Stylish, classy, but indulgent and LONG

Rating: 6/10 (2 December 2019)

The Irishman is a beautifully shot, terrifically acted movie. It's reminiscent of these fine actor's earlier gangster epics, but it is not without it's issues. Some of which are glaring.
Firstly, and most noticeably is the running time. Don't get me wrong. I have no issues with attention span. In my view a movie can be as long as it wants. So long as it fills that time well. The Irishman could have easily been reined-in by 45 minutes at least, without ever hurting the plot or feel of the movie. Sadly, I found myself clock watching on a few occasions in it's three and a half hour run time, and my partner...well she fell asleep at two hours twenty.
As an example, almost an hour of the movie is essentially De Niro going "you gotta calm down, Jimmy" and Al Pacino replying "I won't calm down, Franky". We get it already, he's stubborn, the mob are annoyed.
It is still watchable at this length, (if you have some grit) which is testament to those involved, but it's pushing it and pushing it hard. At times feeling over indulgent. I imagine it would have suffered harsher reviews, had it been a cinema release. The comfort of your own couch, bathroom and access to coffee goes a long way here.
The other issue for me, was the use of Pacino and particularly De Niro, in portraying their characters younger selves. I can't help but feel it would have been more effective to use younger actors of a similar appearance to portray these characters in their earlier years. I have the utmost respect for everyone involved in this, but there comes a point when you have to accept that these guys are no spring chickens. There is some skilled use of makeup (CGI?), but no amount of makeup could hide Pacino's aging posture. He is pushing 80 after all. Yet Here at stages in the movie, Pacino is supposed to be Jimmy Hoffa in his 50's and 60's, possibly even younger.
Worse still, De Niro's character Frank Sheeran is frequently referred to as "kid", yet even with makeup/effects/hair dye he appears to be in his 50's or 60's. Not bad for a guy pushing towards eighty, right?... Not so great when you consider the reality that Sheeran was in his mid twenties when he met Russel Bufalino and began working for the mob. No amount of 'Just For Men' is pulling that illusion off.
Negatives aside, the scenery, attention to detail, costumes and cinematography are all excellent, as is the acting by everyone involved. And, even if you already know the history surrounding Hoffa and the unions, it's still a fairly compelling story.
I found it watchable and enjoyed it in part, but I feel it would have had a lot more impact at a shorter run time. I would have easily given this 8 or 9 out of 10, had it cut to the chase a bit sooner and maybe not leaned so heavily on the makeup team.