 |
The Irishman was
directed by Martin Scorsese and stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci,
with screenplay by Steven Zaillian
|
The Irishman is a crime drama depicting the events surrounding
union activist Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance in 1975, based on the book I Heard You Paint Houses written by
Charles Brandt.
The film follows the narration of Frank “The Irishman”
Sheeran (Robert De Niro), laying out a panoramic string of vignettes about how
his journey from a meat-truck driver to becoming one of the mob’s most trusted
and reliable professional hitmen, or “house painters”. Having met respected and well-connected crime
boss Russel Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and being taken into his crime family, Sheeran
was then assigned to work under Mafia-backed Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino),
then-president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters – a labor union
made up of workers from the private and public sectors.
The well-written and well-directed 3-hour-and-a-half epic is
packed with riveting performances not just from the main cast, but from all the
supporting roles as well – with Stephen Graham as Anthony "Tony Pro"
Provenzano, Sebastian Maniscalco as "Crazy" Joe Gallo and Ray Romano
as Bill Bufalino delivering the more unforgettable ones amid a sea of good
performances. Every scene feels like a powerhouse – like they’re always on the
verge of explosion, but ever-so-subtle, calm, and never going out of focus with hysterics.
It’s amazing and mesmerizing to watch De Niro, Pacino and
Pesci effortlessly gliding through their performances consistently – with the
aid of digital de-ageing, of course, throughout most of the film – but nonetheless
carrying their characters with such natural aplomb through decades of significant
and life-changing events.
As engaging and riveting every moment of this film is,
viewers who watch films intently for great acting and great filmmaking will not
feel its real length – in fact, it leaves you wanting to stay for more.
Thankfully, there’s a 20-minute extra in Netflix featuring
Scorsese, Pacino, Pesci and De Niro after the credits – an additional reward
for those who sat through, and lived, and breathed with Frank Sheeran, Russell
Bufalino and Jimmy Hoffa for more than 3 hours.
RATING: 5/5 Bag of
Chips