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Ray Stevenson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Christopher Walken, Val Kilmer, Linda Cardellini ... see more see more... , Tony Darrow , Robert Davi , Fionnula Flanagan , Bob Gunton , Jason Butler Harner , Vinnie Jones , Tony Lo Bianco , Laura Ramsey , Steven R. Schirripa , Paul Sorvino , Mike Starr , Marcus Thomas , Vinny Vella Sr. , Brian Balzerini , Cody Christian , Dante Wildern , Sean O'Reilly , Vincent Angelini , Grant R. Krause , Jeff Chase , Jim Porterfield , Nina Kircher , Loren Bass , Richard D. Jewell , John Seibert , Greg Trzaskoma , John Hawkinson , Jimmy Doom , Lise Lacasse , Arthur Cartwright , Joey Albright , Walter L. Lindsey , Douglas Minckiewicz , Robert Skrok , Ruth Crawford , Steven M. Goldsmith , Renell White , Jeff Wolfe , John Leo , Al Corley , Michael Ogden , Trevor Callaghan

Over the summer of 1976, thirty-six bombs detonate in the heart of Cleveland while a turf war raged between Irish mobster Danny Greene (Ray Stevenson) and the Italian mafia. Based on a true story, KIL... read more read more...L THE IRISHMAN chronicles Greene's heroic rise from a tough Cleveland neighborhood to become an enforcer in the local mob. Turning the tables on loan shark Shondor Birns (Christopher Walken) and allying himself with gangster John Nardi (Vincent D'Onofrio), Greene stops taking orders from the mafia and pursues his own power. Surviving countless assassination attempts from the mob and killing off anyone who went after him in retaliation, Danny Greene's infamous invincibility and notorious fearlessness eventually led to the collapse of mafia syndicates across the U.S. and also earned him the status of the man the mob couldn't kill. Written and directed by Jonathan Hensleigh and also starring Val Kilmer, Paul Sorvino and Linda Cardellini, KILL THE IRISHMAN is inspired by Rick Porello's true crime account "To Kill The Irishman: The War That Crippled The Mafia." -- (C) Anchor Bay

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68% liked it

7,402 ratings

Critics

62% liked it

47 critics

R, 1 hr. 46 min.

Directed by: Jonathan Hensleigh

Release Date: March 11, 2011

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DVD Release Date: June 14, 2011

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Flixster Reviews (730)

  • phubbs1
    October 27, 2011
    phubbs1
    Well this was a surprise and a find that has gone unnoticed somehow, based on a true story and with a good cast this is an excellent mafia film that deserves to be up there with the greats.

    I was really impressed with Stevenson's performance here as Danny Greene, not only does h... read moree look like the real Greene but he seems to have nailed his persona pretty well too from what I have read up about Greene. The whole film also looks really good too really capturing the 70's nicely, especially the gritty dirty blue collar areas of Cleveland which really make you glad you didn't live there at the time.

    The film isn't exact with history as you can guess, it starts just before Greene becomes President of the ILA for dock workers, it appears to be quite close to reality but of course it may have been made a little more glossy. The way in which the film shows him becoming the president is a bit dubious methinks. As said the casting is decent and proves the films worth, you can hardly go wrong with Chris Walken, Vincent D'Onofrio, Robert Davi, Paul Sorvino and Val Kilmer, the only downside to the cast and film is the inclusion of Vinnie Jones trying his hardest to pull of a serious acting role plus an Irish accent, he doesn't succeed.

    Nice direction, reasonable soundtrack and is actually filled with little footage segments from actual news reports of the time which work nicely. More of a 'Goodfellas' type film within the genre so you can tell what I'm angling towards, watch for some real footage of Greene at the very end.
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    October 4, 2011
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    Based on the true story of Danny Greene the man the mob couldn't kill

    More than what I expected! I really enjoyed this film, it caught me off guard it was really good. Pretty good acting and story. Decent cast. If you like mafia films then this one is for you. Interspersed with... read more the actors' scenes were actual clips of film footage from local newscasts of the day, which added authenticity and a touchstone to the amazing story that unfolded in Cleveland some 30-40 years ago.

