Monument Ave.

1998 Drama

This crime drama takes place among Irish-American toughs in Boston's Charlestown neighborhood. Car-thief Bobby O'Grady (Denis Leary) belongs to a gang run by bully Jackie O'Hara (Colm Meaney). Bobby's cousin Seamus (Jason Barry) is a recent arrival from Dublin. When Teddy (Billy Crudup) gets gunned down, Jackie is behind the hit, and investigator Hanolon (Martin Sheen) finds a cover-up among gang members. Participating in the code of silence, Bobby takes out his anger on his girlfriend Katy (Famke Janssen). The pointless murder of Seamus, who had planned to return to Ireland, prompts Bobby to face some hard decisions. Will he remain silent yet again? Shown at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival.

Director: Ted Demme

Starring: Denis Leary, Ian Hart, Jason Barry, Billy Crudup,Martin Sheen

 21 Reviews  1 Awards

Reviews

  • The dialogue and the ensemble acting maintain a near-perfect pitch.

    Stephen Holden - The New York Times

    19 January 2013

  • Mike Armstrong's relentlessly downbeat script allows Demme to develop an ensnaring camaraderie coupled with a dark destructiveness that recalls Eugene O'Neill.

    Kevin Thomas - Los Angeles Times

    19 January 2013

  • Leary, Demme, and screenwriter Mike Armstrong have come up with a brilliant, harrowing portrait of misplaced loyalties and savage valor that may be one of the best character-driven ensemble pieces to come around in some time.

    Marc Savlov - Austin Chronicle

    19 January 2013

  • There is a whole genre of films about childhood friends still living in the old neighborhood and going down the drain of crime and drugs. Few of them capture the fatigue and depression, and the futility, as well as this one, in which the characters hold on to their self-respect by obeying the very rules that are grinding them down.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    19 January 2013

  • Director Ted Demme (with a terse script by Mike Armstrong) keeps it darkly funny while exposing raw nerves in a buildup to unexpected tragedy.

    Peter Stack - The San Francisco Chronicle

    19 January 2013

Awards

  • Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film in a Crossover Role

    ALMA Awards (1999)

     

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