The Irishman Review

The unhurried and extraordinarily measured pacing of Martin Scorsese's newest crime thriller The Irishman will undoubtably seem daunting for the average movie-goer. Still, those willing to tackle the long 209-minute runtime will quickly be awarded the classic world-building and compelling characters that Scorsese effortlessly projects into his films of this genre. However, while Scorsese's decision to invest loads of time into the natural interactions of each character help cultivate some of the film's most exciting and poignant moments, the odyssey that slowly unfolds consistently feels marred in predictability as the film reaches its climax. Despite this, the masterful direction from Martin Scorsese and the incredible performances by Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino helps transcend the movie past its slower moments and obvious comparisons to Casino and Goodfellas. Showing the maturity that each has grown in their craft and adding another thoughtfully made gangster film to all their career portfolios.

The Irishman chronicles the later decades of WWII veteran Frank Sheeran as he slowly goes from a simple truck driver to a top hitman for a Pennsylvania crime family led by an understanding yet powerful man named Russell Bufalino. Frank quickly becomes well respected amongst his peers and soon gets tasked with higher profile work, a path that leads him to befriend and work for commanding Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa. A partnership that eventually forces Frank to make decisions that will haunt him for the rest of his life.

Those who are even partially aware of the history between Scorsese and long-time collaborators De Niro, Pesci, and Pacino should already know what to expect in terms of their chemistry. However, perhaps the most surprising part of The Irishman is how diverse that chemistry becomes throughout. The ever-shifting emotions and tones paired with the powerful performances from all involved help mould relationships, humour, and problems between characters that feel incredibly real and believably executed. At the same time, the slow-burning yet enthralling story eventually envelopes the characters and the audience with ease.

The Irishman is not without its faults, though. While much of the ambitiously lengthy runtime that Scorsese insists on giving the film helps breathe life to the characters and atmosphere, it can also lead to moments that have shallow payoffs considering the time invested into certain elements and arcs. Yet the most apparent and glaring issue that the film has is due to the digital de-ageing that was done to achieve a believable lapse of time within the narrative, which can often be distracting and sometimes immersion breaking.

Overall, Scorsese and his long-time friends/collaborators have managed to create a new and exciting gangster film that rarely feels like its recycling material from previous films of the genre. Despite a somewhat bloated runtime and some noticeable CGI that can test the captivation of certain audiences, The Irishman ultimately entertains with the help of the experienced craftsmanship from all involved.

Thematically diverse and incredibly acted, The Irishman earns its long runtime with the help of stellar performances and Martin Scorsese’s masterful presentation.

Produced By: Netflix
Runtime: 209 minutes
Rating: R