A Netflix Original Picture, Written by Steven Zaillian, Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Martin Scorsese returns to the genre he defined to close a huge chapter in his cinematic life, and in doing so he produces one of his best films since Goodfellas nearly 30 years ago.
I attended a special screening of this film live from its London Film Festival premiere as the closing film of the gala and I was blown away. The Irishman reunites legendary director Martin Scorsese with the actor he was worked with the most throughout his time, Robert De Niro, and it also brings along Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, and many more to create one of the most star studded films in recent history. All of the people mentioned above have had long and varied careers, but all of them are most defined by their specific contributions to the gangster genre and this is a perfect way for many of them to close that chapter of their lives.
Scorsese has been making brilliant films all of his career, with the undisputed high point being his period of 20 years or so where he collaborated with De Niro on multiple films through the 70s, 80s, and early 90s, including films like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas, among others. He has since found his new muse in the equally talented Leonardo DiCaprio, but it is an absolute treat to see him return to work with his most infamous collaborator again here. De Niro carries the film through the majority of its 208 minutes in a calculated and eerily charismatic way, and delivers arguably his best performance of the 21st Century. The film also brings Joe Pesci out of retirement and uses him in an incredibly effective, and entirely surprising way. Gone are the wild outbursts, wicked laugh, and unpredictable violence we come to expect, and it is replaced with a calculated and reserved performance that is just as chilling. However, of all the legends in the film, the cast member that most stands out is Al Pacino (in his first Scorsese collaboration no less) as he delivers a hilarious, likeable, arrogant, and increasingly out of control performance as the enigma that is Jimmy Hoffa, and I think Pacino could be a very serious supporting actor contender come this awards season.
The film itself, based upon the book ‘I Heard You Paint Houses’ chronicles almost the entire life of Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran (De Niro) as he works his way from being a cold blooded solider, to a truck driver, to the right hand man of two of the most powerful people in America. The Irishman looks very subtly at PTSD and toxic masculinity in a time when neither of these things were particularly talked about or acknowledged, and layers this into the characterisation. It is a very long film that never drags or feels like a moment is wasted as you really connect with these characters and the way their stories intersect in increasingly violent and tragic ways. There truly is no greater master for this type of film than Scorsese, and with the new technology he has at his disposal, he is able to almost fully make you believe you are seeing these actors play themselves throughout many decades, which is key to the way the film plays out. For all of his talk about Marvel and cinema itself recently, Scorsese has to thank streaming service Netflix for being the only one willing to make this film for such a sky high budget, but the gamble paid off and all parties involved will reap the rewards.
I think that this has suddenly become one of this awards seasons leading contenders in a majority of categories and definitely the biggest film to ever premiere on Netflix, but if possible, it should be seen of the big screen. This is the end of an era for many involved, but what a way to finish.
Word Count = 659
Rating = 4.5/5
Howe's World of Film and TV 