‘The Irishman’ is a majestic mobster masterpiece

BY Ron and Leigh

Everyone loves a spectacular reunion. After several of the most remarkable mob movies over the last five decades, including “Goodfellas,” “Gangs of New York” and “The Departed,” director/producer Martin Scorsese reunites some of the most iconic mob-style actors in the business for one last hurrah. Then, closes it out in unexpected fashion.

All in their mid to late 70s (including 75-year-old Scorsese), Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci lead a magnificent ensemble cast that reads like Hollywood’s Who’s Who of the criminal underworld. This three and a half hour epic was much too long for the theater, so by distributing primarily through Netflix, the filmmakers could allow the audience to view this marathon in the comfort of their own barcaloungers.

Based on the book “I Heard You Paint Houses” by investigator Charles Brandt, this is the account of former labor union boss and hitman, Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran.

On his deathbed in 2003, Sheeran told of his life as a career mobster, his connections to the Bufalino crime family and specifically his role in the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, former president of the Teamsters, who mysteriously vanished in 1975.

This epic spans multiple decades, so instead of using younger actors, prosthetics or motion capture technology for the early years, Industrial Light and Magic digitally “de-aged” the actors. However, Scorsese is quick to point out the septuagenarians still had to physically and mentally perform to the age of each particular scene.

To be clear, this technology wasn’t used as some sci-fi gimmick, but to advance a thoughtful storyline.

Fans of gangster action thrillers will not be disappointed but may be surprised by the compelling dialog, historical incidents and deeper themes. Surprisingly, the first three hours speed by before Scorsese purposefully slows the pace for the final half-hour to show the aging Sheeran’s moments of introspection, sorrow and regret.

This movie is vintage De Niro. In possibly his most heartrending work, he plays Sheeran as a low key working “everyman” trying to fit into a world he doesn’t completely understand. With nervous darting eyes, facial tics and slumping shoulders, this stand-up guy tries to do his job well and hopes to impress with his effectiveness and loyalty.

As union mob boss Jimmy Hoffa, the 78-year old Pacino displays his well-earned gravitas as the powerful, volatile and true raging bull of this story. It reportedly took over 50 calls from Scorsese to get Joe Pesci out of retirement for the role of mobster Russell Bufalino. If Pesci had not accepted, “Plan B” was for De Niro to play that role and Liam Neeson to play the lead role of 6’ 4” Irishman, Frank Sheeran, also not a bad plan.

The marvelous cast also includes Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale and Jesse Plemons. Covering such a span of time, Mexican cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto mimicked the looks of past filming technologies, such as Kodachrome, Ektachrome, small silver layer, ENR silver retention as well as current film processes.

Scorsese’s original $100 million budget expanded to $150 million and eventually reported to be $175 million. As Netflix planned to show the film on its streaming service only 30 days after theatrical release instead of the customary 90 days, major theater groups declined to participate, costing Netflix significant expected revenue.

“The Irishman” is three and half hours and rated R for pervasive language and strong violence. As Martin Scorsese’s 26th feature-length film, this majestic mobster masterpiece is the culmination of a legendary cast and crew assembled as an ode to the good old days of filmmaking, but also as a call for reflection and soul-searching.

Ice runs through the veins of Frank Sheeran until the aging mobster begins to look back on his life’s decisions. The question is how much of that introspection is from Scorsese and even his cast, who for so many years glorified cold-blooded violence for the sake of a buck.

We may never know who knocked off Jimmy Hoffa, but as Sheeran states, “Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.”

Ron’s Rating: B+
Leigh’s Rating: B