KILL THE IRISHMAN (2011)

Directed By: Jonathan Hensleigh 
Written By: Jonathan Hensleigh & Jeremy Walters 
Based On The Book By: Rick Porello 
Cinematography By: Karl Walter Lindenlaub 
Editor: Douglas Crise 

Cast: Ray Stevenson, Val Kilmer, Vincent D’Onofrio, Robert Davi, Linda Cardellini, Mike Starr, Christopher Walken, Bob Gunton, Tony Darrow, Vinnie Jones, Tony Lo Bianco, Fionnula Flanagan, Laura Ramsey, Paul Sorovino


The true story of Danny Greene, an impoverished but charismatic young Irish-American who rises to power as president of the longshoreman's local union and is charged with corruption but evades serious jail time by becoming an FBI informant. With fearless nerve he joins forces with a Mafia gangster to rise to power in Cleveland's underworld, gaining the reputation of a Robin Hood-like figure with nine lives as he escapes countless assassination attempts.

The film is like a star-studded AMERICA’S MOST WANTED re-enactment.

It didn’t help when the movie was advertised it more looked like a generic action film rather than a fact based drama with action scenes.

I understand that he is our protagonist, but this film makes what is essentially a thug into a folk hero who fights along with then against the mob for the little man. The worker.

Things happen with that much of an impact (none), but there doesn’t feel like any passion or work went into the film. The film has a interesting story but since there are so many mob related crime films. We are saturated with them and know all the clichés and since this film is paint by numbers almost beat for beat. So that it makes the film substandard.

The only real excitement is watching the recognizable actor as they pop into the film for supporting roles. They have played before and better. Ray Stevenson is good in the lead role. I only wish it was in a better film.

They try to spice up the film with frank violence that seems forced though I know it is supposed to be routine to the characters. It feel s over indulgent in after scenes.

One thing I found interesting is that the director of this film Jonathan Hensleigh directed THE PUNISHER Starring Thomas Jane. Ray Stevenson Starred in it’s sequel PUNISHER: WAR ZONE that hensleigh did not choose to direct. The Punisher movie was a satisfactory studio film with an edge of indulgence. Here this film just feels so routine with no real originality. The only thing that ties into both films are violence, vigilantes and mobsters.

I didn’t expect it to transcend it’s genre, but I was expecting something to see it apart have it’s own personality.

Christopher Walken is even in the film and it still manages to waste him in the film. Making it look like he has a much bigger role then he actually does. It’s a shame the film is full of such great big name character actors most are wasted or only around for cameos. Maybe having their name in the cast helped sell the film for financing and to get an audience. Instead of just strength of material. There is enough material here to tell a compelling story. It just isn’t achieved with this film.

I was even excited to see Linda Cardellini in the film and in a erotic scene, but her character doesn’t stay for even half the movie so it was disappointment after disappointment.

Maybe the Filmmaker Was limited by the true story aspects and couldn’t invent narratives and scenes too much that differed from the actual story, legally.

Wait for Television

GRADE: D+