The Irishman Movie Review

The following is a movie review “The Irishman” by Marc Primo.

Release date: November 1, 2019 (United States)

Director: Martin Scorsese

Language: English

Production companies: TRiBeCa Pictures, Sikelia Productions, Winkler Films

Producers: Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Irwin Winkler, Gerald Chamales, Gaston Pavlovich, Randall Emmett, Gabriele Israilovici

As expected from any Martin Scorsese film, The Irishman ticks off every item on the checklist of an epic cinematic experience. With a captivating cast and production team that know why we all watch movies, sitting through this 3-hour treasure is worth your every minute.

Scorsese’s reunion with his Hollywood level-A equals including Robert De Niro and the returning Joe Pesci (both of whom he worked with in Raging Bull, Good Fellas, and Casino), plus the addition of the unparalleled Al Pacino in the major role of Mafia big boss Jimmy Hoffa make this gem of a film a true Oscar contender.

The Irishman has all the elements of a compelling mob film complete with all the violence, drama, and betrayal that audiences are accustomed to but with more to offer.

De Niro stars as hitman Frank Sheeran who in the beginning “breaking the fourth wall” scene recounts his experiences as a hitman for the Bufalino crime family headed by its patriarch Russell (Pesci). His years lead him to become a close confidant of labor union leader and mob boss Hoffa which eventually creates huge problems for Frank when a back and forth chain of intense violence erupts between the two families.

There’s no denying that Scorsese has mastered his craft even from decades ago but with a breath of fresh cinematography and production design that both effectively bring audiences back to the glory of the ‘50s, it’s easy to assume that The Irishman was definitely intended to go out of our television sets or mobile devices and onto the silverscreen. Scorsese once again handily pulls us into the world of America’s most notorious mobsters as if we were all part of its family while the film tugs at our emotions with every twist and turn. The CGI effects that erase wrinkles off De Niro, Pesci and Pacino’s faces give us an idea of how far the technology has developed which is really another thing to appreciate in the film.

Pacino’s first collaboration with Scorsese is every bit as magical as expected as the actor brings his signature bravado to such an imposing role that the director clearly went through with great thought during pre-production. Pesci and De Niro display new elements to their rich repertoire of meaty roles with Pesci playing a more subtle character than his temperamental ones in previous Scorsese films. Then there’s De Niro who gives viewers Frank’s onion-type character, slowly peeling off each rich layer into engaging and heartbreaking revelations as the over 3-hour film progresses. There’s never a dull moment watching De Niro hold together his scenes whether they are pivotal or merely for detail.

Audiences also win at watching this one for its sheer starpower alone. Giving the big three ample support are such names as Ray Romano, Jesse Plemons, Anna Paquin, and Harvey Keitel (who is another Scorsese veteran) among others, who all did short appearances that leave their respective impacts.

The Irishman further proves that a film can never go wrong with Scorsese at the helm. Even sans the starpower, this film and all its technical elements from such greats as cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto and production designer Bob Shaw would be equally worth going out of the house for and buying a ticket to the big screen even if it’s available for home-streaming via Netflix.

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