The Martin Scorsese movie Cillian Murphy calls his favourite: “Extraordinary energy”

Cillian Murphy, arguably best known for his role as Tommy Shelby in the hit BBC television series Peaky Blinders, has had one of those careers that aspiring actors merely dream of. He’s one of the most respected of his generation and receives almost continual praise from his contemporaries for his dedication to the craft and his immersion in the roles he takes on. These days, there is rarely a moment he isn’t working with an acclaimed director.  

The actor has not only contributed to some of the innovative earliest moments of an aspiring director growing in confidence and exploring a new sub-genre with Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later but also forged a hard and fast relationship with director Christopher Nolan, who is now largely regarded as one of the modern greats. Murphy has helped cement this accolade, with both he and Nolan picking up Academy Awards for Oppenheimer. 

In addition to his acting prowess and passion for music, Murphy is an ardent cinema lover and frequently discusses the films and filmmakers that have inspired him. Here, he reveals his admiration for his favourite film by the legendary Martin Scorsese.

Having spent the early part of his career dedicating himself to short and independent projects, Murphy rose to prominence in 2001 for his performance in Disco Pigs, a movie which established him as a one-to-watch. The success of the short helped Murphy to land roles in the aforementioned groundbreaking zombie movie 28 Days Later and a raft of historical dramas, including Cold Mountain and The Wind That Shakes The Barley.

After winning a Golden Globe nomination for Breakfast on Pluto, Murphy took on roles in some of the biggest productions in Hollywood, including Inception and Nolan’s The Dark Knight, culminating in that awards-laden night for Oppenheimer, an evening which confirmed Murphy as a true, if somewhat reserved, acting heavyweight. However, he never lost his appreciation for independent and art-house cinema. And it is arguably this reverence that has allowed the actor such foresight.

While talking about admiration for the great Al Pacino – another lover of music – Murphy named his favourite Scorsese movie: 1973’s Mean Streets. “Another very early formative film for me,” he began. “Extraordinary energy and performances from De Niro and Keitel, with Scorsese beginning to cast a spell over filmmaking in the 1970s.”

Scorsese’s breakthrough feature, Mean Streets tells the story of Charlie, a character who harbours ambitions to be the kingpin of New York’s Little Italy mafia. However, he also wants to be free of sin. Seeking penance, he desperately tries to save his friend Johnny Boy, a known troublemaker around town. But in doing so, he risks complicating his relationship with mafioso uncle Giovanni.

But Mean Streets is so much more than a New York gangster movie; it’s also a commentary on the weight of heritage. Charlie and Johnny offer two different examples of how this pressure can affect individuals. While Charlie feels trapped inside a prison of catholic guilt and filial obligation, Johnny has fully absorbed over-romanticised notions of the criminal life, leading to violent outbursts often aimed at the very architecture of his urban existence. It is a serpentine swirl of a film and very much worth a watch. 

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