    The true story of Danny Greene, an impoverished but charismatic young Irish-American who rises to power as president of longshoreman's local 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 figure and a man with nine lives as he escapes countless assassination attempts.
  • LWOODS04
    August 25, 2011
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Ray Stevenson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Val Kilmer, Christopher Walken, Linda Cardellini, Tony Darrow, Robert Davi, Fionnula Flanagan, Laura Ramsey, Vinnie Jones, Paul Sorvino, Mike Starr

    Director: Jonathan Hensleigh

    Summary: This true crime tale from director Jonathan Hen... read moresleigh charts the bloody rise and fall of Irish mobster Danny Greene (Ray Stevenson), who faced down the Mafia to claim control of organized crime in Cleveland, Ohio, in the 1970s. Based on Rick Porrello's book, Hensleigh's hard-hitting film also features Christopher Walken as well-connected nightclub owner Shondor Birns and Val Kilmer as the cop who befriends Greene against his better judgement.

    My Thoughts: "I found the story of Danny Greene to be very interesting. I thought the cast was excellent and all fit the character's very well. Especially Ray Stevenson as Danny Greene. The film is more realistic then most mob films, because of the fact it's based on a real person and actual events. Danny Greene was a bad-ass in every shape and form. He was likable and compassionate which made you root for him. A plus for me was that the film had the actual news footage in the movie. That made it even more realistic to see these things that actually happened. It really was one of the most interesting mob stories I have seen and I hope more see it."
  • allan913
    July 8, 2011
    allan913
    The best gangster movie since Goodfellas. An instant classic. It's a tough, lean, mean and ass-kicking good time. A stylish, cool and explosive film. A smart, slick, wickedly funny and action-packed crime flick. An exhilarating and riveting knockout. This movie packs pure punch a... read morend totally delivers, the only way the Irish can. A hard-boiled crime drama that's filled with great star power as well as great humor and style. It's one of best movies of 2011. I truly loved it. A fantastic all-star cast. Ray Stevenson is incredible, he gives an explosive, magnetic and unforgettable movie star performance. Vincent D'Onofrio is excellent. Val Kilmer is terrific. Christopher Walken is brilliant. This is Director, Jonathan Hensleigh's masterpiece. A bold, frequently enjoyable and tremendously entertaining movie.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    July 6, 2011
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "If any of these maggots from the so-called mafia want to come after me, I'm not a hard man to find."

    The true story of Danny Greene, a tough Irish thug working for mobsters in Cleveland during the 1970's.

    REVIEW
    ... read more
    This is the true story of Danny Greene (Stevenson), the man the mob couldn't kill. After an encounter with loan shark Shondor Birns (Walken) ends badly, a $25,000 price is put on his head. The mafia tries everything they can think of, but Danny will not go down without a fight. Being a huge fan of mafia movies, I was really looking forward to this one. While the movie is very good and entertaining, I was a little disappointed. The movie seemed to never keep up a steady pace. Some parts moved very quick and were fun to watch, then the next scene slowed it way down and didn't seem to have any impact. The cast however, makes this movie. There are too many stars to list here but there are about ten known actors that really make this movie as good as it is. If the cast was not what it was this would have been a really bad B movie, but as it stands it is a very entertaining movie to watch. On a side note Val Kilmer is not embarrassing to watch in this (unlike his last 4 or 5 movies). Overall a very good movie, but a tad disappointing.
  • sanjurosamurai
    June 27, 2011
    sanjurosamurai
    this film improved significantly in my mind in the days after i saw it. inconsistent acting and dialogue usually dont make for a 4 star film, but the film was authentic and gritty, and had a way of sticking with me and peaking my imagination in a way that is rare in films. a gr... read moreeat mobster film.
  • CloudStrife84
    May 30, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    Ray Stevenson, who will always be known to me as Titus Pullo in Rome, shows that he's more than capable of carrying a whole film on his shoulders. With a plot reminiscent of, and obviously inspired by Goodfellas, this is a competently made crime saga with quite the ... read moreexcellent cast. It can't be accused of being very original, but as a fan of these type of stories, I was intrigued nonetheless. Sort of like a light and much shorter version of said epic by Scorsese. Not as flawless and exciting, but a good watch for sure.
  • imrealgod
    May 21, 2011
    imrealgod
    Whoa, 1976 must have been an exploding year for Cleveland!!!
  • gator681
    May 29, 2012
    gator681
    As Detective Joe Manditski(Val Kilmer) recalls, Danny Greene(Ray Stevenson) never backed down from a fight in his life, even as a kid. As an adult, he finds one when working on the dockyards in the 1960's where he gets into it with union boss Jerry Merke(Bob Gunton). At the sam... read moree time, Danny gets involved with the local mob to get a friend's gambling debt canceled which Merke tries to hold over him but to no avail. Danny's rule as union president does not last long, as union corruption is exposed and he is banned from the union for life but spared jail time. Having to support his wife Joan(Linda Cardellini) and three kids, he goes to work for Shondor Birns(Christopher Walken) and his numbers business.

