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Synopsis
WWII and retired hitman Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) recounts his time with the Mafia at a retirement home. He talks about how he got involved with the Philadelphia crime family after meeting mob boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci). While working for Russell, Sheeran is introduced to Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino), the head of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Hoffa has been using his ties to the Buffalino family to rise in power and becomes close friends with Sheeran. Things take a turn for the worse when Hoffa is arrested and jailed when Robert Kennedy is made Attorney General. Hoffa’s eventually released, but Russell starts distrusting him and orders Sheeran to eliminate him when Hoffa threatens to blackmail them. This leads to the infamous disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, which Sheeran still denies his involvement with to this day. In reflecting on his life, Sheeran comes to terms with his mortality.
Review
Martin Scorsese returns to the mob genre he became famous for in top form with the release of The Irishman. Though not quite as good as classics like Goodfellas and Casino, this still ranks among his best films. The entire cast, from De Niro and Pacino to costars Ray Romano, Anna Paquin, and Bobby Cannavale delivers phenomenal performances. However, Joe Pesci, who reluctantly came out of retirement for this, easily steals the show, delivering his signature ruthless intensity. There are even appearances from Harvey Keitel, Stephen Graham, Jim Norton, Jesse Plemons, Stephanie Kurtzuba, and Kathrine Narducci amongst others. The way Scorsese films the sequences here could only have come from somebody who worked in the 1970s. There are many scenes where everything seems to slow down, but he hits you right when you least expect it. In true Scorsese fashion, there’s some pretty brutal violence sprinkled here as well.
Be warned, with its runtime of over three hours long, this isn’t a movie you simply watch in the background. This is a film that demands your full and undivided attention as there’s so much information you need to remember. While I’m not saying this is necessarily a bad thing, this is something some audiences may be put off by. Also, the de-aging effects can be slightly distracting at first, but you eventually stop noticing them, certainly not a dealbreaker. This is a story about dealing with one’s mortality, regret over past actions, and seeking redemption for those mistakes. Whether or not the source material is accurate on what happened, it’s an interesting story nonetheless that’s worth telling. If you’re looking for something to watch on Netflix and you have the time, please give this a watch. Overall, The Irishman is an exceptional film that we hardly see nowadays.
Buy The Irishman on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3NRPxVG.
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