Scorsese returns with thought provoking classic

Rating: 9/10 (18 March 2020)

Martin Scorsese is obviously one of the most treasured filmmakers in cinematic history, and for good reason. He has a barrage of great movies and has influenced countless. Once I heard he was making a new mob epic with Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Al Pacino, I was more than ecstatic. However, I'd be lying if I wasn't a little skeptical going in, worrying it would be Scorsese trying to relive his gangster classics such as Goodfellas and Casino. Though, when I watched it, all those worries were completely blown out of the water. The Irishman is one of Martin Scorsese's best movies. The cast is great, especially Joe Pesci and Al Pacino giving the best performances they have given in a long time. The Irishman is extremely entertaining, so don't let that 3 in a half hour run time scare you. I really don't think a minute is wasted in this film. The filmmakers just had a lot to say. The Irishman is of course a gangster epic, but it is far different than something like Goodfellas. I have never seen Scorsese this vulnerable. The film obviously speaks on the mafia, but this is the most I've ever seen Scorsese really dive this deep into the emotional consequences of a life like the one Frank Sheeran lives in this movie. The third act of this movie is incredible and other than the movie Silence, I have never been this emotionally impacted by a Scorsese movie. This is a great movie and it's good to know Scorsese is still at the top of his game.
9.5/10