High expectations and disappointment

Rating: 6/10 (30 November 2019)

I'm no expert on gangster movies or on Scorcese, but I am a fan of DiNiro, Pacino and Pesci. So I was prepared to be blown away, but it didn't happen.
First, why not develop the theme of the Irishman (of the title) entering the world of the Sicilian mob? That would be interesting, and didn't get much attention.
Also, I didn't get the sense that the lead actors were really inhabiting their characters, although some of the face-to-face dialogue between the leads was very engrossing. But not because they were inhabiting the characters, but rather because they are just so good at delivering lines. It was sort of like being at an acting class.
The screenplay was, I thought, very powerful, but it didn't get translated into flesh-and-blood conflict that made the audience care (unlike The Godfather, say). The movie kept me interested mostly because of the historical content (Cuba, the Kennedys, Hoffa) but it's not a movie that leaves a lasting impression.