Hey guys, Prometheus here to talk about “THE IRISHMAN!” (Yes, I do watch things other than horror!)
Martin Scorsese's "THE IRISHMAN" is a masterpiece. Period. It's a throwback to when films relied on acting and a tight story to keep your ass in the seat. I watched it the other night, and I was blown away by how damn good the film actually is. It was so good, that I was baffled to see people on social media calling it boring.
Look, I get it... "THE IRISHMAN" is a three and a half hour, dialogue-driven film with scarce action sequences. The spectacle of it is the actual performance of the actors. Which leads me to my point...
Have we become so used to high-end special effects and giant CGI explosions on the screen that we can no longer enjoy an in-depth character study with more nuanced and intimate performances? Is a strong actor with a phenomenal script no longer enough to hold our attention, without the "oohs and awes" of a major Hollywood blockbuster? Does one take away from the other, or can they co-exist? Hypothetical question.
Maybe I'm kicking a dead horse here, but I don't agree with Mr. Scorsese and his stance that Marvel films are not cinema. Yet, after seeing some of the reactions to his new film I can't help but understand his position. The art of telling a moving and deeply human story that touches audiences has been overshadowed by the art of "blowing shit up."
I like a good explosion as much as the next person here, but if we don't support other forms of cinema, pretty soon all we will have is what sells the most tickets, and Michael Bay will be directing everything. (*Boom*) I don’t want to live in that world.
I'm kidding of course, but you get my point. Seriously, "THE IRISHMAN" is a great piece of cinema. While nothing really explodes aside from a car bombing or two, the slow-burn story is superbly written. With tons of atmosphere, it grabs hold and drags you deep into the seedy world these characters lived in.
Speaking of characters, what a cast! This film is a masterclass in acting from both DeNiro and Pacino. If anybody needed a reminder of why these guys are legends, look no further. Pacino is on fire and watching DeNiro at different ages as the film progresses is a trip, and actually done quite well! Having two of the best actors to ever grace the silver screen together in one film is a treat in itself, but then add in the fantastic performance from Pesci as an aging gangster and *bam! Movie magic.
The scenery, the angles, the score... all phenomenal. Make no mistake about it. This is a purebred Scorsese film, albeit a long one. Clocking in at a whopping 3 1/2 hour running time, you'll need a bathroom break. Don't try and be brave...
"THE IRISHMAN," directed by Martin Scorsese, is available now on Netflix! It stars Robert DeNiro as Mafia hitman Frank Sheeran, Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa and Joe Pesci as notorious Mafia boss Russel Bufalino. It is based on the novel “I Heard You Paint Houses: Frank “the Irishman” Sheeran and Closing the Case on Jimmy Hoffa” by Charles Brandt and was adapted for the big screen by Steven Zaillian. You can view the full cast and crew here!
Have you seen it yet? Were you bored? Did you mind the length? Yell at me in the comments below! That’s it for now folks! Until next time, keep on geekin’ on, my friends!
Joshua “Prometheus” Scafidi
