Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephen Graham, Harvey Keitel, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Kathrine Narducci, Welker White, Jesse Plemons
Review: In the 1950s, truck driver Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) gets involved with Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and his Pennsylvania crime family. As Sheeran climbs the ranks to become a top hit man, he also goes to work for Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) -- a powerful Teamster tied to organized crime.
The Irishman is a Scorsese marathon. The first thing that jumps off the page is the three and a half hour runtime. For me, this movie did feel long, but it's chock-full-o' great writing and acting performances. From a purely technical standpoint, I really did enjoy this movie. This movie has all the authenticity one would expect from a Martin Scorsese period drama. The de-aging of Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino is done brilliantly, and it's really cool to see these three gangster-film icons all in the same movie. The de-aging, along with the setting and cinematography, transport you back in time and bring you on a journey through the fierce political and social climates of the northeastern United States in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. It's truly a remarkable feat to capture all of these different time periods in one film. Scorsese is able to capture the magnitude and significance of these eras and describe them in great detail through his patented long narrative storytelling. Not to mention, De Niro, Pesci, and Pacino are at their very best in this film. All three proving that even in their advanced ages, they are some of the best actors to ever grace our screens.
My issue with this movie isn't due to a lack of execution, but more so a difference in personal preference. I really enjoy the gangster film genre, especially movies like The Godfather (1972), and even other Scorsese films like Goodfellas (1990) and Casino (1995). The difference between those films and The Irishman is that the plot seems to lean more towards the political and social scene. I enjoy gangster films that are more flashy mafia, familial movies. Or movies that have a more upbeat criminal backstory dealing with drugs or high stakes gambling. Politics, in my opinion, is just a little less interesting and exciting as some of the other gangster motifs. Couple that with the three and a half hour runtime, and I just felt like this would have read better as a miniseries. All that said, The Irishman is definitely a movie that should be enjoyed, and has really pushed the boundaries of what Netflix is capable of, earning a 2020 Oscars nomination for Best Picture. Clear out your schedule, sit back, relax and strap it down for the long haul. This film is entirely worth it!
Fun Fact: According to Deadline, before accepting the role of Russell Bufalino, Joe Pesci refused multiple times to come out of retirement in order to appear in this film. Some sources say the actual number of refusals was fifty.