The Irishman [CRITERION COLLECTION] (DVD) [2020]

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.

Personal viewing and topping up my almost complete Scorsese collection of DVDs

Great

Like the old John Ford "stock company", the director of this gangster epic has gathered a group of actors he hasused before - with the exception of one famous name - and produced what might be seen as a closing chapter ofhis "film book" of gangster stories. With some clever technical effects to cover the many years and flashbacksinvolved, it keeps its grip on the attention throughout, with all of its participants doing a good job in theirrespective roles. The package contains two discs - one containing the whole epic length (over 200 minutes) of thefilm itself and the other featuring background information about the process of filming and story background.A "must see" for any fan of the genre and its makers/performers.

If you like this genre of movie then you should like this. A little slow in places but overall I enjoyed the film.

My best gift this Christmas, and my best cinematic experience since Tarantino’s ‘Hollywood’. Yes, it’s arguably-fictitious flesh hung on a skeleton of real-life names, but all of the actors are well up to scratch - all those looks and seemingly-mundane lines, dripping with menace - including the lesser roles; and with Stephen Graham earning his chops among the legends. Superb, far-ranging sets, plus a soundtrack doubtless packed with Scorsese causes celebres, yet right on the money for aptness. I’m off, now, to watch it again…

Saw a trailer of this movie and was delighted to be able to purchase one

Well finally got my DVD copy as opposed to Blu-ray I'd normally purchase being Criterion Collection.Yes, the quality of audio and video is excellent, but now seriously getting bored with this genre.Same old castings not forgetting Joe Pesci, playing the same old tired scripts about tough guys, blah blah, blah.This movie is long so a blanket and pillow nearby is a must, incase you fall asleep.!!Time for Al Pacino, De Niro, Pesci and most importantly, Scorsese to call it a day.We have all seen it before and we are now simply bored.!Time to retire.

The Irishman (também conhecido como I Heard You Paint Houses) é um filme de gângster épico americano de 2019 dirigido e produzido por Martin Scorsese a partir de um roteiro de Steven Zaillian, baseado no livro de 2004 I Heard You Paint Houses de Charles Brandt.[ 4] É estrelado por Robert De Niro, Al Pacino e Joe Pesci, com Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephen Graham, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Jesse Plemons e Harvey Keitel em papéis coadjuvantes. O filme segue Frank Sheeran (De Niro), um motorista de caminhão que se torna um homem de homicídios envolvido com o mafioso Russell Bufalino (Pesci) e sua família criminosa, incluindo seu tempo trabalhando para o poderoso Teamster Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino). O filme marcou a nona colaboração entre Scorsese e De Niro, a quarta colaboração de Scorsese com Joe Pesci e sua primeira com Al Pacino.

Llegó en excelentes condiciones y todo perfecto ❤

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).

It's time to face facts, except for Scorsese's Irishman, ALL NETFLIX films SUCK! This is the only great film the bloated mega streamer made in 5 years. There's no third season of "Mindhunter" and their executives are bottom-feeders picking up garbage ideas from diminishing creatives. You can buy this movie, watch it whenever you want, or you can overpay each month and wade through a bunch of Adam Sandler trash while waiting for the final season of Stranger Things.

I like this dvd, simply fantastic. Thanks for all.