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.

The orderly in the black trench coat and the black hat stands outside the mausoleum. Old Man Frank--the man who put other men in their coffins--is now picking out a place for his own. It's an overcast day at a Philadelphia cemetery--and a lifetime of murder has cast a pall over Old Man Frank. Our character is Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), and our adventure is Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman" (2019). "The Irishman" is three and a half hours long--and it's worth every minute. Scorsese intertwines the story of "The Irishman" with American history from 1949 to 2000. In terms of style, I see reflections of the great Andrei Tarkovsky film, "Mirror" (1975). Tarkovsky weaves the story of "Mirror" with Russian history as far back as 1054. I think of the film noir classics, "The Asphalt Jungle" (1950) and "Where the Sidewalk Ends" (1950). Like those two movies, "The Irishman" contrasts the beauty of the city and the evil of man. I think of the scene where Frank guns down Whispers on the sidewalk. Human nature reduces the city to an asphalt jungle. "The Irishman" (2019), a gangster film that reflects Biblical truth, is a study of God's Providence and man's alienation. In God's Providence, Frank is still alive when the vast majority of his fellow gangsters aren't. Frank is also alienated--alienated from his daughter and alienated from God--and he's left alone to face the life he's lived. The great John Ford film "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (1962) is framed by the arrival of the gunslinger Tom Doniphon (John Wayne) in his coffin, with most of the movie playing as a flashback. "The Irishman" is framed by Old Man Frank in a nursing home--with The Five Satins' 1956 classic "In the Still of the Night" playing--as he awaits the day he'll be in his coffin. Most of the story plays as a series of flashbacks with Frank narrating from the nursing home. The main characters of these two films have two things in common. Both Tom Doniphon and Frank Sheeran sling a gun--and both of them are lonely men. A major difference is that we don't get to know Tom Doniphon. We get to know Frank Sheeran--Scorsese and De Niro see to that. In the Criterion Collection special feature, "Making 'The Irishman,'" producer Jane Rosenthal says, "In the end, your heart breaks for Frank." De Niro gives his greatest performance ever as Frank Sheeran--even better than his turn as Travis Bickle in the great Scorsese film, "Taxi Driver" (1976). Both films, made 43 years apart, feature De Niro playing a driver and narrating the story. In "Taxi Driver," Travis is a Vietnam vet who drives a cab at night. In "The Irishman," Frank is a truck driver who murders men at night. Joe Pesci--in a role uncharacteristic for him--stands out as the calm but powerful mob boss Russell Bufalino. Al Pacino is very good as the volatile union leader Jimmy Hoffa, and Harvey Keitel brings an authoritative presence to his scenes as a gangster named Angelo. However, there are many other great performances--two of which I'll highlight here. Anna Paquin deserves special mention for her six-word performance as the adult Peggy, Frank's estranged daughter. Some have criticized Scorsese for giving her so little to say. I'm here to say Scorsese directs her perfectly. Want to see the price a man pays for living the life Frank has chosen? Look at Peggy. I think of the excellent but obscure Sergio Corbucci Western in the snow, "The Great Silence" (1968). The gunslinger Silence (Jean-Louis Trintignant) is mute because somebody slit his throat. Peggy is mute because what her father has done is unspeakable. "August 3, 1975," Frank says. "That was the day she disappeared from my life." Ernest Sanders, Jr., gives a great performance as the unnamed orderly. The orderly is another silent character--he speaks no words--but in the closing stages of the film, he's there. He drives Old Man Frank all over town--to the coffin shop, to the cemetery, to the bank where Peggy works. When Frank tries to make amends with his daughters, the orderly is there. When Frank chooses his coffin and place of burial, the orderly is there. When Franks asks questions about eternity, the orderly is there. During those final 30 minutes of the film--30 of the most unforgettable minutes in cinematic history--the orderly is there. "I think there's gotta be something when we go," Frank says during those last 30 minutes. "Men smarter than me can't figure it out." Questions about eternity are rarely asked on the silver screen. We don't hear any great salvation passages like Romans 10:9-13 or Ephesians 2:8-9, but through the character of Frank Sheeran, Scorsese asks those questions. Contrast that with the Scorsese classic, "Goodfellas" (1990). Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), the main character who misses the perks and the thrills of the gangster life, complains that he ordered spaghetti with marinara sauce--but instead got egg noodles and ketchup. "Goodfellas" is a fast-moving train with a great rock-and-soul soundtrack. "The Irishman" makes its own music--it plays the heartstrings like a violin. I've made references to some great films in this review. Only one of them has status as my #1 movie of all time. That movie is "The Irishman" (2019).

very fast response, quick deivery, very happy with this purchase.