The Irishman screened for critics ahead of its Friday world premiere at the New York Film Festival, and first reactions to Martin Scorsese's latest are out.
A crime saga based on the nonfiction book I Heard You Paint Houses: Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran & Closing the Case on Jimmy Hoffa by Charles Brandt, Scorsese's The Irishman follows WWII veteran Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) through the decades, as Sheeran kills, intimidates and brutalizes on behalf of powerful organized crime figures. Central to the plot is the death of union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).
"I heard you paint houses" is a euphemism for murder and reportedly the first words Hoffa ever said to the real-life Sheeran, who became a hitman for the Bufalino crime family. Though Hoffa disappeared in 1975, Sheeran claims to have been the killer. A 2005 investigation of the alleged site of the murder found blood, but police testing determined it was not Hoffa's.
The 209 minute crime epic not only reunites De Niro and Pacino for the first time since 2008's Righteous Kill, but also sees the return of Joe Pesci to screen, after making only occasional cinematic appearances since his announcing his retirement from acting in 1999. The Irishman cast also includes Harvey Keitel, Jesse Plemons, Ray Romano Bobby Cannavale and Anna Paquin.
Although full reviews for The Irishman haven't yet been published (an embargo on reviews lifts at 5 p.m. PT on Friday), initial reactions on social media have been overwhelmingly positive, with critics praising the performances of its three lead actors, especially Pacino as Hoffa.
THE IRISHMAN: Pacino unhinges his jaw and swallows this thing whole like a python choking down a gazelle carcass, berserker mode king shit
— Charles Bramesco (@intothecrevasse) September 27, 2019
Critics have also compared the movie to previous Scorsese crime epics Casino and Goodfellas, with many describing the movie as having a more contemplative tone and pace.
THE IRISHMAN is not GOODFELLAS/CASINO part 3. Different pace different tone. It is, however, absolutely fucking fantastic and I am floored. All hail the King.
— Jordan Hoffman (@jhoffman) September 27, 2019
THE IRISHMAN is good! takes 90 minutes to lock in & clear out the cobwebs / adjust to CGI, but the scope is a virtue, the performances are killer (Joseph! Frank! Pesci!) & it eventually coheres into a heart-stopping meditation on the myopia of time. an old man movie for the ages.
— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) September 27, 2019
THE IRISHMAN: Think GOODFELLAS, but directed by the man who gave us SILENCE. A culmination, meditation and tribute to every Scorsese/De Niro/Pesci collaboration. And yet, Al Pacino towers over all of them with a funny, sad and haunting performance as Jimmy Hoffa.
— Jordan Ruimy (@mrRuimy) September 27, 2019
THE IRISHMAN is like a greatest hits album from a master of the medium. Yes, that’s a positive.
— erickohn (@erickohn) September 27, 2019
The artifice of de-aging is more feature than bug.
It’s not “slow.” It often moves like lightening & elsewhere it’s downright Bressonian.
This is not a review! Those are embargoed.
THE IRISHMAN is Marty’s old man movie! it’s about how you gotta have fifty conversations to do anything and everybody’s got an ego and it’s mostly just people chatting to each other and getting grumpy. terrific!!
— David Sims (@davidlsims) September 27, 2019
For the most part, critics were untroubled by the potentially distracting de-aging technology deployed throughout the movie to depict younger versions of De Niro, Pacino and Pesci.
Some reactions might also be surprising to anyone familiar with The Irishman trailers, which make the movie look deadly serious. According to Vanity Fair critic K. Austin Collins and others, The Irishman is also funny.
THE IRISHMAN - Audacious, epic, a film that feels like it spans lifetimes yet whisks by. Technically bold, performances raw and darkly humourous, it is the culmination of Scorsese's genre fascinations, and a late career triumph. Truly cinematic, demanding to be seen big #nyff57
— Jason Gorber (@filmfest_ca) September 27, 2019
The Irishman is good. I laughed a lot.
— k austin collins (@melvillmatic) September 27, 2019
A Q&A after the screening revealed more about the production, though many in attendance noted how reluctant Pesci and De Niro were to speak in-depth about their role or The Irishman's place in their oeuvre.
THE IRISHMAN production was comprised of 309 scenes, 117 locations, and 108 days. “Some days was 2-3 moves a day. We carried 9 cameras all the time,” says Scorsese. #NYFF pic.twitter.com/3EIghxdiSm
— 58th New York Film Festival (@TheNYFF) September 27, 2019
now eclipsed by Kent Jones asking Joe Pesci “Can you talk about making The Irishman after not doing a movie for years?” and Pesci answering “No.” https://t.co/63GPpOeNyS
— Sam Adams (@SamuelAAdams) September 27, 2019
The Irishman will begin a limited theatrical run on November 1, followed by its Netflix debut on November 27.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
