“They’ve not built a bomb big enough to kill Danny Greene.” —Danny Greene
Today’s quick review: Kill the Irishman. From his humble beginnings as a dock worker, Danny Greene (Ray Stevenson) becomes an influential figure in the Cleveland criminal underworld, first as the head of the longshoreman’s union and later as an independent jack of all trades. But by the 1970s, his success as a criminal and his fierce defiant streak put him at odds with the Mafia, leading to an explosive war for control of Cleveland.
Kill the Irishman is a biographical crime drama about the life of Danny Greene, an Irish orphan who rose up to turn the Italian-dominated world of organized crime in Cleveland on its head. The movie charts his rise to prominence, his setbacks along the way, and the many attempts on his life. Kill the Irishman offers a decent script and a fairly talented cast, but it lacks both the impact and the subtlety to be a great film.
Kill the Irishman has solid fundamentals. The film paints a robust picture of Danny Greene, from his protective nature to his ruthless efficiency as a businessman. The supporting cast includes Val Kilmer as Joe Manditski, a police officer who befriends Danny and narrates the story; Christopher Walken as Shondor Birns, a loan shark who helps Danny get his start; and Vincent D’Onofrio as John Nardi, a Mafioso who goes into business with Danny.
However, Kill the Irishman has a hard time moving past the basics. The plot suffers from the same ebb and flow of most biopics, but takes it a step further by putting Danny in a passive role for most of the movie. Danny endures the attempts to kill him with aplomb, but he never really comes up with a way to strike back. As a result, the second half of the movie feels like a waiting game. Danny can die or escape, but he cannot win.
The characters are also only a partial success. The large supporting cast makes it hard for the film to focus on even Danny’s closest associates, and the film’s best-known actors, Val Kilmer and Christopher Walken, are relegated to minor roles. Danny himself is a nuanced figure, a reluctant criminal who is generous, brave, and loyal. But the film’s tendency to gloss over Danny’s crimes makes it hard to get a complete picture of the man.
Give Kill the Irishman a shot if you’re a fan of grounded, realistic crime stories. Its basic competence makes it a decent watch, but issues with its story and characters keep it from matching the better entries in the crime genre. For a more grisly tale in a similar vein, check out The Iceman. For a fuller and more memorable look into the world of organized crime, check out Casino, Goodfellas, The Untouchables, or Donnie Brasco.
7.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for decent execution and an interesting lead.