The Irishman

The Irishman
Name	The Irishman
Director	Martin Scorsese
Producer	Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Irwin Winkler, Gerald Chamales, Gaston Pavlovich
Screenplay	Steven Zaillian
Based on	I Heard You Paint Houses, Charles Brandt
Starring	Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephen Graham, Harvey Keitel
Music	Robbie Robertson
Cinematography	Rodrigo Prieto
Editing	Thelma Schoonmaker
Studio	Tribeca Productions, Sikelia Productions, Winkler Films
Distributor	Netflix
Runtime	209 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Irishman. It is a 2019 American epic crime film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Steven Zaillian, based on the 2004 book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt. The film stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, with Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, and Harvey Keitel in supporting roles. It follows the life of Frank Sheeran, a truck driver who becomes a hitman for the Bufalino crime family and recounts his alleged involvement in the disappearance of his friend, Teamsters union leader Jimmy Hoffa.

Plot

The narrative is framed as an elderly Frank Sheeran recounting his life to an unseen listener in a nursing home. After meeting Russell Bufalino while delivering meat, Sheeran is drawn into the world of organized crime, performing jobs for the Philadelphia crime family. His loyalty and efficiency bring him to the attention of powerful figures like Angelo Bruno. Sheeran becomes a close associate and bodyguard for Jimmy Hoffa, the powerful president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The film details their complex friendship against the backdrop of Hoffa's rivalry with Anthony Provenzano and increasing conflicts with Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the Kennedy administration. As Hoffa's defiance of the Bufalino crime family and the Mafia Commission intensifies, Sheeran is placed in an impossible position, leading to the film's climactic depiction of Hoffa's infamous 1975 disappearance.

Cast

Robert De Niro portrays Frank Sheeran, with Joe Pesci as the quietly powerful Russell Bufalino. Al Pacino plays the volatile and charismatic Jimmy Hoffa. Key supporting roles include Ray Romano as attorney Bill Bufalino, Bobby Cannavale as Felix "Skinny Razor" DiTullio, and Stephen Graham as Anthony "Tony Pro" Provenzano. Anna Paquin appears as Peggy Sheeran, Frank's silently disapproving daughter, while Harvey Keitel plays Angelo Bruno. The ensemble also features Jesse Plemons as Chuckie O'Brien, Jack Huston as Robert F. Kennedy, and Kathrine Narducci as Carrie Bufalino.

Production

Development began in 2007, with Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese attached. The project spent years in development hell due to its massive budget, finally being financed by Netflix after traditional studios declined. Principal photography commenced in 2017, with cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto. A significant technical aspect was the use of digital de-aging technology, created by Industrial Light & Magic, to allow De Niro, Pacino, and Pesci to portray their characters across decades. Filming took place in locations across New York City, New Jersey, and Michigan. The score was curated by music supervisor Robbie Robertson, and the film was edited by Scorsese's longtime collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 57th New York Film Festival in September 2019. It received a limited theatrical release in the United States on November 1, 2019, through Netflix in partnership with STX Entertainment, before beginning streaming on Netflix on November 27, 2019. Its theatrical run was designed to qualify for major awards, leading to a campaign by Netflix that included screenings at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim, with praise for its direction, screenplay, cinematography, and performances, particularly those of Pacino and Pesci. It holds a high score on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. It was nominated for ten awards at the 92nd Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but won none. It received numerous other nominations, including twelve at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards and five at the 77th Golden Globe Awards. The film's length and pacing were points of discussion among critics and audiences.

Historical accuracy

The film's account is based on the controversial allegations made by Frank Sheeran to author Charles Brandt, which many historians and journalists, including Dan Moldea and Bill Tonelli, have heavily disputed. Key events, such as Sheeran's claim of involvement in the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa and the assassination of Joseph "Crazy Joe" Gallo, are not supported by official investigations like the FBI's or by the findings of the United States Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in Labor and Management. The portrayal of figures like Russell Bufalino and Angelo Bruno hews closely to documented American Mafia history, but the central narrative remains a contested version of events, presented from Sheeran's subjective viewpoint.

Category:2019 films Category:American crime films Category:Netflix original films