MovieChat Forums > Kill the Irishman (2012) Discussion > Was it Filmed in Cleveland?

Was it Filmed in Cleveland?

posted 12 years ago by debih200
7 replies | jump to latest

First off let me say I loved this movie! I was born in Cleveland Ohio and remember this even through I was just a small child it made big news all over Cleveland.

On this site it says it was filmed in Detroit I have to admit I really did not "feel" it was Cleveland filmed, I did not recognize much if it was not filmed in Cleveland it should of been it would of given the movie a even more real quality.

Ray Stevenson was outstanding as Danny Greene, very convincing not too mention very good looking and sexy, he is a good actor, wonder why we do not see him more.

The only one thing I did NOT like about the movie was the casting of his girlfriend, she was way way too young to play that part, I know in real life she was a little younger than Danny but this girl looked about fifteen years old, they did not cast well for her it was not realistic, they should of put someone older in the part, she looked like his daughter, over than that a very very good movie!

[–] debih200 12 years ago

I guess no one knows? I doubt it was filmed in Cleveland unless just very little clips. I remember the "Deer Hunter" was filmed in Cleveland and you really just knew it. I miss Cleveland I hear from relatives that its kind of a depressed area even the west side has gone down, I was very sorry too hear that. Does anyone that watched this live in Cleveland??

[–] RickPorrello 12 years ago

Kill the Irishman was filmed in Detroit to take advantage of Michigan's film tax rebate. Actually Danny's girlfriend was quite a bit younger than him. Without looking in my notes, I believe he was 46 and she was 19.

Rick Porrello
Author of To Kill the Irishman

[–] jessicaswanlake 12 years ago

Detroit was used as a stand-in for Cleveland. You can see it if you are familiar with the city's architecture- there are a few clear shots of the Penobscot Building and quite a few general shots within the central business district as well as the warehouse district. The neighborhoods were not staged- they really look like that.

We had a terrific film tax rebate program for a few years until our current Governor cut it. Loads of films and television series were shot here- with a little CGI the city can look like anywhere from your average rust belt city to Los Angeles. It is too bad they did not shoot a little bit in Cleveland, if only to give it a real sense of place.

[–] mollymoor 11 years ago

I'm from Cleveland & knew it wasn't Cleveland within 5 min into movie. I knew the head of the Longshoreman's Union in the 60's...in fact I think Chauncy is still running the union...
I am disappointed they didn't film there..haven't been home ins few years.. Would have liked to see any familiar sites.

[–] SeanJoyce 11 years ago

It's a double-edged sword.

Filming in Detroit really worked to its advantage in many ways; Cleveland's done a lot of changing over the years, the Detroit of today more closely resembles the Cleveland of the 70s. I think one of the film's assets is the way it evokes the gritty milieu of the time period, thanks in no small part to the locations.

However, I give extra props to films that make use of actual places when telling their stories; the more verisimilitude, the better. Many of the sites referenced in the movie are still in existence. Shots of Comerica Park and the scene of Danny's death (which bears no resemblance whatsoever to the real office) can be dizzying for one familiar with the area(s).

The filmmakers were confronted with a dilemma, and I applaud their tenacity in pushing forward with the project when the opportunity presented itself. They just happened to be victims of unfortunate timing; shortly after the film's (limited) release, Ohio granted tax revenue to filmmakers. Cleveland has since hosted several shoots, most notably The Avengers.

I commend the film's look and feel; I just would have appreciated some exterior shots to enhance the "Cleveland vibe".

http://jmoneyyourhoney.filmaf.com/owned

[–] tyrexden 11 years ago

after this film, Ohio passed the tax credit to get more films there... Avengers, Captain American 2, etc..

In a strange twist of fate, while Detroit passed for Cleveland in this film, Cleveland returned the favor a few years later and passed for Detroit in Alex Cross, after the tax credit.

[–] drivenkick43 10 years ago

Well, the actress who played the girlfriend was 29, about a decade older than Green's real life girlfriend. So kind of hard to blame the movie for that one.