After reading through the reviews,the comments on this thread and of course watching "Kill the Irishman" I'v decided to jump into and share my opinion of this...movie. Yeah we will go with "movie" definently not "film".
The problems begin with the script, well the script that was shot, well the script that was shot and that made it into the final cut. I say all this because Im not certain where the blame should placed. The lack of character development usually starts with the script. And since the characters are not developed beyond the bare hollywood stereotypes it follows that the relationships between these people is left barren. Why did Green and Nardi become close as criminal associates?? What drew them to each other beyond making money. Perhaps nothing, as in most criminal relationships. But of course if thats the case then Danny's (meant to be) touching comforting of his dying friend made little sense, and where I wanted to feel something I only felt disgust at the missed oppotunity to take a solid cast and make a memorable film. And being "low budget" doesnt have a damn thing to do with it!! Need I cite here on IMDb all of the low budget masterpieces that have been made. This is the first and largest problem with KtI. It goes the quickest and easiest route to no where!! This is "movie of the week" quality. Made for network television.
Forgive me for repeating some the problems already pointed out by more decerning or demanding viewers. The opening scene takin right from Casino, only Casinos was far more intresting and dramatic. Stevenson flaiing about the street like some Tony Montana calling his enemies out was laughable. And cgi burning car was so poorly done my first thought was
"wow the fx team will never work on a feature again!"
And exploding cars..where as one viewer griped at all the explosions I do fully understand and agree with the need for all the explosions as its a vital part of the story...but what we were shown was handled and put together in such an amature 'HERE IT COMES KIDS' way that the explosions become Michael Bay without millions of dollars to waste. I think the blame for that lies with only two people Hensleigh and Crise (editor). In fact with only a couple exceptions the editing and shots were pedestrian.
Music wise...well Im glad I wasnt living in Cleveland in the 70s because apprently nne of the great 70s songs made it on the radio in that city. Granted they may not have been able to afford the outragious sums charged for the rights to pop songs now a days, so Ill give em a pass on it.
And while I could go on about why Im such a hater Ill end with this.
Danny Green was mobster, of the Irish Mob type, but still a mobster. And the biggest sin the movie commits is to present him as a very UN complicated "Robin Hood" type. If you owned a garbage bizz in those days in that section of Cleveland you may not have gottin to see his Robin Hood charm. He was no Celtic hero, no Saint despite what some people from the old neighborhood may like to believe. If they had crossed him they would of ended up dead or hurt.
Goodfellas, Casino, Scarface, The Departed (which is veeery loosely based on Whitey Bulger) White Heat, Little Ceaser, etc etc...all point out that ultimately their gangsters are just that gangsters, self absorbed sociopaths, and while we may root for them on the way up, or admire their daring, they are still people we dont want living next to us. And in the end they reap what they sow. As did Danny Green.
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