It’s hard to believe that Black Irish is Brad Gann’a first feature film as a director as he does an amazing job of pulling this film together. All of its elements–cinematography, story, acting–are perfectly composed. Most impressive is the performance of young actor Michael Angarano.

Angarano plays Cole McKay, a bright, sensitive kid growing up in South Boston who is caught between his daily struggles with his troubled family–his dad is a self-pitying alcoholic, his older brother is a drug-addicted thug, his sister is being shipped off to an unwed mothers’ home and his sharp-tongued mother seems more interested in keeping up appearances than keeping her family whole–and his aspirations for a better life. His love of baseball and his own fragile self-esteem help him keep his dreams afloat but a painful, life-changing decision threatens to drown them.

Angarano’s performance is nothing short of brilliant in a role that requires him to play a broad range of emotions and he is more than ably supported by a cast that includes Emily Van Camp, Tom Guiry, Brendan Gleeson and Melissa Leo. Black Irish paints a vivid portrait of a passionate life with gravity, sincerity, humor, sympathy and compassion.