Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman a bona fide masterpiece

Between Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Al Pacino and Martin Scorsese, there is so much excellence afoot in The Irishman that listing each and every component of its success is pointless.

The 25th feature of directing ace Martin Scorsese’s storied career ranks alongside GoodFellas and Raging Bull as one of its true high points.

The Irishman, a 210-minute movie that simply glides by with grace, precision, menace and sorrow, is a bona fide masterpiece.

Depending on where you live, you may have trouble finding it in cinemas ahead of a wider release on the Netflix platform at the end of the month.

However, if you can see it on a big screen, make sure you do. Make a special occasion of it.

For that is exactly what Scorsese, longtime allies Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, and new recruit Al Pacino (his first movie for Scorsese) have done with their exemplary work here.

The Irishman is Al Pacino’s first time working with director Martin Scorsese. Picture: Netflix

The Irishman is based on a disputed, yet compelling true story drawn from the experiences of ex-WWII veteran and Mafia henchman Frank Sheeran (De Niro).

As the movie begins, Sheeran is sitting in a retirement home, recalling some of the things he saw, he heard, he did and he did not do. He could be participating in an interview. Or an interrogation.

With the aid of de-ageing screen effects, the narrative spans almost fifty years in Sheeran’s life, including his admission to the inner circle of imposing mobster boss Russell Bufalino (Pesci), and his role in the still-unsolved disappearance of charismatic American union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino).

Longtime allies Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci are exemplary in The Irishman. Picture: Netflix

The success of these effects – and how the likes of De Niro and Pacino have been able to “work past” them to such powerful effect – marks a watershed moment in how this technology will be used on film in the future.

In the present, however, there is so much excellence afoot in The Irishman that listing each and every component of its success is pointless.

What should be acknowledged is the evidence of Scorsese’s continued growth as one of the filmmaking greats, even in this twilight phase of his career.

Martin Scorsese’s growth, even in the twilight of his career, is evident in The Irishman.

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Back in the day, Scorsese was all about the need to excite, enrage and entertain an audience. While The Irishman indeed does all of this, Scorsese is now looking to engage and enlighten in a way he never did before.

Stand by for the very final, utterly unforgettable shot of The Irishman for lasting proof of an established cinematic master still looking to prove something more.

THE IRISHMAN (MA15+)

Director: Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Starring: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Al Pacino, Ray Romano.

Rating: *****

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