PROVOKR PICK: THE IRISHMAN
Martin Scorsese Takes on Jimmy Hoffa
What happened and where is Jimmy Hoffa? Was the union leader killed or did he disappear without a trace? The Hoffa case has mystified law enforcement since July 30, 1975. It’s believed that the Mafia was involved with whatever happened. Enter, Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran, a mob hitman and longtime friend of Hoffa who is the centerpiece of Martin Scorsese’s upcoming film, The Irishman. If Scorsese’s early masterpiece Goodfellas is one of your favorites, than The Irishman is sure to interest you.
Based on investigator Charles Brandt’s memoir, I Heard You Paint Houses, The Irishman stars Robert De Niro as Sheeran. The film follows him as he recounts his time perfecting his murderous skill-set during WWII Italy, becoming a hitman for the notorious Bufalino crime family, his part in union corruption and his deathbed confession of Hoffa’s disappearance. Since Hoffa’s body has never been found, can we really believe Sheeran? Is there anyone who can corroborate his claims?
Clocking in at three and a half hours, (half an hour longer than this April’s Avengers: Endgame) The Irishman can best be summed up as an epic film. If you plan to see it in theaters, maybe skip buying that extra large soda. Given the confusing assertions and events the film covers, it likely really needs a long running time to properly tell its story. The cast includes Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Bobby Cannavale, Harvey Keitel, De Niro and more, so can we really complain?
The Irishman gets a limited theatrical opening on November 1, 2019, followed a Netflix release November 27, 2019.
