production; on the level of "Monument Avenue" and "The Friends of Eddie Coyle". I suppose that a rather ordinary screenplay and a downbeat ending put some people off.

But this small film did a fine job of presenting a believable (if troubled) family, it utilized some interesting (out of favor) camera techniques to advance the storyline, and it showcased some excellent acting. It is refreshing to watch something without a hint of computer generated crap. If your production fundmentals are sound you don't need that kind of distraction.

There are two diametrically opposite scenes between Donnie Wahlberg and Rose McGowan that work so well that you wonder why they didn't alter the script to expand McGowan's part . One is in an Irish bar where Danny convinces his sister to enter an in-patient alcohol treatment program. The other is a few days later when he visits her in the middle of the program. The contrast between the intensity levels of these two scenes is amazing and McGowan pulls off the dramatic performance of her career. She is great at comedy but in these scenes she shows unexpected dramatic range. 'Southie' would be worth watching for just these two scenes but it is a solid effort from start to finish. Highly recommended.

It's too bad this independent production didn't have some of the advantages of a major studio. The camera work is mediocre and the sound level is just terrible in spots. I hope that the latter is the result of me having a bad VHS copy.

Southie is not the kind of film that the late Pat O'Brien would have appeared in. It's the story of the South Boston neighborhood, a rugged Irish enclave as seen through the eyes of Danny Quinn and his family. It certainly isn't all Irish charm and blarney.

Donnie Wahlberg, late of New Kids on the Block and older brother of Mark Wahlberg, is Danny Quinn. He's gotten in trouble with the son of one of the two local mob chieftains vying for control of the neighborhood. So he beat it to New York for a while and now he's back.

He tries to go straight, but because of the need for money due to his mom's heart condition, young Quinn gets involved again in illegal activities. His old enemy is still around and leads to a whole lot of tragedy.

This was obviously a labor of love for Wahlberg as that's where he and the other New Kids on the Block sprang from. Too bad his neighborhood wasn't better photographed.

Lawrence Tierney as the old mob boss from South Boston and Anne Meara as Wahlberg's mother give strong performances.

This was all under the direction of John Shea, better known as Lex Luthor, from Lois and Clark. Too bad he didn't have better production values in what could have been a great film.

I rented this movie because I read the box too quickly and thought it starred Marc Wahlburg, not Donnie. When I got it home my wife asked me who Donnie was and I realized my mistake. However, I was very pleased with my mistake. This was a very good movie. A real family, good vs. bad and even small time mob interests. No nudity for those interested in that sort of thing.

Rose McGowen's acting was very good. Also, she looks gorgeous even when she's made up to look like a white trash alcoholic. The characters' accents do sometimes slip in and out with the exception of Donnie who is from Boston in real life.

All in all, it was a very good movie.

... the Southie that tried so hard from the Garrity era on down to portray themselves as Just Another Heart Of Gold (all-white) Community, or the one that really exists?

This isn't a great movie. The production values are spotty, such plot as exists is threadbare, sound fades in and out, and you won't put the tape back in the box having learned much of anything.

But paintings don't tell stories either; they're evocative mood-setting pieces, and so is this movie. Wahlberg doesn't put phony speeches in the characters' mouths, he doesn't have a happy ending, nothing much is resolved, and no one is any less of a mess than at the beginning. He presents you a moving image of a profane, drunken, violent environment that is a side of Southie the residents and the city of Boston would prefer you not see. It's there nonetheless.

6/10.

"Southie" is worth a look. We have seen this movie before, only that now instead of being about Italian-Americans, it depicts Irish-Americans in Boston. As directed by John Shea, it misses the mark, but it shows a director who shows a lot of promise, as we already know him as an excellent film actor.

The film has an improvised look, which might have been the case, but we'll never know. The different Boston heavy accents stand in the way for enjoying it much more, in my humble opinion.

Donnie Wahlberg shows his usual intensity. Rose McGowan, as Kathy, shows she has the potential to do bigger and better things. As the Quinn matriarch, it was a pleasure to see Anne Meara, a wonderful actress and a great human being in real life.

Let's hope Mr. Shea will come out with a better film the next time out.