“The Westies”: MGM+’s Well-Crafted Yet Clichéd Gangster Drama
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, film critic Eleanor Wright wrote in an exclusive review: The new MGM+ television series The Westies, directed by Alan Taylor, delivers an eight-hour narrative depicting the confrontation between Irish and Italian criminal organizations in 1980s New York. The show was developed by Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, the creators behind successful series such as Narcos and Godfather of Harlem.
The story unfolds during a fragile truce between the Irish-American gang “The Westies”—led by Eamon Sweeney (played by J.K. Simmons)—and the Italian Gambino crime family, headed by Paul Castellano. While the two factions have reached an agreement to reap massive profits from a major commercial construction project in Hell’s Kitchen, their subordinates and henchmen, including John Gotti (played by Hamish Allan-Headley) and Jimmy Rourke (played by Tom Brittney), have no intention of following the rules, setting the stage for a new turf war. Meanwhile, FBI agents are closing in on the criminal network with the help of Glenn Keenan (played by Titus Welliver), a corrupt NYPD officer.
Critics have praised Rocco Matteo’s realistic production design—capturing New York’s gritty streets, bleak apartments, and old-school bars—as well as the narrative’s solid pacing. However, the screenplay’s greatest weakness lies in its character development; the characters feel more like recycled gangster movie clichés than individuals with independent identities and rich inner worlds. In this series, John Gotti comes across as a derivative copy of historical cinematic mafiosi, and the subplots involving the Irish Republican Army (IRA) fail to add meaningful depth to the overarching story.
Although actors like J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver draw on their extensive experience to breathe life into their roles, The Westies ultimately fails to transcend the archetypes of its genre. Unlike the classic masterpieces of the gangster tradition, it falls short of delivering ambitious ideas or a unique visual style.
“J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver in a 1980s mob drama sounds like a dream cast! It’s a bit disappointing to hear that the writing relies on familiar tropes, but I’ll definitely still give it a watch for the performances alone.”
“Alan Taylor usually delivers great atmospheric direction, and the 1980s Hell’s Kitchen setting is iconic. Shame about the character development, but MGM+ has been dropping some solid crime dramas lately.”
“It’s hard to beat classics like The Sopranos or Boardwalk Empire when it comes to depth. If The Westies can at least deliver good pacing and authentic production design, it should still make for an enjoyable weekend binge.”
“Spot-on review. Chris Brancato is great with world-building, as seen in Narcos, but high-stakes mob shows really need multi-dimensional characters to truly stand out today. Great write-up!”
“The Irish vs. Italian dynamic in 1980s NYC is such rich historical ground. Even if the screenplay dips into clichés, seeing J.K. Simmons play a gang leader like Eamon Sweeney is an instant hook for me.”
“Thanks for the balanced review! It’s helpful to know what to expect—sounds like a well-crafted genre piece that doesn’t quite reinvent the wheel, but remains entertaining for mob drama fans.”