THE IRISHMAN

Marking Martin Scorsese’s 60th directorial effort. Based on Charles Brandt’s book I Heard You Paint Houses, (screenplay Steven Zaillian) a non-fiction account detailing the life of Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) a soldier in WWII, who returns to his Philadelphia roots to become a truck driver, but eventually is lucky or unlucky enough to meet mob boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) who measures Sheeran up to be mob material, despite not being Italian or connected to any families. And thus, begins the 210 minute story leading up to the 1970 disappearance of Teamsters union figure Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).

Sheeran may have left the war, but the soldier mentality has never left him. It’s why he so easily assimilates into the mob way, following orders and becoming a very effective hit man.  He feels loyalty to these men the way he would feel loyalty to his country or infantry. The only time he ever might question his actions is through the eyes of his youngest daughter Peggy (Lucy Gallina, as an adult by Anna Paquin) she sees right through him and doesn’t approve, but rather than ever confront him she just keeps distancing herself further and further.  However, she does take a shine to Jimmy Hoffa, who reminds me, of almost every boss I’ve ever had – eccentric, particular, and only interested in the big picture.

I typically see 2-3 movies a week in the movie theater, however, I tend to make a point of veering away from horror, war and mob/crime dramas, they’re just not my thing. However, all through the year I have to make exceptions to my rules when the movie gets so much buzz or is done by a famous director; then it would drive me crazy not to see it; plus I’d be remiss in my duties as a non-paid “film critic” if I didn’t include it among my yearly reviews.

So taking all that into consideration, “The Irishman” was pretty much exactly what I expected. I wasn’t bored, but nor was I riveted. Keep in mind, the only mob related movie I do think is great is “Goodfellas” mostly because there’s a Tarrantino-esque quality about that one.  Of course, Scorsese being Scorsese, all the big talent in and around the movie, the CGI Youthification, all automatically makes “The Irishman” an awards season contender, and I’m okay with that.  I just hope they don’t hand the Oscar over to him like they did with “The Departed” cause that movie IS boring!  

Bottom line: “The Irishman didn’t need 3+hours to tell this story. When you take that much time, the audience better feel like we’ve really lived a lifetime with these characters, like “Gone With the Wind” where so much changes for everyone from time period to time period that by the end, you feel wrung out.  That’s not the case with #TheIrishman, so much of it seems repetitive. Any good editor could easily take this “directors cut” and edit it down to 2 hours and maybe 5 min and nothing would be lost.

T&T @LAMB rating: 3 outta 5