The Irishman

Martin Scorsese can almost be considered the king of crime movies. His rich and fascinating career has explored a number of different genres but it's crime which has always been a fascination to him and as a result he spawned an endless number of imitators that tend to pale in comparison. Despite being of a certain age group, many were surprised when he announced his next journey into the criminal underworld would be backed by Netflix. Scorsese hasn't been exactly quiet when it comes to voicing his concerns about the types of films which dominate mainstream films and so it seemed ironic The Irishman would largely be seen on the small screen.

I saw The Irishman at home on a good 1080p TV to try and get the full experience but with the film's mammoth running time of over three hours, I needed to have the option to pause and take a few breaks. Admittedly I should add I saw this in three sittings before continuing but I salute those who can ignore the nagging pain from sitting down for 209 minutes. Going on into this film, I knew only a few basics that it would see Robert De Niro play Frank Sheeran, a man who became affiliated with a powerful crime family in 1950s America and become heavily tied into the underworld for several decades. The film begins with an ancient looking De Niro recounting his side of the story before we go back in time to meet Jo Pesci's crime boss Russell Bufalino and, of course, Al Pacino's Jimmy Hoffa.

When I think 'Scorsese' and 'crime', I see fast moving cameras, sharp editing that refuses to waste a second and a voice over often used to entice you into the events on screen. Goodfellas and The Wolf of Wall Street are both great examples where the director's style can be seen in full force but The Irishman is a different breed and almost as reflective on Scorsese's career as it is on Sheeran's. The opening shot is slow and quiet as we pass through a hospital which sets the scene perfectly for a film with a strong interest in how life ends, or can end given the dangers of Sheeran's profession.

However this still bares all the trademarks of a Scorsese film with top performances from his cast, great visuals and a thrilling story which has sparked an interest for me in something I knew little about. This is namely Jimmy Hoffa; a union leader with a fascinating story which dominates much of the film and I would urge you to avoid researching before watching. Granted the film had to take some liberties in its depiction of certain events but nonetheless Scorsese has successfully created a true cinematic epic of a film, devoid of the cliches which plague the genre today. His direction is almost flawless and the performances from the likes of De Niro, Pesci, Pacino, Stephen Graham and Anna Paquin (a practically silent yet haunting role) are some of their very best.

My only complaint would be be from the time jumping between very old De Niro, old De Niro and his younger self which became a little fiddly to follow at times and won't be for everyone. The lengthy running time will also be an issue for some but Scorsese and his editor, the ever great Thelma Schoomaker, have crafted such a brilliant experience that there isn't anything I'd take out.

The Irishman is a great film but is all the more effective when considering the director's filmography and the stage that most of the cast are in their lives right now. Fans of the leading three actors will also surely rejoice at seeing them prove they are still the same acting powerhouses today when given the right material which Scorsese and writer Steven Zallian provide tenfold. With so many having access to Netflix, it's great that a film is readily available to watch and introduce new generations the work of its cast and director. The film is long but one I hope to watch again soon.