Are they part of the Westies?
Are they part of the Westies?
shareGreat question. I'd like to know too.
“Wait a minute, wait a minute. You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!”
I sat through a raging debate over this very subject the other day. The final outcome was that the characters were based on Westies but they decided not to come out and say it.
It's funny to even walk through "hell's kitchen" these days. Jackie would be rolling over in HIS grave if he could see what's happened to it...
I did notice that Sean Penn plays a guy named Noonan and one of the Westies' bosses was a guy named Coonan. What's happened in Hells Kitchen that's so funny besides the name change to Clinton?
“Wait a minute, wait a minute. You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!”
The change in Hell's Kitchen has been ongoing ever since I was growing up in NY. So pretty much through the 70s,80s,90s and beyond it has been reinventing itself. Used to be all working class Irish Americans and had a rough gritty feel. Now it's one of the most sought after addresses in the city with dramatically increased rents and great proximity to broadway. I walked through a few months ago when I was home and it looks great.
In STate of Grace they make mention several times of the "yuppies" driving out all the Irish with their posh improvements and higher rents. Then they light things on fire and engage in several bouts of excellent cinematic hooliganism. No one does that like Gary Oldman.
Gary Oldman can play any part. Love his work.
I grow up in Somerville, MA. About three miles from Fenway Park. The neighborhood I lived in was poor but much like Hells Kitchen it's all cleaned up and the house I lived in is now worth about $400,000. It must be the location?
Thanks.
“Wait a minute, wait a minute. You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!”
Also, from what I've heard from family the characters were loosely based on Jimmy Coonan and Mickey Featherstone- with some relational juggling and name changes of course:)
shareI think you're the first person who named those names (on this particular thread)- tho I think everyone who has a clue was guessing that.
I think (if this were historically accurate, which I have to assume it is not since it is a drama and real life does not usually work well with dramatic works) it is more important to try to age-verify the social demographics- when were these things happening- when did Hell's Kitchen get un-voluntarily changed to "Clinton".
One thing I noticed was the Guns N Roses tune on the juke box which was released in '87 so the setting had to be then or after obviously. Jackie definitely was a combo of Feathers and Coonan. I don't see Penns role being loosely based on any story that I can recall involving the Westies (undercover cop infiltration).
The hands in the ice box and talk about whacking a union boss (while Penn was away) sets up the Westies mood almost from the get go.
*Don't forget to puncture the lungs ... just sayin'
Congratulations for being the master of the obvious.
P was waiting for an intelligent answer...right you are boyo
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