NYFF 2019: THE IRISHMAN Is Vintage Scorsese

Around the 90 minute mark of Martin Scorsese‘s new film The Irishman, I forgot about all the hype, the conversation around de-aging technology and let go of all the anticipation of a new film from the master. It’s about the same time we’re introduced to Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). It was at that moment when everything began to click and come together. It’s the moment The Irishman went from just the newest addition to a top-notch filmography to an utterly exceptional film and the most mature of the director’s career.

The Irishman follows Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) from his days as a small time crook and truck driver as he becomes an enforcer for gangster Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and ultimately a hitman and major mob player alongside Hoffa. Sheeran learned to kill without remorse and speak Italian in his time in Italy during WWII, making him perfect to join the mob.

While the film takes a bit to get going, it eventually kicks into gear and the 209 minute runtime is no issue at all. If anything, The Irishman keeps you engaged and moves along briskly. For the first half, it feels as if he looked back to some of his greatest films and stole bits from each. In the third act, The Irishman then grows beyond anything he’s made before and becomes funnier, more emotional and reflective. I wouldn’t go as far as to call it a masterpiece after just one viewing, but both the legendary actors and director are firing on all fronts in this engrossing film.

The Irishman is vintage Scorsese

The Irishman is easily Scorsese‘s best film since The Departed, but feels closer in style to the days of Casino, Goodfellas and Mean Streets. You get the narration style and shots that feel like they harken back to Casino. Much of the film also deals with the relationship between the mob and the unions, something that is shown a lot in Casino. In a sense, the two could be two sides of the same story. We get a similar narration style and energy as Goodfellas, but here it’s much more reflective.

The story takes place over years and locations. There’s a grand sweeping scale to The Irishman that is bigger than anything we’ve seen from him in a while. And while the story is complex and turns throughout, Scorsese keeps you invested and informed.

And of course, nobody does mob violence better. There aren’t a ton of hyper violent scenes, but the ones there are don’t shy away one bit. To balance this out (and keep the 3.5 hr runtime moving), The Irishman is a hilarious movie – probably funnier than it is violent. One particular conversation about a fish stands out, but there were plenty of laugh out loud moments. It’s a wickedly sharp script, and Scorsese is the best suited to bring it to life.

Three master actors at work

Along with having one of the greatest directors of all time, it doesn’t hurt to have three of the greatest actors of a generation (or ever). The Irishman is fortunate enough to have both and it shows.

De Niro is cold, stoic and a hardened mobster throughout the film. We knew he could play this based on his previous work, but it’s a welcome return to where he’s best. The third act, when Sheeran is older and closer to death, gives a more vulnerable performance as he faces his own mortality.

As famous union boss Jimmy Hoffa, Pacino has the flashiest role of the three. He’s loud, bold and boisterous. And he nails it. It’s the liveliest role he’s had in a while and will probably earn him a best supporting actor nomination, if not win.

Pesci was the performance I found the most delightfully surprising. I’m used to seeing him as a louder and more rambunctious character like Hoffa, but he shows a softer side in The Irishman. Bufalino is a quieter, more soft-spoken boss who likes to go through Sheeran to get his work done. It’s an understated performance that will likely be overlooked because it isn’t in your face, but Pesci‘s work shines as bright as any in the film.

It’s also worth mentioning that despite all of the talk of de-aging technology and people anticipating if it would be a distraction, it wasn’t very noticeable. The only time that any of the actors’ age really showed was when a younger De Niro would move. While his face looked younger, his body’s movements showed an older man.

Dealing death and facing death

I don’t want to go too much into the story and plot because it’s worth going in blind and enjoying it all. However, what really hit home about The Irishman is the third act. We rejoin Sheeran where we started with him, in a senior living home as he’s getting ready to pass. He’s recounting his life and looking back on the death he doled out and the relationships he had.

He’s a man who, for most of his life, had no qualms or second thoughts with murdering or causing destruction. Now, he’s facing his own mortality. He’s looking back at what it all cost him. It cost him friends. It cost him family. And he’s asked if he’s sorry. Was any of this worth it? What came of it? Did you gain more than you lost? These are the questions Scorsese seems to be asking us as well as Sheeran. And in that respect, it’s his most mature film.

The Irishman: Another great from some of the greats

The Irishman feels like a culmination and coming together of some of film’s most treasured and gifted talents looking at their legacies. With groundbreaking visual effects that allow us to seamlessly visit different eras, a razor sharp and funny script, three generational talents and the great Martin Scorsese, The Irishman is as exceptional as you’d hope. While some may be turned off by the 3+ hour runtime, those who find that moment when it all clicks will want to live in this world and treasure the film.

What’s your favorite Scorsese film? Sound off in the comments.

The Irishman will be released in select theaters in the US and UK on November 1, 2019 before streaming on Netflix Nov 27. For all international release dates, see here.