User Reviews

This documentary was interesting to me because I saw it right after reading both of Frank McCourt's books: Angela's Ashes and Tis. So, I was interested to see what the documentary offered.

What it offers is a brief summary of what happened to Frank and is three brothers after they had all arrived in the United States as young adults from Ireland. Frank's story I knew, but nonetheless he's always interesting to hear, not just read about. His brothers, which look similar to me with their pudginess and white hair, all have some interesting tales to tell. The Irish make good storytellers, that's for sure.

Near the end of this 70-minute program is a very dramatic scene when the brothers get together to find the grave site of their sister who had died shortly after birth.

All in all, if you are fan of the brothers' work, this a nice documentary of a very interesting family. I would watch it more than once, just on its own merit.

With so many creative documentaries available, it seems trite to call this one groundbreaking, but that's exactly the word I'll use.

The McCourts of New York is the story of four Irish brothers from Limerick who came to New York to live out their lives. But they are by no means a typical Irish family. Frank won the Pulitzer Prize for ANGELA'S ASHES and Malachy became a well-known New York bar owner and television actor. The others, Mike and Alphie, never became famous, but led interesting lives nonetheless.

The film chronicles their lives in the best manner of any story of Irishmen, by hearing the brothers tell their stories themselves. It is a documentary with no narrator; the brothers provide the commentary better than any screenwriter ever could.

Although the four are deservedly proud of the McCourt Clan, their lives were not all wine and roses. There were dark days too, and the audience is not spared those details. But even in darkness, the twinkle never leaves these brothers's eyes, even if it is the beginning of a tear.

The film will be a joy to anyone who loves a good Irish yarn, but especially those who are at least familiar with Frank McCourt's work. Read ANGELA'S ASHES, or at least rent the film, before checking this one out. Doing so will help bring the four into perspective.

Expect to laugh and cry, but never want it to end.