So Much Ado About Nothing

Rating: 6/10 (14 December 2019)

The Irishman isn't a bad movie. Actually, it's beautifully made and, from a narrow filmmaking perspective, it is flawless. However, something is missing from this movie--something which isn't missing from Scorsese's early gems such as Taxi Driver, After Hours, or Casino--namely: "mission." The Irishman lacks mission. For over three hours I was floored with spectacular cinematography and state-of-the-art acting by De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino. But once the credits hit the screen, I felt cheated, shortchanged. The Irishman is well-made, but it is easily forgettable. I cannot think of a single scene or theme that has stuck with me from this whole visual epic. It somehow feels like a watered-down version of another movie which got lost somewhere.