Watch Hennessy
- PG
- 1975
- 1 hr 44 min
-
6.2 (870)
Hennessy is a gripping political thriller that tells the story of a man named Hennessy, played by Rod Steiger, who seeks revenge against the men who killed his wife and daughter in a bombing orchestrated by the British government to discredit the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Hennessy, a former IRA member who has renounced violence, is a London-based Irishman who makes a living as a shopkeeper. One day, his life is shattered when a bomb goes off in his home, killing his loved ones. The police blame the IRA for the attack and Hennessy is arrested and interrogated. However, he is soon released when it is discovered that his IRA days are over.
Devastated by his loss and outraged by the government's lies about the bombing, Hennessy decides to take matters into his own hands. Using his skills as a former IRA member, he embarks on a dangerous mission to find and assassinate the men responsible for the attack. His quest takes him through the seedy underworld of London, where he encounters a gallery of characters, from IRA supporters and dissidents to corrupt politicians and criminals.
Along the way, Hennessy meets a woman named Gail, played by Lee Remick, who becomes his ally and confidante. Gail is a journalist who is investigating corruption in the British government and is sympathetic to Hennessy's cause. Despite their different backgrounds, the two form a bond as they work together to uncover the truth about the bombing.
Hennessy is also aided by a former IRA member named Sean Duffy, played by Richard Johnson, who is living in exile in London. Duffy is a key player in the IRA's struggle for Irish independence and is sympathetic to Hennessy's vendetta. He provides Hennessy with important information about the men who orchestrated the bombing and helps him plan his revenge.
As Hennessy gets closer to achieving his goal, he becomes increasingly isolated and paranoid, unable to trust anyone, even those who are helping him. He is also forced to confront his own inner demons, as he grapples with the moral implications of his actions and the toll that his quest for revenge is taking on his soul.
Hennessy is a tense and thrilling movie that explores complex themes of grief, revenge, and political corruption. Steiger gives a compelling performance as Hennessy, conveying both his anger and his vulnerability with authenticity and depth. Remick and Johnson also deliver strong performances, adding complexity and nuance to their characters.
The movie is set against the backdrop of the Troubles, the decades-long conflict between the IRA and the British government over the status of Northern Ireland. While it does not take sides in the conflict, Hennessy does depict the human toll of political violence and the ways in which it can destroy lives and families.
Overall, Hennessy is a powerful and thought-provoking movie that deserves to be remembered as one of the great political thrillers of the 1970s. Its themes are just as relevant today as they were when the movie was first released, making it a must-see for anyone interested in exploring the complexities of political violence and its impact on individuals and society.
Hennessy is a 1975 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2.