Rating: Summary: When the odds are against you, you have to play by the rules Review: Dennis Leary gives an engrossing performance as Bobby O'Grady, a directionless car thief with a taste for gambling. His life is full of the same people it always has been, except for the ones who get shot in front of him, when they displease Colm Meany's (Star Trek) Irish-American equivalent of the local godfather, Jackie. But, as Martin Sheen's cop character notes, no one ever really sees these shootings, since everyone was in the bathroom at the time.Bobby finds himself pushed to the edge. On the one hand, he derives his livelihood from Jackie's illegal enterprises. On the other, he's having an affair with Jackie's girlfriend, which alone could place him in a tragic situation while his friends are in the bathroom. In addition, he continually finds himself in debt to Jackie because of bad bets. Then there's the issue of standing silently by as his friends and relatives are killed when they break the rules. The first of which is the rule of silence. In the end, Bobby surprises everyone when he uses that rule to end the game. Not win it, but end it. Jason Barry (Titanic) is noteworthy as Bobby's Dublin-imported cousin, Seamus. After witnessing a murder, and being told to keep quiet about it, Seamus eventually unravels telling his cousin that he wants to go back to Dublin. All he wanted was to come to America to work. But, "It never stops." The 'it' being the murders, illegal activities, and other seeminess that defines the lives of Bobby and his peers. This is not a happy film. Even when the game ends for Bobby, there is no hope in his eyes. His solution to his problem comes to late for some, but it probably saves others. Though, not too late for viewers, who will want to do what Bobby's friends do for him in the end: buy him a drink.
Rating: Summary: A great role for Leary in "Monument Avenue" Review: I bought "Monument Avenue" on a whim. I'm a Denis Leary fan, and was interested to see how Leary performed in the role of an Irish thug type. It's a fitting role for Leary. He was properly cast as Bobby, a small time car thief. Leary excelled at the role, coming off as very authentic. I agree with the other reviewer who said Leary doesn't have to play piss and moan roles to shine. The movie has a couple slow spots, but it's a good mobster story nonetheless.
Rating: Summary: A great role for Leary in "Monument Avenue" Review: I bought "Monument Avenue" on a whim. I'm a Denis Leary fan, and was interested to see how Leary performed in the role of an Irish thug type. It's a fitting role for Leary. He was properly cast as Bobby, a small time car thief. Leary excelled at the role, coming off as very authentic. I agree with the other reviewer who said Leary doesn't have to play piss and moan roles to shine. The movie has a couple slow spots, but it's a good mobster story nonetheless.
Rating: Summary: Bleak and wrenching Review: I'm a big fan of Denis Leary and was so happy to see him finally get a role he could sink his teeth into. This movie is about the kind of grim reality that scares us the most; that your life is going nowhere and that there are no happy endings. The story is simple and simply told, but all of the characters are complexly drawn and well-acted.
Rating: Summary: dynamite performance by Denis Leary Review: Leary gives a grand and different styled performance. Billy Crudup gets killed by Colm Meaney and Crudup was Leary's cousin because Crudup did a bad thing to Meaney. Martin Sheen is the corrupt cop in the movie and Famke Janssen is the woman who is in a relationship with Meaney but pints over Leary. its story is good but it lags here and there. the end where Leary goes to see Meaney then pulls out a gun, shoots his guys and then him was surprising and is the highlight. other actors like Janeane Tripplehorn, Jason Barry, Noah Emmerich and John Diehl contribute supporting roles.
Rating: Summary: Monument Ave. Review Review: Monument Ave. is an excellent film though it certainly is not what one call upliftng. Leary is a coke-addicted car thief from Charlestown who rolls with his gang of buddies including his cousin from Ireland, a cab driver, a fellow car theif, and a goofy Irish bigit-type. The film is very dark at times but there is a lot of humor as well as Leary adds some very funny stuff. This film is one of my personal favorites. It really showcases Denis Leary as the excellent actor that he can be offered the right role. This is pretty much the Irish equivalent of films such as Mean Streets.
Rating: Summary: nowhere near as good as 'state of grace:the irish mob in ny' Review: Monument Ave. is probably one of the best films I have ever seen. Instead of the Hollywood happy ending, we have a dark and grim tale of family morals and the loyalty between being a stand up guy and a family man. Denis Leary proves he doesn't always have to play piss and moan roles and he's at his best as the reluctant Bobby. The cast is excellent with Colm Meaney as a remorseless crime boss, Ian Hart as Bobby's energetic friend, Famke Janssen as Bobby's girlfriend, and the rest of the cast are in top form. Director Ted Demme manages to get down to the bare nub of the script with the Boston accents and attitudes. This film definitely should've gotten more notice. Grade: A-
Rating: Summary: An underrated gem that should've gotten more notice Review: Monument Ave. is probably one of the best films I have ever seen. Instead of the Hollywood happy ending, we have a dark and grim tale of family morals and the loyalty between being a stand up guy and a family man. Denis Leary proves he doesn't always have to play piss and moan roles and he's at his best as the reluctant Bobby. The cast is excellent with Colm Meaney as a remorseless crime boss, Ian Hart as Bobby's energetic friend, Famke Janssen as Bobby's girlfriend, and the rest of the cast are in top form. Director Ted Demme manages to get down to the bare nub of the script with the Boston accents and attitudes. This film definitely should've gotten more notice. Grade: A-
Rating: Summary: Dear amazon it's in Charlestown, NOT SOUTH BOSTON Review: The CHARLESTOWN neighborhood that this film is BASED ON Dennis Leary lived in while doing stand up comedy. The family pics are actually his family growing up in Worcester. The whole "Code of Silence" is about the Charlestown "TOWNIE" IRISH CONNECTION. South Boston is another "Irish" neighborhood (Good Will Hunting) in Boston, but definitely different(with no code of silence)from Charlestown. The movie portrays the film with accuracy and the same intensity that is real.
Rating: Summary: Dear amazon it's in Charlestown, NOT SOUTH BOSTON Review: The CHARLESTOWN neighborhood that this film is BASED ON Dennis Leary lived in while doing stand up comedy. The family pics are actually his family growing up in Worcester. The whole "Code of Silence" is about the Charlestown "TOWNIE" IRISH CONNECTION. South Boston is another "Irish" neighborhood (Good Will Hunting) in Boston, but definitely different(with no code of silence)from Charlestown. The movie portrays the film with accuracy and the same intensity that is real.
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