The Irishman is directed by Martin Scorsese and stars Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci.
Drama/Crime/Biography. Released 2019.
Based on I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt, The Irishman is the first Scorsese/DeNiro collaboration since 1995's Casino and their ninth collaboration from the iconic partnership overall. It documents the life of Frank Sheeran (Robert DeNiro) who, as an elderly man in a wheelchair, recounts his life as a Mafia hitman and his relationship with Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).
Throughout the past couple of years, from age 15, I have fallen in love with this elite actor-director duo, so to know that I would be experiencing the release of one of their films at a point in my lifetime was thrilling and so, so exciting, and the excitement never died down... not even after having seen the film.
The Irishman is masterful in every single way. The three-and-half-hour running time is absolutely earned, and it's rewarding after almost a 2-decade long period without this duo. It moves steadily and seems to follow a solid 3-act structure, dividing the run-time and injecting a different energy every hour or so. It is a quintessential example of a gangster epic - there's the classic Scorsese flavour reminiscent of GoodFellas, but also combined with the sweeping gravitas of The Godfather. It makes for a riveting experience. Funny, sinister, heart-warming and intense. I must add that I watched The Irishman on the big screen at Everyman Screen On The Green with sofas, blankets, pitta bread and bottled Coca-Cola and never once felt discomfort... if I had been watching at the Curzon with immobile seats and little leg-room, I can imagine the 210 minutes would've felt even longer. However, most people that watch The Irishman will be watching in the comfort of their own homes, thanks to the Netflix release. I am looking forward to giving it a second watch over Christmas.
At 77 years old, Martin Scorsese proves why he should be named the greatest filmmaker of, not just our time, but all time. It seems as though he will never be past his prime; in the past 9 years, he has given us classics like the chilling Shutter Island, the breath-taking Hugo, the outrageous The Wolf Of Wall Street, the gripping Silence and now, the stunning The Irishman. Yes, his iconic streak of films were of course in the 70s, but this is no list to be ashamed of. The majority of these are almost perfection.
Excluding Scorsese, the Holy Trinity of this film is the leading cast, consisting of Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci. Robert DeNiro is the best he has been in a very long time; I hope that after this he doesn't go back to those immature comedies, because he doesn't need that. This film and Silver Linings Playbook prove that he is as good as he's ever been. This isn't a particularly demanding role - it's rather subtle, and I don't think DeNiro would've felt challenged when performing, but every line and every moment is played with such perfection and nuance, and that is why he is deserving of all praise. We see the entire story play out through his eyes, but he owns the third act specifically, as Frank Sheeran is growing older and more retrospective. The final moments of The Irishman are poignant and so beautiful. Kudos to both DeNiro and Scorsese.
Joe Pesci's screen time dominates a lot of the first act. It is refreshing to see Joe Pesci in such a passive, quiet role as opposed to the typical Goodfellas or Raging Bull type character he has become known for... especially because he has been retired for so many years. When he is not on-screen, his presence is never felt too far away, which is a testament to his performance. However, the supporting actor I believe steals the entire film, even before he is introduced is the absolutely unstoppable Al Pacino. Again, I don't think this is a particularly demanding role for Pacino, but the moment he appears on screen, there is a shift... a haunting burst of energy. And for the entire second act, all eyes are on Al Pacino's Jimmy Hoffa, and rightly so. If Once Upon A Time In Hollywood hadn't happened this year, he would easily be my top pick for Supporting Actor. His ability to absorb every element of the film and capture the audiences' attention to such a degree, to then completely unleash all of these elements back on us through his loud and commanding performance is exceptional. He is endlessly entertaining for the entire time he is on screen and he is my favourite part of the film.
The Irishman is Martin Scorsese’s latest chef-d’œuvre. At 210 minutes, it never drags, which is an achievement in itself. It feels like a culmination of the great gangster epics made during the 70s through to the 90s and packs a very emotional punch due to its character driven story. The character dynamic between DeNiro, Pacino and Pesci is perfection. The Irishman is a masterful achievement and a must-see for lovers of cinema in its truest form.
At 77 years old, Martin Scorsese proves why he should be named the greatest filmmaker of, not just our time, but all time. It seems as though he will never be past his prime; in the past 9 years, he has given us classics like the chilling Shutter Island, the breath-taking Hugo, the outrageous The Wolf Of Wall Street, the gripping Silence and now, the stunning The Irishman. Yes, his iconic streak of films were of course in the 70s, but this is no list to be ashamed of. The majority of these are almost perfection.
Excluding Scorsese, the Holy Trinity of this film is the leading cast, consisting of Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci. Robert DeNiro is the best he has been in a very long time; I hope that after this he doesn't go back to those immature comedies, because he doesn't need that. This film and Silver Linings Playbook prove that he is as good as he's ever been. This isn't a particularly demanding role - it's rather subtle, and I don't think DeNiro would've felt challenged when performing, but every line and every moment is played with such perfection and nuance, and that is why he is deserving of all praise. We see the entire story play out through his eyes, but he owns the third act specifically, as Frank Sheeran is growing older and more retrospective. The final moments of The Irishman are poignant and so beautiful. Kudos to both DeNiro and Scorsese.
Joe Pesci's screen time dominates a lot of the first act. It is refreshing to see Joe Pesci in such a passive, quiet role as opposed to the typical Goodfellas or Raging Bull type character he has become known for... especially because he has been retired for so many years. When he is not on-screen, his presence is never felt too far away, which is a testament to his performance. However, the supporting actor I believe steals the entire film, even before he is introduced is the absolutely unstoppable Al Pacino. Again, I don't think this is a particularly demanding role for Pacino, but the moment he appears on screen, there is a shift... a haunting burst of energy. And for the entire second act, all eyes are on Al Pacino's Jimmy Hoffa, and rightly so. If Once Upon A Time In Hollywood hadn't happened this year, he would easily be my top pick for Supporting Actor. His ability to absorb every element of the film and capture the audiences' attention to such a degree, to then completely unleash all of these elements back on us through his loud and commanding performance is exceptional. He is endlessly entertaining for the entire time he is on screen and he is my favourite part of the film.
The Irishman is Martin Scorsese’s latest chef-d’œuvre. At 210 minutes, it never drags, which is an achievement in itself. It feels like a culmination of the great gangster epics made during the 70s through to the 90s and packs a very emotional punch due to its character driven story. The character dynamic between DeNiro, Pacino and Pesci is perfection. The Irishman is a masterful achievement and a must-see for lovers of cinema in its truest form.
A+
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