Kill the Irishman - 2011

Anchor Bay Films, Code Entertainment, Dundee Entertainment

Directed by Jonathon Hensleigh

Cast:

• Danny Greene – Ray Stevenson
• John Nardi – Vincent D'Onofrio
• Joe Manditski – Val Kilmer
• Shondor Birns – Christopher Walken
• Joan Madigan – Linda Cardellini
• Ray Ferritto – Robert Davi
• Grace O'Keefe – Fionnula Flanagan
• Tony Salerno – Paul Sorvino
• Jack Licavoli – Tony Lo Bianco
• Jerry Merke – Bob Gunton
• Leo 'Lips' Moceri – Mike Starr

Story: Based on the true story of the Irishman who dared to defy the Mob in Cleveland in the 1970's. Danny Greene was a true Celtic warrior, or so the story goes. He's involved in the unions on the docks, unloading freight containers, when a few people encourage him to run for union president. When he helps out a friend who has run up a gambling debt with the local mob, he becomes involved in a spiral into the world of organized crime. He becomes the union president, and is involved in a number of enterprises, including organizing the local garbage men. A local reporter snoops around and discovers some of his dealings, which leads to his arrest and conviction. But Danny is still a force to be reckoned with, and he soon returns to the criminal life as a collection agent for a loan shark, Shondor Birns. When Birns eventually puts a contract out on Danny, he sets into motion a murder spree that accounts for more than 30 explosions and killings in the underworld, and a syndicate story that shocked the nation.

Review: Great cast, great acting, and an absolute must-see for mafia-philes. Ray Stevenson and Linda Cardellini give exceptional performances as Danny and Joan Greene in this hard hitting story based on his life. Unlike many bio-dramas, this one moves along at a rocket pace, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats. D'Onofrio is exceptional in this role, as is Christopher Walken, and you have to wonder how Stevenson keeps up with such powerful performers, but he does. Lots of favorite character actors dress up this larger than life scenario, including the lovely and always enticing Fionnula Flanagan as the neighbor, Mike Starr as one of Tony Lo Biano's enforcers, and Bob Gunton as the Union President who can't stand on his own. Paul Sorvino gives us the perfect NYC mob boss image and, while his role is brief, it's a performance worth watching. Val Kilmer's role as the police officer who grew up with Greene is subdued, but he carries it off with the right tone and balance to the film. Since a great film always comes down to the director, we have to give Jonathon Hensleigh a resounding round of applause for this fascinating and entertaining portrait of the underworkings of the mob. Rated R for violence, language and sexual situations, if you like films like the Godfather, Goodfellas, Casino, etc, you are going to love this one. And if you are a fan of those, this needs to be added to your collection.

The Ghost and the Darkness - 1996

Paramount Pictures, Constellation Entertainment, Douglas/Reuther Productions

Directed by Stephen Hopkins

Cast:

• Charles Remington – Michael Douglas
• Col. John Henry Patterson – Val Kilmer
• Robert Beaumont – Tom Wilkinson
• Samuel – John Kani
• Dr. David Hawthorne – Bernard Hill
• Angus Starling – Brian McCardie
• Helena Patterson – Emily Mortimer
• Abdulla – Om Puri
• Mahina – Henry Cele

Story: Based on the book written by Col. Patterson documenting his adventures in Kenya in 1898 while building a bridge over the Tsavo river, this films takes poetic license to the events. Col. Patterson is an Irishman in the service of the British Empire as an engineer with one specialty: Bridges. He is commissioned by Robert Beaumont to build a bridge for the railroad over the Tsavo river, and since he has always wanted to see Africa, he is thrilled to be going, even thought his wife, a school teacher, is expecting their first child. When he arrives in Africa, he learns of a troubling situation which has his workers frightened. A man-eating lion has killed one of the workers. He promises to “sort it out” and kills the lion on the first night. He thinks he has the problem solved, but soon afterward, another worker is killed. His workers are scared, Mr. Beaumont is upset about the delay in the schedule, and eventually sends a world famous American hunter named Charles Remington in to assist the engineer. Together, they discover these are no ordinary lions. They are killing for pleasure. After many attempts, the lions are killed, but at a high cost.

