The Irishman (2019) Review

The Irishman (2019)

Directed By: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Katherine Narducci & Ray Romano

Synopsis: In the 1950s, truck driver Frank Sheeran gets involved with Russell Bufalino and his Pennsylvania crime family. As Sheeran climbs the ranks to become a top hit man, he also goes to work for Jimmy Hoffa — a powerful Teamster tied to organized crime.

Review: Everyone…. I mean everyone was extremely excited about this movie when it was announced. The fact that Martin Scorsese was directing a gangster movie and had Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Al Pacino headlining already had tickets sold. Memories of classics such as Casino & Goodfellas came racing back to peoples minds and ‘The Irishman’ was already on its ways to cult status before it was released.

The movies opening had me hooked from the split second it begun. Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci carry the majority of the movie and it was great seeing them back together on screen. Joe Pesci had come out of retirement for this role and apparently it wasn’t an easy task to get him on board. In all honesty no one could have played the part and brought the character likeability and charismatic nature to the role that Joe did.

De Niro proved he still had steam in the tank and delivered a performance on par with Goodfellas and his earlier classics, before he done straight to DVD comedies or some quick cash-in movies. People have been saying about his role in the Joker was great, his role in this truly does show us why he was cemented as a legend. It was like after a while away he finally returned home. I couldn’t have been more impressed by his performance.

Al Pacino was chewing up the screen as Jimmy Hoffa and was his trademark self, loud, over the top and so damn likeable. Pacino is known for his mob movies, The Godfather, Carlitos Way and of course Donnie Brasco. Like De Niro, Pacino had been involved some rather questionable movies and he also proved that he still has what it takes to deliver that performance.

Scorsese uses the famous de-aging special effects which I thoroughly enjoyed and was blown away by. The fact De Niro who is 72 was playing De Niro in his 30’s was mind blowing. The only one give away is the movement of course. Scorsese didn’t want to use body doubles for De Niro and the cast in their younger forms, so when for instance De Niro has to intimerdate and beat someone, you can see the movement is rather stiff. It doesn’t take away anything as you are engrossed in the movie.

The movie itself runs at 3hrs and 27mins and though it sounds long, the time flies by so quick. I have found myself wanting to sit and watch it again. The supporting cast is also incredible we have Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Katherine Narducci, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin and Stephen Graham. The soundtrack is also a highlight ‘The Music Of The Mob Era’ as I call it had always been a favourite of mine and to have it sprinkled through the movie was a delight. The settings and backgrounds all seemed so authentic and the movie had such an old school feel too it. From the beginning moments I had goosebumps.

As you can tell from my review, my verdict is plain and simple. Don’t Miss This Movie. It is probably the best movie of the year and is an instant classic that lives up to the mob genre, and if this is meant for a Swan Song to the classic mob era… It will always be remembered. Scorsese, De Niro, Pesci & Pacino have given us a superb film, loaded with outstanding performances – I think they all deserve nominations for Oscars – and have added a very memorable movie too their filmographies and too their legacies.