The Irishman (2019)

US 209m, Colour
Director: Martin Scorsese; Cast: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin

The Irishman is an entertaining, albeit somewhat drawn out, crime drama based on Charles Brandt’s 2004 book “I Heard You Paint Houses”. The story is told as a series of flashbacks by Frank Sheeran, a retired hitman turned union boss, who reminisces about past acquaintances, including his friend Jimmy Hoffa. Employing digital enhancements, the film’s aged all-star cast is rejuvenated to younger versions of themselves. Personally, I think I would have enjoyed this more if the Hoffa story line had been more developed and presented as a miniseries (Klaus Ming January 2020).