The Irishman (2019)

To be clear from start where we stand, and since I'm not in the best writing mood and also I don't want to get too long, for me "The Irishman" compared to "Goodfellas" seemed like the new "Jumanji" vs. the old "Jumanji" (the new = the one of two years ago, because for the latest one I won't lose time anymore). Yeah, I know that the new "Jumanji" is ranked better than the old one (maybe I'm getting older, but... come on), exactly the way "The Irishman" got in a couple days to be considered by at least a part of the critics as the best of Scorsese. Really?...

So, I said I don't want to get long with this = if you want the full story, Wikipedia search for Jimmy Hoffa, union leader in the '70s in US with some mafia connections, and the unfortunate protagonist of one the most controversial disappearances ever, not solved by today. Unofficially, at 30 years after the event, an Irish guy from the close circle of Hoffa, Frank Sheeran, on his death bed makes a stunning confession - he killed Hoffa... and also Joe Gallo, another mobster who's killer's left unknown... and even other hits of the same type... and also transported weapons for the Bay of Pigs invasion. All these so cleverly put together, that he didn't get charged for any, and the FBI still has the case officially unsolved. It's an excellent subject for a best-seller, and now for a top grossing movie. I don't say that everything's fake, but still it looks too much like a fishing story, and the fish might not be that big.

But the movie, how is the movie.. well, even the new "Jumanji" is ok in some parts. "The Irishman" starts well, with a bit of a "Godfather" feeling that you don't meet nowadays anymore, but soon it starts to hit you with some not so nice stuff. The effects and/or make-up to rejuvenate De Niro didn't look more artificial since "J. Edgar". De Niro is more Italian than Irish, and as well as he gets his role played, it doesn't really completely belong there - in comparison is enough to look at Ray Stevenson in "Kill the Irishman", a much less pretentious movie some years ago, also set in the mob wars niche. Hoffa didn't have Italian roots as Pacino has, although here the contrast is not so big, but again, Jack Nicholson in "Hoffa" directed by Danny De Vito, which I've seen long long ago still stays in my mind as more credible. On the other hand, we have a comeback on screen after a very long break of Joe Pesci, which is indeed and undeniable made for the role he plays.

What's left to say - the movie is very long, and the ending even longer - I've never had this feeling of extra unnecessary lengths anywhere else except "LoTR: Return of the King" after the ring is melted, or in the latest "Avengers", after... well, I don't remember after what, completely forgettable. Even so, it's a movie to see. Until the end, the script is written sufficiently ok to keep you there. Technically: camera work, editing (minus the effects I was saying) is top class. And if that doesn't move you, at least for the fact that you don't get to see much often something in this genre that reaches a decent quality.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5