Yesterday, I went to the Writers Guild Theatre to see The Irishman. It's based on the narrative nonfiction book by former homicide prosecutor, investigator and defense attorney Charles Brandt that deals with alleged mafia hitman Frank Sheeran; and the film focuses on new material included in the book after it was first published that much of his confessions. The Netflix movie (which will have a brief theatrical run) is very long – almost 3-1/2 hours including the long credits -- and worth the time. I thought it was excellent. It’s very well-written by Steve Zaillian (Schindler's List), terrifically directed by Martin Scorsese, and wonderfully acted down to the smallest roles, though most notably starring Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. But the supporting cast is all excellent, including a very nice job by Ray Romano as a mafia attorney. I’m not big on mob stories that make the mobsters heroes, and for a while this looked like it might be going in that direction, but the way the story is laid out, that turns out to not even remotely being the case. I hit a slight bump on the length around the hour and 15-minute mark, knowing there were still two hours to go. (To be clear, it had been very good up to then, the “issue” was knowing that there was still SO much time left…) But the story pushes forward nicely from that point, so it carried me through for the next hour, and the final hour brings everything to a head and resolves everything in detail, so it’s very interesting. It’s never boring, just loooong. As I said, the acting is all impeccable, and taking nothing away from anyone I thought that Joe Pesci was especially great. And it turns out I wasn’t alone – he got the biggest applause of anyone in the end credits from the Guild audience. I think it was a very smart decision of him to come out of retirement for this, because I suspect he could get a Best Supporting nomination. Interestingly, for all the focus on the main characters and the mafia and Jimmy Hoffa storylines, I thought a minor subplot that carries through the film of the relationship between DeNiro (in the title role) and his youngest daughter (played by a number of actresses, but ending with Anna Paquin) is terrific and gives the movie -- for me -- much of it's substance. I won't say how or why. The trailer does a good job giving a sense of the movie, but the film is more ruminative than the fast-pace of the trailer.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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