Review: The Irishman
I used to go very often to the movies when I was a teenager. Back then it was cheap, and streaming did not exist yet. Not even DVDs, initially. One could go to the video-club to get a VHS tape, but I preferred to watch films in the cinema, especially if they were films that I cared about.
These days I don't go so often to the movie theatres - I don't have so much time, there are other options of entertainment, and it's expensive - although occasionally I end up going. So although I could have waited a few days to watch it online, I went to see Scorsese's "The Irishman" in its limited theatrical release.
I liked it. I don't think it will be an enduring classic such as Goodfellas or Casino, but it is a nice revisiting of the gangster theme by Scorsese, in a more low-key tone.
De Niro is good as Frank Sheeran, although he is physically very different from the original Sheeran, and the de-aging process doesn't work perfectly. It's not bad; but it works only for the face (and at that, not perfectly - De Niro looks in his 40s in scenes where he should be in hi 30s). The body movements are still those of an old man. Yet, except for one scene -- the beating of on the street where they should have used a double because it really doesn't work -- the film does not have a lot of physical movement and it works fine.
Pacino is funny as Hoffa, although not very realistic or similar to the union leader either physically or in demeanour.
But the best one is Joe Pesci, in a role very different from the truculent ones in Casino and Goodfellas, a very calm but efficient boss.
As I said, the film is not perfect. It does have a few issues, notably the fact that Sheeran's story is unlikely to be wholly true (some called him "the Forrest Gump of gangsters", and if you watch the movie you will understand why). Also the relation with his daughter and her silence, I think it works better as an idea than in practice; in the film it feels a little forced or maudlin. But it does have some great scenes too, such as the discussions between Hoffa and "the little guy".
Some complain that the film is "too long"; a curious complaint, when the Avenger movies last also about three hours long and most popular series last much longer. I didn't feel that it dragged on, not even the last part which is purposefully slower.
These days I don't go so often to the movie theatres - I don't have so much time, there are other options of entertainment, and it's expensive - although occasionally I end up going. So although I could have waited a few days to watch it online, I went to see Scorsese's "The Irishman" in its limited theatrical release.
I liked it. I don't think it will be an enduring classic such as Goodfellas or Casino, but it is a nice revisiting of the gangster theme by Scorsese, in a more low-key tone.
De Niro is good as Frank Sheeran, although he is physically very different from the original Sheeran, and the de-aging process doesn't work perfectly. It's not bad; but it works only for the face (and at that, not perfectly - De Niro looks in his 40s in scenes where he should be in hi 30s). The body movements are still those of an old man. Yet, except for one scene -- the beating of on the street where they should have used a double because it really doesn't work -- the film does not have a lot of physical movement and it works fine.
Pacino is funny as Hoffa, although not very realistic or similar to the union leader either physically or in demeanour.
But the best one is Joe Pesci, in a role very different from the truculent ones in Casino and Goodfellas, a very calm but efficient boss.
As I said, the film is not perfect. It does have a few issues, notably the fact that Sheeran's story is unlikely to be wholly true (some called him "the Forrest Gump of gangsters", and if you watch the movie you will understand why). Also the relation with his daughter and her silence, I think it works better as an idea than in practice; in the film it feels a little forced or maudlin. But it does have some great scenes too, such as the discussions between Hoffa and "the little guy".
Some complain that the film is "too long"; a curious complaint, when the Avenger movies last also about three hours long and most popular series last much longer. I didn't feel that it dragged on, not even the last part which is purposefully slower.
Comments
Post a Comment