The Irishman

Rating: 7/10 (2 February 2020)

This film produced by Netflix was a reunion for Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated director Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Wolf of Wall Street) and leading actor De Niro and supporting actor Pesci have worked together in 24 years, since Casino, and one that was getting attention during Awards Season. Basically, elderly World War II veteran Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran (Robert De Niro) is in a nursing home, he recounts his time as a hitman for powerful criminal families and mobsters. In 1950s Philadelphia, Sheeran works as a delivery truck driver and starts to sell some of his shipment contents to local gangster Felix "Skinny Razor" DiTullio (Bobby Cannavale). After his company accuses him of theft, union lawyer Bill Bufalino (Ray Romano) gets him off. Bill introduces Sheeran to his cousin Russell Bufalino (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Joe Pesci), head of the Northeastern Pennsylvania crime family. Sheeran begins to do jobs for Russell and members of the local South Philadelphia underworld, including "painting houses," a euphemism for murder. Soon, Russell introduces Sheeran to Jimmy Hoffa (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Al Pacino), head of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, head of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who has financial ties with the Bufalino crime family and is struggling to deal with fellow rising nominee Anthony "Tony Pro" Provenzano (Stephen Graham). Hoffa becomes close with Sheeran and his family, especially his daughter Peggy, and Sheeran becomes Hoffa's chief bodyguard. After the 1960 election of John F. Kennedy, Sheeran is tasked with delivering weapons for the CIA in their failed attempt to overthrow the Cuban government. Kennedy's brother, Robert F. Kennedy, named the Attorney General, forms a "Get Hoffa" squad to try and bring down Hoffa, who is arrested and convicted for jury tampering in 1964. While Hoffa is in prison, his replacement, Frank "Fitz" Fitzsimmons (Gary Basaraba), overspends union pension funds and makes interest-free loans to the Mafia. Hoffa's relationship with Provenzano, himself arrested for extortion, also deteriorates beyond repair. Hoffa has his sentence commuted by President Richard Nixon in 1971, but he is forbidden from partaking in any Teamsters activities until 1980. Despite his parole terms, Hoffa undertakes a plan to reclaim his power. Russell becomes concerned with Hoffa's growing disrespect for other Teamster leaders and crime families. Sheeran is honoured at a special dinner in 1973, he asks Hoffa to present the award to him onstage. Russell tells Sheeran to confront Hoffa and warn him about his behaviour displeasing the heads of the crime families. Hoffa informs Sheeran that he "knows things" that Russell and others are unaware of, he claims that he is untouchable, for if anything ever happened to him, they would all end up in prison. In 1975, while on their way to the wedding of Bill's daughter, Russell tells Sheeran that the dons have become fed up with Hoffa and have sanctioned his murder. Russell reluctantly tells Sheeran that he has been chosen as the man to kill, fearing he may otherwise warn or save Hoffa. Hoffa, who had scheduled a meeting at a local diner with Provenzano and Anthony "Tony Jack" Giacalone (Patrick Gallo), is surprised to see Sheeran showing up in Detroit, along with Hoffa's unsuspecting foster son Chuckie O'Brien (Jesse Plemons) and gangster Sal "Sally Bugs" Briguglio (Louis Cancelmi). Hoffa is told that the meeting has been arranged in a house where Provenzano and Russell will be waiting for them. Hoffa enters the empty house and realises he has been set up. He turns around to leave at which point Sheeran shoots him twice at point-blank range. After Sheeran departs, two younger gangsters have the body cremated to eliminate all traces of him. There is a grand jury investigation into Hoffa's disappearance, during which Sheeran, Russell, Provenzano and others deny any knowledge. They are all eventually convicted on various charges unrelated to Hoffa's murder, and one by one the elderly criminals die in prison. Sheeran is eventually released and placed in a nursing home. He has alienated himself from his daughters, especially Peggy (Anna Paquin), who suspects his involvement in Hoffa's disappearance. Sheeran tries to reconcile with them, but they sever all contact with him. Whilst in the nursing home Sheeran is given absolution for crimes committed over his lifetime by a Catholic priest. As the priest leaves, Sheeran asks him to leave the door slightly ajar, emulating one of Hoffa's habits. Also starring Harvey Keitel as Angelo Bruno, Stephanie Kurtzuba as Irene Sheeran, Jack Huston as Robert Kennedy / RFK, Kathrine Narducci as Carrie Bufalino and Domenick Lombardozzi as Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno. De Niro gives an interesting as the truck driver turned hitman, Pacino almost steals the show as the charming but equally sinister Hoffa, and Pesci came out of retirement to play a terrific supporting role. This true-life based story is really watchable, with great performances, the splendid playful but classic direction by Scorsese, and the period detail accompanied by gripping moments of violence of criminal activity and violence, and of course the extraordinary special effects to "de-age" the actors, it just about uses the three and half hours running time pretty well, a worthwhile epic crime drama. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects, and Best Motion Picture of the Year, it was nominated the BAFTAs for Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Special Visual Effects, and it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay. Very good!