"But nobody threatens Hoffa!"

Rating: 8/10 (31 December 2019)

The reality of the film's luster is beginning to settle in I think. When it first came out, I believe it was tracking in the mid 130's on the IMDb Top 250, and has now settled into the #208 position as I write this. It will most likely drop out of the Top 250 at some point in 2020. That's not to say it isn't a good film. It is, but doesn't merit the hype surrounding it as potentially the best picture of the year. It certainly doesn't surpass director Scorsese's prior gangster epics, 1990's "Goodfellas" or 2006's "The Departed". The movie is based on the book by a former alleged Mafia hitman titled "I Heard You Paint Houses: Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran and Closing the Case on Jimmy Hoffa". The painting houses reference can be considered mob code parlance for 'I heard you kill people', which is what brought Sheeran to the attention of crime boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci). The book's validity has been questioned, thus putting the film's narrative into the same scope of reimagining as this year's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood", Quentin Tarantino's take on the Charles Manson family's murder rampage in Los Angeles in 1969.
I've read some disparaging accounts of the de-aging process used in the film to make Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci look younger. If one is intent on finding fault, I guess you could, but I thought the effect for all three was remarkably well done. It goes the other way too when the actors are made to look much older, especially with Pesci. Considering the type of film this is, I was taken aback a bit by the seemingly lack of vulgarity in the dialog among the mobsters as they conducted day to day business. There is some, but considering Pesci's use of the 'f' word in other films while raising it's use to an art form, the tone of the language in the picture is surprisingly kept to a minimum.
The story of Hoffa and the unions is presented in context with the political climate of the eras in which the story takes place, with particular emphasis on the short presidency of John F. Kennedy. The seminal events of that period are all given sway, with mentions of the Bay of Pigs fiasco, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and of course, Kennedy's assassination. The enmity that developed against the Kennedy's after the mob's help in getting JFK elected is touched upon, with references to Chicago gangland boss Sam Giancana. Knowing a bit of history about the Mafia and it's tentacles into the government would be of help in understanding some of the scenarios presented in the story.
There are some interesting cameos in the picture, most notably by Harvey Keitel as gangster Angelo Bruno, and Steve Van Zandt as lounge singer Jerry Vale. Ray Romano has a somewhat larger role as mob lawyer Bill Bufalino, and it's a treat seeing him in a non-comedic role as he was quite effective. When things get down to the wire regarding Jimmy Hoffa's (Pacino) intention to muscle his way back into the Teamsters presidency, one has to read between the lines of the various mob figures who decide that Hoffa's time has passed and the need to move on becomes apparent. That is, until the picture's single most shocking twist moment occurs with Frank Sheeran's (De Niro) loyalty to Russell Bufalino going unquestioned.
Overall, a good film, and I'm sure it will garner it's share of award nominations, but you should probably temper expectations against the media hype. Fans of the principals might find it better than those who are not, which also can be said for director Scorsese. In any event, check it out and decide for yourself. The Netflix option gives one the opportunity to take a mid-film break, as the length of the picture might leave you feeling antsy with some of the slower exposition.