The Irishman

by Robbo

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Posted on 15 May 2021

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Rating -

The Irishman (titled onscreen as I Heard You Paint Houses) is a 2019 American epic crime film directed and produced by Martin Scorsese and written by Steven Zaillian, based on the 2004 nonfiction book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt.

It stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, with Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephen Graham, and Harvey Keitel in supporting roles.

The film follows Frank Sheeran (De Niro), a WWII veteran working as a truck driver who, through a series of events becomes a hitman involved with mobster Russell Bufalino (Pesci) and his crime family.

Frank eventually becomes the bodyguard for powerful Teamster Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino) and is later implicated in Hoffa’s disappearance and presumed murder.

Unlike other Scorsese gangster films, The Irishman seems a little more weighty, with more gravitas and very contemplative.

At over three hours this is in part slow burning build up interspersed with explosive animated scenes, and really doesn’t seem that long.

The film jumps backwards and forwards in time, with Scorsese utilising special effects to de-age the actors which is effective if a little distracting at first.

As you would expect from such as stellar cast, the acting is impeccable with De Niro happy to give a really understated performance, often just blending into the background. Pacino is Pacino in the larger than life role of Jimmy Hoffa and is given license to enjoy himself.

I would say that this is definitely Scorsese’s magnum opus and film I would highly recommend anyone should see, even if you like gangster films or not.

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