The Irishman (The Criterion Collection)

Martin Scorsese is a unique film director and he has left is impressive stamp on Hollywood for the ages. Having surveyed mob crime thoroughly in his past films, here he cuts to the core of the subject matter in his direction of Steven Zaillian’s screenplay of homicide investigator Charles Brandt’s book I HEAR YOU PAINT HOUSES based on five years of interviews with Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran. Very briefly, the plot synopsis: ‘Left behind by the world, former hit man and union truck driver Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) looks back from a nursing home on his life’s journey through the ranks of organized crime: from his involvement with Philadelphia mob boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) to his association with Teamsters union head Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) to the rift that forced him to choose between the two.’ The film is three and a half hours in length and is so well scripted that it transports the audience into the various locales and situations the story surveys. The dialogue is filled with ‘mob talk’ – which understated, at times intentionally obtuse, language that sounds so natural that the film rings with credibility. The three principle roles are superbly acted by De Niro, Pacino, and Pesci and the supporting cast is vast and exceptionally strong. But the hero of the film is Scorsese, who captures all the tenor of the period surveyed and draws incredibly fine performances from his able cast. There are moments when the nonlinear flow of the story is confusing, but that, too, adds to the suspense of Scorsese’s relating the history. Even the musical score by Robbie Robertson with a montage of 1950s – 1970s popular tunes, enhances the film. Superb work, this is a film that is becoming a legend – already! Grady Harp, December 20

Awesome movie I bought mine on Amazon I've had the Irishman on bluray criterion collection for over a year I still love this movie . It's worth the money 💰

Martin Scorsese Masterpiece!!

The Irishman is a truly remarkable edition of Martin Scorsese’s epic crime saga. The film itself is a cinematic masterpiece, with exceptional storytelling, meticulous pacing, and performances from legendary actors that are both nuanced and unforgettable. What sets this release apart is the high-quality restoration, bonus features, and thoughtful packaging. The transfer is pristine, capturing every subtle detail of the cinematography, while the supplemental content, including interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and essays, offers deep insight into the making of the film. Owning this collection elevates the experience beyond just watching the movie; it’s an immersive exploration of Scorsese’s craft, the performances, and the historical context, making it a must-have for cinephiles. The Criterion edition treats the film as the art it truly is, rather than just a standard home release. Overall, The Irishman Criterion Collection is a must-have for serious film fans, offering superb quality, engaging extras, and a lasting cinematic experience.

The Irishman is, quite simply, a Masterpiece. When it was released last year many people were put off by its slow pace and epic length so the film didn’t get anywhere near the recognition it really deserved. In Comparison with Scorsese’s other Mob films such as Mean Streets, Goodfellas and Casino, this one is not nearly as fast and flashy and it moves much more leisurely. But that actually works perfectly with this material and the story Scorsese is telling. The Irishman is much deeper and more melancholy than those films - but don’t worry - it still has plenty of the action and drama that those other other films are known for. It is a story about friendship ...betrayal..and ultimately ....supreme regret. Deniro Pacino and Pesci are all absolutely Magnificent- as you would expect. As Frank Sheeran, Deniro begins by playing his typical gangster persona throughout the early part of the film , then as Frank gets older and the drama unfolds, he brings incredible resonance, regret and sadness. There are some sequences here that are among the finest and most powerful of his career. Pacino is sensational as Jimmy Hoffa with an electrifying performance that really captures the charisma that made him one of the most powerful figures in the Country for many years. Joe Pesci returns to acting in his first role in many years as Russell Bufalino - and of course just casually delivers the best performance of his career. On the surface he seems to be playing a father figure and mentor to Sheeran- but underneath he is as Menacing and as cold blooded as any character he’s ever played. Instead of the fiery gun blazing of Tommy DeSimone from Goodfellas, this time he is QUIETLY a killer -who leaves the dirty work to others. And Pesci seems to relish it. Stephen Graham is also a standout as Tony Pro, Hoffas main rival and he steals just about every scene he is in. As always with Scorsese’s films,The music is just great, perfectly capturing the different time periods the films story takes us through. The films length is formidable, but as you watch the story and Scorsese takes you into his world - you wont even notice it. The Irishman really feels like a Grande Finale to all the other Mob films Scorsese has done - a perfect conclusion to the story he began with Mean Streets and then took through Goodfellas and Casino. This is also likely the last time you will see these talents working together at the very top of their craft like this... so it truly is a film to be treasured.

It took an eternity to get this movie made, then took another eternity to release it on DVD. Though some may think it doesn't "kick ass" like Goodfellas or Casino, it is an amazing movie. DeNiro and Pacino have more screen time together than in any other movie. Like Casino, Goodfellas, or The Departed, it's a movie you can watch over and over again.

Die alte Truppe wieder vereint. Dazu einen extrovertierten Al Pacino und man hat erneut einen genialen mafiafilm.

At its core, this film depicts the events behind, and build-up to, one of America's most notorious mysteries - the disappearance of union boss Jimmy Hoffa in 1975. The film is entirely based on Frank Sheeran's version of 'the truth' (in much the same way Wiseguy/Goodfellas was Henry Hill's version of 'the truth'). But personally this is what fascinates me about this film. If Sheeran was telling the truth, then what Scorsese has produced is an as-close-to-life depiction of what actually happened to Jimmy Hoffa as we will ever see. Anyone familiar with the Hoffa case will find this utterly engrossing and thought-provoking. Cinematically, it is also visually compelling, vividly depicting the era to such an extent that you do not even question it. However I accept that not everyone will agree with me about certain elements of the movie. Personally I did not find the 3.5+ hours run time a problem, I ended up watching the film in 45 minute sections over a week as though it were a show. And the de-ageing has caused some controversy, and I admit I initially found myself thinking of Henry Hill in Goodfellas (where a different actor played the younger Henry) and Vito Corleone in the Godfather films (where de Niro himself played the younger Vito!). But overall I became unaware of it very quickly, once drawn into the story. My one gripe would be that much of the dialogue is essentially redundant, of the mumbled "What am I gonna do?" and "Nah, nah, forget about it" gangster type. It made me think how these characters could stand to be in each other's company for any length of time, since trying to get a straight answer without repetition or answering a question with another question seemed impossible for them. But, hey, maybe this is how these guys talk, so perhaps it is me who needs to get more streetwise. That aside, for me this film is pure brilliance, certainly up there with the Godfather, Scarface, Goodfellas, Casino and a handful of other mob films that are genuinely outstanding classics. It's great in particular to see Pesci in another mob film, and it has made me appreciate what a contribution to cinema he has made, even if he goes back into retirement again after this movie. I hope I am wrong, but I suspect we may never see a movie like this again, where gangster-playing icons appear in the same film - De Niro, Pesci, and Pacino. Or such a thought-provoking take on a historical American mystery. Thank you, Martin Scorsese, for bringing these actors together and painting such a vivid picture.

Awesome movie

Tutto OK

Excelente produto, tanto pela apresentação da embalagem e mídias, de mais um grande filme do grande diretor Martin Scorsese. Apenas um alerta e um lamento: não tem legendas em português...