Film The Irishman | Martin Scorsese | 2019

[2cents]

I know there’s almost certainly a reason why this wouldn’t have actually worked for the whole film, or looked good enough on a big screen, or whatever, but it definitely doesn’t help as a contrast!

So much better.

 

[Amar__]

Nah, it still wouldn't help De Niro not looking like a penguin with back problems while walking.

 

[Pexbo]

I know there’s almost certainly a reason why this wouldn’t have actually worked for the whole film, or looked good enough on a big screen, or whatever, but it definitely doesn’t help as a contrast!

Bloody hell its like night and day. So much more animation and life in their faces.

 

[SteveJ]

In one scene in which Frank was working as a truck driver, it looked like they'd stuffed his clothes with newspapers, like a kid's Guy on Bonfire Night.

 

[stevoc]

I know there’s almost certainly a reason why this wouldn’t have actually worked for the whole film, or looked good enough on a big screen, or whatever, but it definitely doesn’t help as a contrast!

I think it would have worked and looked even better with a Hollywood budget behind it. But that effect basically completely covers their entire face and makes his performance like motion capture. I reckon that would have ruled the actors out of Oscar contention. That might be why they chose the route they did.

It looks great though, like DeNiro from the 80/90's i'd love to watch the whole thing like that.

 

[buchansleftleg]

I found this really underwhelming. As a piece of history he ties together the strands of teamsters, mob and government dirty tricks together explicitly rather than his previous films that focused more on one aspect....but this felt more of a formulaic film and actually lacked the style and panache of Goodfellas or Mean streets.

Watching the main characters slowly turn into Hans Moleman from the Simpsons was clearly meant to elicit some sympathy from the viewers as they became sad old men....didn't work for me. They were wise guys! they new the score.

I can't believe they so underused Anna Paquin in the film. I thought her character as a child, silently watching, judging and keeping her counsel was building into something that was going to be revelatory....a new perspective or a damning indictment like Lorraine Bracco brought to Goodfellas...but no she just ghosts him at the bank.

10 Oscar nominations for this film is just ridiculous to me, the only quality acting is done by Pacino as the others just seem to be marking time. The direction from Scorsese is flat and lacks invention and given the sprawling story and long timelines it lacks for me the strong sense of time and place, set direction and costumes that Goodfellas or Casino had.

It feels like an oddly watered down Scorsese film...."Scorsese lite" so maybe he wanted to get a larger audience or a final big hit. It's not a bad film but it really is nothing like as good as it seems to be being portrayed as. For me he is trying to have his cake and eat it. Enjoying showing us the mob guy stylized violence and then asking us to do a volt face and be sad about it's long term impact.

If you want to watch a film about growing old, dealing with family issues and showing the effect of violence on people then can i recommend "The Straight Story" from David Lynch. If the narrative structure had all been based around his journey to try and see his estranged daughter rather than built around the journey to...

Spoiler: Spoiler

Offa the Hoffa

then I would have engaged and seen this as a real emotional journey, rather than De Niro looking and acting like a guilty man buying flowers from the petrol station forecourt 5 minutes from home, which is how it felt.

If I had paid to see it at the cinema I would have felt a little cheated and I don't think I've ever thought that about Scorsese before.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

If you want to watch a film about growing old, dealing with family issues and showing the effect of violence on people then can i recommend "The Straight Story" from David Lynch.

I don't agree with your review but thanks for this, I'd never heard of this film and it seems interesting.

 

[Coxy]

I found this really underwhelming. As a piece of history he ties together the strands of teamsters, mob and government dirty tricks together explicitly rather than his previous films that focused more on one aspect....but this felt more of a formulaic film and actually lacked the style and panache of Goodfellas or Mean streets.

Watching the main characters slowly turn into Hans Moleman from the Simpsons was clearly meant to elicit some sympathy from the viewers as they became sad old men....didn't work for me. They were wise guys! they new the score.

I can't believe they so underused Anna Paquin in the film. I thought her character as a child, silently watching, judging and keeping her counsel was building into something that was going to be revelatory....a new perspective or a damning indictment like Lorraine Bracco brought to Goodfellas...but no she just ghosts him at the bank.

10 Oscar nominations for this film is just ridiculous to me, the only quality acting is done by Pacino as the others just seem to be marking time. The direction from Scorsese is flat and lacks invention and given the sprawling story and long timelines it lacks for me the strong sense of time and place, set direction and costumes that Goodfellas or Casino had.

It feels like an oddly watered down Scorsese film...."Scorsese lite" so maybe he wanted to get a larger audience or a final big hit. It's not a bad film but it really is nothing like as good as it seems to be being portrayed as. For me he is trying to have his cake and eat it. Enjoying showing us the mob guy stylized violence and then asking us to do a volt face and be sad about it's long term impact.

If you want to watch a film about growing old, dealing with family issues and showing the effect of violence on people then can i recommend "The Straight Story" from David Lynch. If the narrative structure had all been based around his journey to try and see his estranged daughter rather than built around the journey to...

Spoiler: Spoiler

Offa the Hoffa

then I would have engaged and seen this as a real emotional journey, rather than De Niro looking and acting like a guilty man buying flowers from the petrol station forecourt 5 minutes from home, which is how it felt.

If I had paid to see it at the cinema I would have felt a little cheated and I don't think I've ever thought that about Scorsese before.

on reflection I Have to agree with you. Like you say it’s not a bad film - but just nothing special for me.

for me it just never really got going if you know what I mean?