The Best Movie of 2019

Rating: 9/10 (6 December 2019)

In Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman", he revisits some familiar environments, delivering us a spectacular movie based on the real-life accounts - as told - by Robert Sheeran in the 2004 book "I Heard You Paint Houses". Sheeran is played by Robert De Niro and is the central character of the film, set, mostly in 1950s Philadelphia as he, a delivery truck driver, gets involved in the Bufalino mobster family. Eventually, he is lended out to act as bodyguard to eccentric labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino). Unsentimentally swinging the audience between an elderly Sheeran in present day and his retelling of his criminal life, Scorsese gives us amazing settings and scenery - and no, he is not tired of explosions and shootings quite yet. To portray a younger version of Sheeran, De Niro is digitally "de-aged" something you forget about ten seconds after you first see it. The compelling story and brilliant writing captivates you to such extant the long running time of "The Irishman" is no obstacle whatsoever. A grand standing ovation should also be given to the film's three stars, De Niro, Pesci, and Pacino, all of which makes a superb job in their respective roles. Pacino plays the unconventional union leader in a flamboyant manner infused with loads of humor, without ever stepping into the zone of parody. Pesci delivers some of the most unsettling acting pieces I've ever witnessed as the cold and calculating Russell Bufalino as his power over Sheeran gets more obvious over time. The Irishman himself is played flawlessly by De Niro; he characterizes the truck driver turned hit man's indifference for human life interestingly with large amounts of emotions and reflections. While somewhat slow paced, you never loose interest, much due to the underlying tensions, great writing, and mesmerizing narration of De Niro. This is 100% a Scorsese film, with all the best elements in it, including the large - but discreet - importance of Catholicism. Bread and wine is switched to bread and grape juice as the monsters spend time in prison. Many times this year, Scorsese has criticized the superhero movie genre in general (and Marvel in particular), as he believes they produce movies without any purpose. Now, I'm a huge Marvel fan myself, but Scorsese has a point. There are miles between any recent superhero blockbuster and "The Irishman", and a part of me is happy could deliver that. "The Irishman" is an absolute pure joy to watch.