The Irishman is not just a movie; it's a three and a half hour movie experience. Robert De Niro stars in Martin Scorsese's epic adaptation of Charles Brandt's book I Heard You Paint Houses. The book tells the true story of the alleged mafia hitman Frank Sheeran and the tale is narrated by De Niro as Sheeran, who describes his associations with, and actions on behalf of, infamous mobsters of the fifties and sixties.
Prominent among these is the teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa. I remember, as a teenager, hearing about Hoffa, his corrupt practices, support of Richard Nixon and antagonism to the Kennedys. This was the period when John Kennedy was elected President, appointed his brother Bobby as Attorney General, and subsequently became involved with the infamous Bay Of Pigs shambles. It was a time when the world saw hope in a "new dawn" under the leadership of a young, charismatic American President, but there were always rumours of shady underworld associations, including in his assassination. The film overtly references these events as the background to its portrayal of, literally, mob rule.
It's a monster of a film and the epithet "epic" is warranted. It's a men's tale, with little in the way of female casting. I suppose in a way it glorifies violence and corruption and Sheeran displays no remorse. But there is a sadness and inevitability of decline as the years, and society's evolution, move on.
The title of the book is in reference to saying, "I heard you paint houses"—a mob code meaning: I heard you kill people, the "paint" being the blood that splatters when bullets are fired into a body. This tells you everything about the film. It has echoes of The Godfather and The Sopranos - and, I guess, pretty much every mobster film/series ever made. What distinguishes it is the real life context.
De Niro, and his co-stars Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, were in their late 70s when they shot the film and some remarkable CGI "de-aging" took place in production. It's an A list cast with an A list director but lost out to Parasite in the 2019 Oscars. I thought both films were excellent and I couldn't choose one or the other. In fact I could watch them again - which is rare for me.
Also rare for me is not whingeing about any film over two and half hours. In this case, it just seems to need the time and never drags.
Much recommended. If you enjoy gangster movies.
I can barely get through a 45 minute tv show these days. I may have to treat this as an 8 Episode series.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I never thought I’d hear you describe a film as an experience 😀