'Black Irish' keeps a low profile

With the wattage of all the stars on the set, ''The Departed" is grabbing the headlines, but there's another movie shooting in Boston now. Called ''Black Irish," the indie film is a coming-of-age story starring the very fine Irish actor Brendan Gleeson as the emotionally unavailable father of a young boy played by Michael Angarano. Yesterday, we caught up with Gleeson, who's done several big-budget movies, including ''Troy" and Martin Scorsese's ''Gangs of New York," but prefers smaller projects. ''You're not compromised by the hugeness of the machinery," he said. ''You get to think on your feet a little, and I like that." Gleeson, whose big break came in John Boorman's ''The General," said his first visit to Boston has been pleasant, especially after a few pints at The Burren in Davis Square. The actor hasn't run into Scorsese, but has fond memories of working with the director of ''The Departed." ''He's a national treasure, if you ask me," Gleeson said. ''The Smithsonian should give him carte blanche to do whatever he wants."

Only his hairdresser knows for sure

Johnny Damon has perhaps the most familiar mane in the city, so it seems fitting that he would go to perhaps the city's most renowned hair stylist, Mario Russo. On Monday, Damon and wife, Michelle Mangan, made a trip to Russo's famed Newbury Street salon where Damon got a new, updated style for his locks. The center fielder wanted to update his look, Russo said, adding, ''he's very into style and what looks good." Although the length didn't change much, Russo said he took a lot of hair off and added layers. Did Damon have any special requests? ''Just that he be able to pull it back in a ponytail when he works out." After the cut, Russo joined Mangan at the Sox game where they sat behind home plate.

Foulke offers second grand slam

Catch Keith Foulke's comments after he coughed up a grand slam to lose Tuesday's game? ''I'm more embarrassed to walk into this locker room and look at the faces of my teammates than to walk out and see Johnny from Burger King booing me," said Foulke. How did Johnny react? John Chidsey, president of the Americas for Burger King Corp., didn't return our call. We reached Eric, manager of the Framingham BK, who called the comment ''unprofessional." Making $7.25 per hour to start, not many BK workers can afford to go to Fenway to see the Sox's $7 million man blow another save.

Goings on around town

Former Red Sox GM Lou Gorman signed copies of his new autobiography, ''One Pitch From Glory: A Decade of Running the Red Sox," at Fenway's Crown Royal Club the other night. All proceeds from the night's book sales went to the Red Sox Foundation. . . . Local guitarman Johnny A and family and WAAF morning guy Greg Hill with friends were spotted Tuesday night at Jake's Dixie Roadhouse in Waltham.

Money where their mouth is

'AMC believes ''Cinderella Man" is one of the finest motion pictures of the year! We believe so strongly . . . we're offering a money back guarantee.' From AMC Theatres' website
Geoff Edgers of the Globe staff contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.