5 Golden Globe nominations

Rating: Null/10 (11 December 2019)

Golden Globe nominations have just been announced. "The Irishman" has been honoured with 5, in the "Drama" category: best picture, director (Martin Scorsese), supporting actor (Al Pacino, Joe Pesci) and screenplay (Steven Zaillian).
Throughout the history of Hollywood (an indeed probably worldwide), there is no lacking of gangster movies. To many, "Godfather" has set a bar that is yet to be surpassed. Director Scorsese's only Oscar win so far also came from this genre, a deviously clever screenplay from Hong Kong adapted to become "The Departed" (2007).
"The Irishman" opens with a long one-take shot (similar to Brian De Palma's "Snake eyes" (1988) but not as long or as flashy) that meanders along the corridors of a seniors' home, finally resting on the title protagonist Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) sitting on a wheel chair. A VO starts as the camera closed up to De Niro and continues seamlessly as his lips start to move and speak. In the next three-and-a-half hours, we hear Sheeran telling his life story.
Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran was a WWII veteran who had been following General Patton all over Italy, Anzio and all. He then became an important figure in the teamster labour union, as well as organized crime. Through easy-to-follow narrative, some mild temporal scrambling notwithstanding, the movie recounts Sheeran's association with various underworld figures, with plenty of killing using efficient, clean neat shots to the head.
The main body of the movie pertains to two such associations with characters played by the Golden Globe best support nominees Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). While these two are without question Sheeran's best friends, there is a sharp contrast between these two relationships. Bufalino is Sheeran's mentor, an almost fatherly figure. When they talk, it is always in a low, subdued tone which, however, at times have such a hideous undercurrent that makes you shudder. Hoffa on the other hand is like a time bomb, but a time bomb that explodes just about every hour. The fiery speeches Pacino delivery at the union meetings is something to behold. I won't go into any further details, not because of spoiler avoidance as the true story is amply documented and readily available in the public domain. The spoiler here would be taking away the pleasure of experiencing the mesmerising story-telling.
Three-and-a-half hours in today's nano-second-verse seems a long time to sit through a movie. What makes it a worthwhile, special experience is the direction of Scorsese and the acting of De Niro, Pacino and Pesci, particularly when with the excellence is also three entirely different styles and persona, giving such a rich variety.
It would of course be interesting to see what Oscar nominations "The Irishman" will gather.