The Irishman

THE IRISHMAN

The Irishman is a very long film about crime, assassinations, and the Mafia. It stars the only Irish guy in the Mafia as the hitman Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro).  On his deathbed, the real Frank Sheeran told a reporter “stories” about his work for the Mafia in Philadelphia during the 1950s. Those stories became a 2004 book, “I Heard You Paint Houses,” which is the basis for The Irishman. Several sources have discredited the book “I Heard You Paint Houses.” The stories told by Frank Sheeran are most likely exaggerations to complete lies (what do you know, Frank’s a criminal and a liar).

Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) meeting Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) in the 1950’s.

So, as a make-believe story filled with conspiracy theories about Jimmy Hoffa, JFK, and Cuba, The Irishman is an excellent and entertaining story.  There are several murders but the violence is not glorified, it is just business, quiet and quick business.  The only blood you see is the blood splatter that paints the wall.  The acting and the story throughout is all excellent, no weak points.

There are many actors in The Irishman, including Ray Romano, Harvey Keitel, Anna Paquin, Bobby Cannavale, Stephen Graham, and Jesse Plemons. However, the movie belongs to Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Al Pacino.

There is a lot of talk about Oscars nominations for De Niro, Joe Pesci who is the mob boss Russell Bufalino, and Al Pacino, who plays Jimmy Hoffa.  These three main actors – all in their mid to late seventies – do an excellent job.  But, they are just old Italian guys playing old Italian guys.  And now with the new de-aging technology, old Italian guys can also be middle-aged Italian guys.  The technology is incredible, but the acting is not a big stretch for these stars who are all Italian (Italian descent).

However, it is incredible to see these three – De Niro, Pesci, and Pacino – together in a film; the first time together in a movie.  The Irishman is probably the last time they will be together on the big screen. De Niro, Pesci and Pacino only shared one 3 minute screen together in The Irishman; De Niro and Pesci are on the phone with Pacino.

Pesci – De Niro – Pacino

After sitting through three and a half hours of a complete story – where all the loose ends are tied up – the credits role, and the song Remembrance begins to play.  Remembrance was the perfect song to end this movie; harmonica, guitar and what sounds like cellos; traditional and modern at the same time.  Remembrance was recently written by Robbie Robertson, the lead guitarist and main songwriter for The Band.  Robbie Robertson is the same age as the actors in the movie, mid-seventies, which was also when The Band was at their peak. Remembrance made it to one of my playlists – another reason I love movies – a lot of my playlists grow from movie soundtracks.

The Irishman an epic film about Mafia crime is excellent and should at least be nominated for Best Picture.  Martin Scorsese directed and shot three hundred and nine scenes in about three months. A great feat, but don’t believe this is the actual history; it’s just a movie.

Just for fun, here’s a scene with De Niro and Pacino from Heat in 1995. No de-aging technology needed.

And a scene with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci from one of the best movies ever made, Raging Bull in 1980.

Movie Details

Director

Martin Scorsese

Writer

Screenplay by Steven Zaillian. Based on I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt

Actors

Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Stephen Graham, Ray Romano, Harvey Keitel, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Kathrine Narducci, Welker White, Jesse Plemons, Jack Huston, Domenick Lombardozzi, Paul Herman, Louis Cancelmi, Gary Basaraba, Marin Ireland, Sebastian Maniscalco, Steven Van Zandt, Lucy Gallina, Jonathan Morris, Dascha Polanco, Bo Dietl, Aleksa Palladino, Daniel Jenkins, Jim Norton, Billy Smith, Kevin O'Rourke, Action Bronson, Glenn Cunningham, Paul Ben-Victor, Patrick Gallo, James Martin, Jake Hoffman, Barry Primus, Danny A. Abeckaser, Anthony J. Gallo, J. C. MacKenzie, Joseph Bono, Jamil Antonio Stefan, Louis Vanaria, Craig Vincent, John Polce, Joseph Riccobene, Vinny Vella, Thomas E. Sullivan, John Cenatiempo, Robert Mladinich, Rich Reilly, Robert Funaro, Tess Price, Jennifer Mudge, India Ennenga, Jordyn DiNatale, Kate Arrington, Bernie Martin, Philip Suriano, Tony Suriano, Jason A. Iannacone, Michael C. Brennan, James P. Harkins, Al Linea, Garry Pastore, Frank Pietrangolare, Frank Aquilino, Johnny T. Sollitto, Patrick Murney, Samantha Soule, Richard V. Licata, Vito Picone, Larry Mazza, Craig DiFrancia, Ira Drukier, Jon Bruno, Paul Borghese, Steven Maglio, James Licata, Veronica Alicino, Mike Massimino, James Ciccone, Ron Castellano, Marco Greco, Meghan Rafferty, Aldo Sergi, James Lorinz, Jeffrey Paul, Robert C. Kirk, Vincent Maritato, Lawrence Smith, Rebecca Faulkenberry, Ken Wulf Clark, John Rue, Steve Routman, Fernando Vera, Peter Claymore, Charles DelGatto, Michael Gongora, Eugene Bunge, Matthew F. O'Connor, Cliff Moylan, Vincenzo DelRiccio, Steve Beauchamp, Alfred Sauchelli Jr., Joe Giorgio, Diana Agostini, Lauren Aparicio, Kelley Rae O'Donnell, John Garrett Greer, Jack Caruso, John Scurti, Thomas J. Jenkins, Steve Witting, Luke Smith, Brent Langdon, James D. Forsha, Giacomino J. Matra, Paul Pearlman, Frank L. Messina, Cilda Shaur, Dominick LaRuffa Jr., Erick Zamora, Joe Caniano, Lou Martini Jr., Michael Bottari, John Bianco, Margaret Anne Florence, Siena Marino, Lori Arkin, Nicholas Chrysan, Samantha Coppola, Logan Crawford, Jeff DeHart, Mark Fairchild, Blaise Corrigan, Jill Brown, Tim Neff, Matt Walton, Peter J. Fernandez, Stephen Mailer, Gino Cafarelli, Robin Kerbis, Lucia Giannetta, Michael Romeo Ruocco, Anne Horak, Nina Lafarga, Clark Carmichael, Joseph Russo, Jeremy Luke, Barbara Eyland, Tracy J. Everitt, Saint Marino, Mario Corry, Johnny Potenza, Joe Passaro, Patrick Borriello, Alfred Nittoli, David Aaron Baker, Stanley Burns, Bill Timoney, Thomas J. McDonald, Virl Andrick, Ernest L. Sanders Jr., Bill McHugh, Kevin Kane, Amelia Brain, Craig Castaldo, Jacqueline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro

Runtime

3 h 29 min

Release Date

1 November 2019

Genres

Crime, History, Drama

Overview

Pennsylvania, 1956. Frank Sheeran, a war veteran of Irish origin who works as a truck driver, accidentally meets mobster Russell Bufalino. Once Frank becomes his trusted man, Bufalino sends him to Chicago with the task of helping Jimmy Hoffa, a powerful union leader related to organized crime, with whom Frank will maintain a close friendship for nearly twenty years.