Irish Eyes

'Irish Eyes' or 'Vendetta' is an action-packed crime-drama that follows two Irish-American brothers in Boston from childhood to adulthood as they rise to power on opposite sides of the law.

The story begins in 1955 at a shipyard in South Boston. John Phelan, a burly dock worker with a thick Irish brogue, argues with two Mafioso over the strongarm tactics of the Italian-controlled union. The altercation turns physical and John, an adept pugilist, sends his enemies away limping. The following morning John kisses his wife and sons goodbye. As he exits the house, bullets rip through his chest as the two mobsters casually walk away. SEAN (Daniel Baldwin) and THOMAS (John Novak) watch as their father lies dying in the street.

Eight years later, Sean and Thomas have taken completely different paths in life. Thomas studies with ambitions to make something of his life while Sean hangs out on street corners and dabbles in petty crime. Thomas eventually leaves for college and Sean, after a botched bank robbery attempt, winds up in prison.

The early 1980s: Sean Phelan is fresh out of jail. Irish gang wars have bloodied the streets, and like a moth to a flame, Sean soon finds himself climbing the ranks of Boston's Irish mob. Meanwhile, Thomas is just as hungry for power and recognition on his side of the law. Now a District Attorney, Thomas is mentored by his father in law, Jack McGuire, a man with enough clout to help Thomas rise through the ranks of city politics.

Their paths eventually cross in an unfogettable way as they're both forced to make decisions that will change their lives forever.

I saw this as Vendetta and was very disappointed. Its not that the acting or the story was bad, its just that the direction and everything about the film on a technical level comes across as unimaginative bad TV.

Basically its the story of an Irish family in Boston where some end up as good guys and some as bad. Daniel Baldwin stars as the head of the Irish Mafia who is running into trouble.

I really can't say much about this movie. I wanted so much to like it but was forced to keep repeating "This should be better, this should be better" over and over to prevent my frustration from harming the TV.

Its not quite that bad, and it is worth seeing on cable. I just wish it was better.

I walked out of the theater after viewing Irish Eyes with a profound sense of awe. I had witnessed a story as old as the bible (Cain and Able) told in such a dramatic new fashion that I felt as if I had never heard it before. This movie has an epic feel. The relationship between the brothers is the essence of the film. The often times difficult relationship brothers have is certainly more complicated when your professional lives are in conflict, as one bother is a US attorney charged with bring down organized crime figures (the good brother, Able) and the other is the head of the Irish Mob(the bad brother, Cain.) The city of Boston is as much a character in this film as the state troopers, and the city is a reflection of the brothers. The pictures on the screen project a city with youth and vigor as the brothers begin to grow up, and it turns darker and more dangerous, as the brothers age and grow more cynical and deadly. Truly the climax takes place when Tom, the good brother, delivers his speech at the end of the movie. Watching that scene you believe that his very own real life brother is the head of the Irish Mob. If you liked Public Enemy or State of Grace, then you'll love Irish Eyes.

In Boston, the Irish father of two boys is executed by the Italian mafia in front of the children when he was leaving home going to work. Each brother follows a path in the law seeking for revenge: Sean Phelan (Daniel Baldwin) becomes a criminal and head of the Irish mob, and Thomas Phelan (John Novak) becomes a successful prosecutor. However, their relationship is almost impossible for both sides, leading to a tragic consequence.

I was really surprised with the IMDb User Rating of 2.9 for this movie. I saw an imported DVD without subtitles, and I missed some words because of the accent and way of speaking of John Novak, but I really found "Vendetta, No Conscience, No Merci" a powerful and dramatic movie of mob and revenge. The major problem is the miscast John Novak, who has no resemblance with Daniel Baldwin, becoming hard to believe that they are brothers. His way of speaking without moving the lips is also awful. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): Not available, but the imported DVD I saw is called "Vendetta, No Conscience, No Merci"

I recently saw a preview screening of "Irish Eyes" in Los Angeles and must say I was pretty impressed. A look at the world of the Irish mafia in Boston through the world of two brothers, the film succeeds in that it doesn't specifically focus on the mob side of things, trying to be an Irish "Goodfellas", but is equally concerned with developing an honest story between two brothers and how crime and conflict tear at the familial bind.

Hats off to John Novak, the straight-laced brother with political aspirations and a very suprising Daniel Baldwin, who, as far as I have seen, gives the performance of his career as the criminal brother who has a good heart somewhere deep inside but can't seem to save himself as he becomes steeped deeper and deeper into trouble. Also, a nice debut for director, Daniel McCarthy.

Definitely worth a look.