Irish Boston Guys

Have you ever seen ten movies about drunken Boston Irish guys who err and then feel guilt and lead useless lives of self-punishment, hoping for death? Maybe the first such film was THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE, starring Robert Mitchum. The latest is MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, recent hit and one more pointless Boston bummer, two hours of despair I will never get back. Yes, the acting is strong, so strong you may want to suck the tailpipe of your car when you get home.

The best acting, by the way, is not by the guy but by his wife. 

I’m mostly Irish myself. I want to say, look, Boston guys, the examined life is not worth living, so forget about examining and punishing yourselves and try to have fun. Move to New Mexico or something. Meet new people. Eat new food. Eat a mushroom. Pound sand! What’ve you got to lose?