‘Underrated’ gangster movie is ‘brilliant’ and a ‘must watch’ | Films | Entertainment

Kill the Irishman is a biographical crime film that is based on the life of the Irish-American gangster Danny Greene. It was adapted from Rick Porrello’s book To Kill the Irishman: The War That Crippled the Mafia. The film’s synopsis reads: “Kill the Irishman tells the true story of Danny Greene, a scrappy union representative who rose through the ranks of the Cleveland underworld and became a force to be reckoned with, ultimately engaging in a turf war with the Italian Mafia.

“Greene’s rise to power and his eventual assassination, which is depicted in the film, are the central themes. The film explores Greene’s ambition, his clashes with the Mafia, and the impact of his actions on organised crime in Cleveland and beyond.”

Directed by Jonathan Hensleigh, the film stars Ray Stevenson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Val Kilmer, Christopher Walken, Linda Cardellini, Tony Darrow and Robert Davi, among others.

It has been praised by gangster movie fanatics, with one stating in an IMDb review: “Great cast, great acting, and an absolute must-see for mafia-philes.

“Unlike many bio-dramas, this one moves along at a rocket pace, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats.”

Another branded the film as “very underrated”.

The film received mixed reviews upon its release and was called out for its likeness to Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas (1990).

Audience reviewers were quick to jump to its defence, as one described it as “the best true crime drama out there” and another stated they “absolutely love this [film].

“Brilliant! Absolute perfect cast for the job, and all of them excel in character. Jonathan Hensleigh did well in bringing this to screen. Great story, based on true events no less, well written and executed. Very good cinematography that creates the perfect ambience of the era it represents. Lots of action, wheeling and dealing, intrigue, drama, twists and suspense. Very entertaining, highly recommended,” added a third.

Kill the Irishman is available to stream on Amazon Prime.