The Irishman (2019)

The Irishman (2019)

7/10

Starring

Robert De Niro

Al Pacino

Joe Pesci

Directed by Martin Scorsese

I delayed seeing this movie because of its runtime—over three hours and twenty minutes before the credits roll. Even after watching it and liking it, I still feel it’s too long. At times, the pacing seems deliberately slow, as if to stretch the movie out. I sat through it in one sitting, and while it’s a good movie, I didn’t bother listening to online comments advising against watching it all at once.

The movie’s strong points are the acting, which is top-notch by the three leads—Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci. The rest of the cast also did a great job. And when it comes to Martin Scorsese, his direction is, as always, beautiful.

The movie is based on the book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt, which details the life of Frank Sheeran (De Niro), a truck driver who becomes a hitman involved with mobster Russell Bufalino (Pesci) and his crime family. In the movie, Russell takes a liking to Frank and helps him rise in the mob world. The film also gives us a glimpse into Frank’s personal life and his struggles with being a good father to his daughters.

The plot then shifts focus to Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino). Jimmy is assigned Frank as protection because he’s facing issues as the head of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. This union has financial ties to the Bufalino crime family. Jimmy’s problems stem from fellow Teamster Anthony “Tony Pro” Provenzano and the federal government. The movie takes us through these events, tying them to what was happening during the Nixon administration and when Kennedy became president. When Kennedy was in office, his brother, the Attorney General, went after Jimmy with everything he had. We also see the Kennedy assassination, and from there, the movie picks up pace, becoming more engaging and interesting.

I really enjoyed the way Scorsese wove together three different timelines, linking them through Frank’s story. You’ll appreciate how the flashbacks connect with Frank and Russell’s road trip to a wedding, and how that ties into Frank recounting his story from a nursing home. The way Scorsese manages all this without losing the viewer is something you have to see to appreciate. Then there’s the huge cast—keeping up with everyone at first feels like an uphill task, but Scorsese helps by giving brief highlights of each character when they appear on screen.

The movie’s production cost over $150 million, and I’d bet most of that went to the cast. Netflix was the only studio willing to foot the bill. The film has received numerous accolades, including nominations at the 77th Golden Globe Awards.

The Irishman marks the collaboration between De Niro and Scorsese. It’s the fourth film to star both De Niro and Pacino (after The Godfather Part II, Heat, and Righteous Kill). It’s also the seventh film to star both De Niro and Pesci (after Raging Bull, Once Upon a Time in America, Goodfellas, A Bronx Tale, Casino, and The Good Shepherd). This is the first film to star both Pacino and Pesci and the first time Pacino has been directed by Scorsese.