Incredible story

Rating: 8/10 (7 December 2019)

In a nursing home Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran recounts his days as a teamster and mob hitman. Included in his history is his association with famed Union leader Jimmy Hoffa.
Incredible story. Based on the book "I heard you paint houses" by Charles Brandt and directed by Martin Scorsese, the movie features the usual Scorsese elements of grittiness and engaging storytelling. Quite an intriguing plot, revolving around one of history's most famous mysteries.
Scorsese also surrounds himself with his favourite actors - Robert De Niro (of course), Joe Pesci and Harvey Keitel - and actors with "mob movie cred": Al Pacino, Stephen Graham (who played Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire), Bobby Carnavale. It's as if Scorsese was trying to include at least one face from every major mob movie or TV series. I'm sure if James Gandolfini was alive he'd have a part! Steven Van Zandt does have a very minor part, so The Sopranos is still represented!
However, in creating this all-star cast the first problem appears: De Niro, Pacino and Pesci are too old for their roles. While some of the scenes are set when the actors are older, much of the movie is set in their middle ages, 30s and 40s. Despite all the best attempts to make them look younger, through makeup and special effects, it is clear that they are not that young, through their movements. It is difficult to imagine Frank Sheeran / Robert De Niro as much of a threat when he looks so fragile.
As much as Scorsese wanted to stay loyal to people like De Niro and Pesci, and remind audiences of his previous work with them, a better option would have been to hire younger actors for the roles. It is easier to make a younger actor older than an older actor younger.
The other issue is the length of the movie. At 3½ hours the film it was always going to be interesting to see whether the film could remain engaging throughout. It mostly is, but there are scenes that could easily have been edited out. While it never really drifts, Scorsese could easily have conveyed the same amount of plot development with less detail.
Overall, a great movie, but not perfect.