A Modern Epic

Rating: 10/10 (18 April 2020)

The Irishman follows over 30 years of the life of Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran, a Teamsters Union truck driver and hit man for the Philadelphia mob. Robert De Niro, as Sheeran, is taken under the wing of mob boss Russel Buffalino (Joe Pesci). Once he gains Russel's trust, he is offered a job as bodyguard to Teamsters Union president Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). A natural friendship grows between the two as the lives of Sheeran, Buffalino, and Hoffa become more and more intertwined. As he serves two masters, Frank faces the question who he will hate and who he will love. Robert De Niro offers a subtle, but chilling, portrayal of Sheeran. Without the move of as much as a muscle, we see him methodically execute his tasks with no remorse. Joe Pesci plays a character unlike what is his norm. Unlike the insufferable and rambunctious mobster so often seen in Scorsese's films, Buffalino is soft spoken. He need not raise his voice to make himself heard. The silence of his presence carries an eeriness with it. Al Pacino's portrayal of the larger than life figure, Jimmy Hoffa, not only captures all of attention when on screen, but it stays with you. Once past a myriad of swearings, once his eccentricities fade away, Hoffa is revealed to be a true and loyal friend. The de-aging technology for the film is nearly flawless so that it is barely noticeable when the jumps from different time periods are made. The cinematography, costume/set design, and editing work exceptionally well for the story that is being told. The screenplay is exceptional. At times, it makes the audience laugh and then fall dead silent. It captures the dangerously light hearted mood the mob has about their crimes. Lastly, Scorsese's direction of the film is simply brilliant. He ensures that a glance or even a sharp breath tells the audience everything. He is a master story teller. The Irishman is a modern epic.