    If "Kill the Irishman" borrowing heavily from Scorsese was the only problem it has, maybe you still might have had something. Based on a true story, there is probably enough material for a compelling crime movie. This is not it. All we get about Danny are some nice moments and anecdotal nuggets like his being extraordinarily hard to kill and well-read for a blue collar criminal. Part of the lack of detail here especially involves Cleveland, and ignoring the possible negative effect an explosive gang war might have had on the city. Ray Stevenson may look the part in the lead but sadly lacks a strong presence. That leaves it up to the supporting players, of which Christopher Walken and Fionnula Flanagan make the strongest impressions.
  • fb100000440772572
    March 2, 2012
    fb100000440772572
    Kill the Irishman is an interesting drama about the mob wars in Chicago during the '70s. The story follows the life of Danny Greene as he rises through the longshoremen union and starts his own crime syndicate. Ray Stevenson and Vincent Dā(TM)Onofrio give strong performances an... read mored have a solid supporting cast that includes Val Kilmer and Christopher Walken. At times the story gets a bit confusing and drags as it goes through the ups and downs of Danny Greensā(TM)s mobster life. But overall, it's a fascinating story about organized crime in Chicago. Kill the Irishman is a compelling drama with a number of good performances.

View All Kill the Irishman Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore
April 10, 2011
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

A synthesis of stuff we've seen in every underworld movie since the '70s - from the ethnic slurs gangsters use to describe their rivals to the tough guy talk that tough guys exchange when they're abou... Full Review

Colin Covert
April 7, 2011
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Hensleigh romanticizes Greene and doesn't have a very nuanced understanding of labor racketeering. That said, he does possess a fine eye for shabby urban landscapes and a nice way with explosions. Full Review

Bill Goodykoontz
April 7, 2011
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

The cast makes up for some occasionally spotty storytelling and telegraphing of events that keep "Irishman" from being as good as it could have been. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
March 24, 2011
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

What makes this film special and memorable is the character of Danny Green, who is not the usual neighborhood hoodlum you see in movies, the kind who gets in deep and gradually loses his soul. Full Review

Steven Rea
March 24, 2011
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Stevenson is big and swarthy and not altogether without credibility, but he's got as much charisma as a potato. Full Review

Andrew O'Hehir
March 18, 2011
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

There's an irresistible, Cleveland-esque, underdog quality about this whole production. Full Review

Tom Long
March 18, 2011
Tom Long, Detroit News

Stevenson is a good actor, but Kill the Irishman is standard mob fare, neither exciting enough nor interesting enough to matter. Full Review

Stephen Cole
March 18, 2011
Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail

At the same time overemphatic and insecure. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
March 17, 2011
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

It's full of familiar old faces, a wee bit of color -- and, occasionally, a literally explosive charge of drama. Full Review

Mark Feeney
March 17, 2011
Mark Feeney, Boston Globe

As a kind of St. Patrick's Day hangover, "Kill the Irishman'' gets the job done. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Danny Greene: Is that all you got? Gonna take more than a few firecrackers, to kill DANNY GREENE!
    • Joe Manditski: You really think the luck of the Irish is going to save you?
    • Joe Manditski: I will cut your fucking heart out with a rusty butter knife and eat it while it's still beating.
    • Danny Greene: How did the entire Polish firing squad die? They stood in a circle.
    • Danny Greene: What do you do if a Polack throws a grenade at you? You pull the pin out and throw it back.
    • Danny Greene: That all you got? It's gonna take more than a few firecrackers to kill Danny Green.
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  • In the film Hrafninn flygur (the raven is flying) from 1984 the main character, an Irishman who is trying to kill a viking, is running around on Iceland saying Tungur Knivur. What does that mean?  Answer »
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