Reflective, Tense & Emotionally Dichotomous

Rating: 8/10 (3 January 2020)

First off, the scope of The Irishman is epic. This is a mammoth film. With a running time of 3 hours 29 minutes and a production budget of $159 million, this is one of Scorsese's most extensive productions.
The Irishman is a different kind of creature compared to Casino and Goodfellas so there's no point comparing them. The story is enthralling and engaging although it does lag at points and leads to a lack of plot focus.
Where the plot partially stalls, the character acting is second to none. This is the heart of the movie and what keeps you glued to the screen till the credit roll. The dynamic between De Niro, Pesci and Pacino is tense, provocative and emotionally dichotomous. You can't help but watch their respective destinys unravel.
This is a much more reflective mobster movie from Scorcese. Themes of trust, friendship and love flow through the plot. For me the moral of the story is that when trust is broken, you lose love and without love you have nothing.
Definitely worth a watch.