In late September 2019, I made the six-hour trek to catch “The Irishman” world premiere at the New York Film Festival. It was an irresistible offer that I just couldn’t refuse. DeNiro, Pesci and Scorsese reunited more than 24 years after their last collaboration, “Casino.”
The film was officially released three years ago today on November 1st, 2019. Movie fans expecting another “Goodfellas” or “Casino” were sorely disappointed, but that was precisely the point of the movie. It was a blatant condemnation of the gangster life. The minute the NYFF screening at Alice Tully Hall finished, I wrote:
“Think GOODFELLAS, but directed by the man who gave us SILENCE. A culmination, meditation and tribute to every Scorsese/De Niro/Pesci collaboration. And yet, Al Pacino towers over all of them with a funny, sad and haunting performance as Jimmy Hoffa.”
Hoffa’s final moments still haunt me. They encapsulate the complete performance of Pacino, both from a comedic and dramatic standpoint. From his suspicious surprise at his son’s appearance, to his clear relief of knowing Frank is by his side, and his last nugget of brilliant life advice, “Never put a fish in your car, you’ll never get rid of the smell”.
This particular scene lingers in the memory long after the film is done as Jimmy meets his tragic end at the hands of his greatest friend. And all that is even after one of the films sharpest exchanges between Jesse Plemons’ ‘Chuckie O’Brien’, and Louis Cancelmi’s ‘Sally Bugs’. Unfortunately, we will never know what type of fish it was.
I elaborated further on “The Irishman” in my 09.27.19 review of the film. It still remains the last movie Scorsese has released, but we are lucky enough to get, at least, another one from the master with his upcoming “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
So, three years later, how does “The Irishman” hold up for everyone? I’ve seen it three times now and although there are flaws, that last act is a bit of a letdown for me, its 210 minutes play out like a eulogy of gangster cinema — a master reckoning with his own past and what the future holds. I don’t believe Scorsese will ever make another mob movie again in his career because this one plays like a final statement on the genre.
As expected, Snyder's latest is being torn apart by TIFF attendees. No mercy given. The film, which had its world premiere this evening, is being called by some one of the worst movies to ever premiere at the festival.