Expectations are a double-edged sword

Rating: 8/10 (5 December 2019)

Given the A-list actors, Scorcese and how much money went into making this film (thank you Netflix for getting it off the ground by the way), I expected more from the Irishman. Or at least I expected not to feel like the movie was very long. Unfortunately I did.
One disappointment was perhaps the infamous de-aging technology. I think it works wonders on the actors' face, no doubt about it. But then you have DeNiro offing a guy supposedly in his prime years as a hitman, and yet he moves like an 80 year old. I even laughed in a particular scene (outside a dinner) because of it, and I am not sure that was the point.
I also did not feel like really merited much the 3h20 run time. Some parts were not needed. They can be weaved in sure, but the main climax of the movie is solved 2h40-50 into it. So the remainder could definitely be shortened.
Still, definitely worth watching it
For one it still has a lot of identifiable Scorcese-isms. In addition to being an anti-hero narrated gangster movie, it also has a beautifully long single shot scene.
Also Joe Pesci is phenomenal as Russ Bufallino, in the exact opposite of his hot-headed Goodfellas character. Al Pacino is intense but since he is shouting all the time makes it slightly easier to notice his acting, I would say.
Overall it is a great movie about a guy who almost inadvertently rose through the ranks of the Italian-American mafia, the challenges he faces along the way and how they contrast with what America is going through (from Kennedy's election to Nixon's Watergate, a lot is contextualised). All through his own rear view mirror.
But still a slight let down given the massive expectations I had going into it.