Prime Video subscribers are in for a treat with an epic gangster movie currently streaming on the platform. 'Kill the Irishman' is a biographical crime film based on the life of Irish-American gangster Danny Greene, adapted from Rick Porrello's book 'To Kill the Irishman: The War That Crippled the Mafia'.
Plot and Premise
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 are central themes, exploring his ambition, clashes with the Mafia, and impact on organised crime in Cleveland and beyond.
Cast and Crew
Directed by Jonathan Hensleigh, the film boasts a stellar cast including Ray Stevenson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Val Kilmer, Christopher Walken, Linda Cardellini, Tony Darrow, and Robert Davi. Gangster movie fanatics have praised it highly, with one IMDb reviewer calling it 'a must-see for mafia-philes' and noting its 'rocket pace' that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. Another branded the film 'very underrated'.
Critical Reception
Upon release, 'Kill the Irishman' received mixed reviews, with some critics drawing comparisons to Martin Scorsese's 'Goodfellas' (1990). It holds a divisive 63% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, who state: 'Kill the Irishman may not add much in the way of new ingredients to its crowded genre, but the admirable efforts of a solidly assembled cast add extra depth to a familiar story.'
However, audience reviewers were quick to defend the film. One described it as 'the best true crime drama out there', while another said they 'absolutely love this film'. A third reviewer wrote: '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.'
'Kill the Irishman' is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
