Review: The Irishman

The disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa has been one of the world’s mysteries. What happened to the man that stood with the people? Did he make waves and trouble for the wrong people? This film delves into a character with a story that crosses this channel and leads us to new revelations.

Frank Sheeran (Robert Deniro) is a man that gets things done and understands his place in the wheel. From a delivery truck driver, to a fix-it man, he shows trustworthiness and the grit to follow orders. Finding a life-long friend in Russel Bufalino (Joe Pesci), a middleman that everyone knows and respects, moves him forward in the organization.

The gangster lifestyle covers many facets, as we soon discover. From gangland killings to weapons and wars, the family has its fingers in many pies. And Frank is in the middle of it all. Which leads him into a new avenue with a bigger than life name, Mr. Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).

Working with the unions is a money maker and a way to hold political sway when needed. So Frank is set to protect and point Hoffa into what’s best for the family. This leads to them becoming close friends and soon Frank becomes a union boss in his own right. Unfortunately, the government lobbies crimes against Hoffa and his associates, which leads to a downfall and an eventual spiral.

At three and a half hours, this film covers a character’s life well. Stories and actions that build Frank Sheeran are accentuated by age defying technology that shows him in his youth. Which, if I’m honest, is a bit weird at first, but at almost 4 hours, I had time to settle into it. Could there have been cuts, sure, some of the procedural moments in the film could have been glossed over. Then again, who’s going to question Scorsese?

Joe Pesci is magical in this role, not the bull dog character people expect, but the cool and collected man that whispers his orders. The film does well to show the friendship between Frank and Russell as it time-jumps while on a long trip in their older years. Reliving the choices that made the men who they are and the options they now have to choose from.

Very much worth seeing in the theater, I enjoyed the film. The Story is definitely in the wheelhouse of Scosese, Deniro, Pacino and Pesci. And it shows. The only thing that might sway movie goers, especially the older demographic, is the extended running time. Which might be fixed by watching it on Netflix a couple weeks later. Creating your own intermission may not be what the filmmaker wanted, but it might be the only answer for some that can’t endure the time needed.

Not my favorite film of the year, but in the top 10 for sure, The Irishman is true cinema for those looking for a real story and characters that are bigger than life (and without super powers.)

Grade: B+
Running Time: 3h 29m
MPAA Rating: R