Review: Since the film was shot in South Africa, the scenery is exceptional. Like all docu-dramas, an amount of license was taken. Micheal Douglas' part in the film is fictional, but very well played and adds to the suspense of the movie. Val Kilmer gives a very quiet but determined air to the role and is supported by excellent performances by John Kani, Om Puri, and Henry Cele, all essential character actors who bring the proper balance of ethnicity and culture to the film. Tom Wilkinson plays Robert Beaumont, a man dedicated to advancing his position to the throne (“I care about my Knighthood!”), across the backs of the people he assigns the tasks. He is a self described Monster who can either make or break a career, and has no qualms about either. Overall the film is matter of fact and very ordinary, but what cannot be denied is that this happened. I have been to the Field Museum and seen the Lions of Tsavo. It is as the last line of the movie says. “If you lock eyes with them, you will be afraid.” Lots of gory scenes make this unsuitable for the children, but most teens have seen worse on their video games. Not necessarily collectible, but certainly worth a viewing, especially if you enjoy Kilmer and Douglas.

Heat - 1995

Warner Bros. Pictures, Regency Enterprises, Forward Pass

Written and directed by Michael Mann

Cast:

• Lt. Vincent Hanna – Al Pacino
• Neil McCauley – Robert De Niro
• Chris Shiherlis – Val Kilmer
• Nate – Jon Voight
• Micheal Cherrito – Tom Sizemore
• Justine Hanna – Diane Venora
• Eady – Amy Brenneman
• Charlene Shiherlis – Ashley Judd
• Sgt. Drucker – Mykelti Williamson
• Detective Casals – Wes Studi
• Bosko – Ted Levine
• Donald Breedan – Dennis Haysbert
• Roger Van Zant – William Fichtner
• Lauren Gustafson – Natalie Portman
• Kelso – Tom Noonan
• Trejo – Danny Trejo

Story: A professional burglary crew that specializes in high end merchandise is pulling jobs in Los Angeles that go off with military precision. The Major Crimes bureau gets the call, and starts nosing around to find the evidence, which is damn little. Lt. Hanna, the chief investigator, is a driven man who places his job above everything in his life, and it is taking its toll. Neil McCauley, the leader of the crew, has nothing in his life, and it is taking its toll. We get a glimpse into the personal lives of all the criminals, their families, and their cold precision. We listen to Lt. Hanna work the informants, and marvel at the way he puts the pieces together to find the crew. But every time he thinks he has a chance, he has no evidence with which to make a case. The drama builds and the plot thickens in this dark suspense story which only Michael Mann could bring to you.

Review: Okay, I have to preface this by telling you I am a huge fan of Micheal Mann, so if my praise for the man seems a bit over the top, you know why. Al Pacino has figured prominently in many of my reviews, so no surprise he delivers another stellar performance in this epic that reunites his with his Godfather II costar, Robert De Niro, who also delivers in his best “tough guy” style. The cast list above may seem a little long, but it could be longer, since there are a few other superb actors in the film, such as Martin Ferrero, Henry Rollins, Hank Azaria, and Jeremy Piven. The list above represents a powerhouse of a cast, though. Ferrero and Noonan have worked with Mann many times before, and I would imagine their inclusion represents a strong suggestion on Mann's part, but they both perform their roles well. This is one of those films where we see the entire canvas, not just one or two parts of the painting. We discover what drives these men, and their women. The settings are perfect, the photography Oscar worthy, and in spite of a run time of just over 2 hours, keeps you sitting on the edge of your seat. Lots of gun play and bad language, a few scenes of with implied sex, so no need to watch this when the kids are up and about. Definitely a collectible, one you will love to watch over and over again.