Review of The Irishman (2019) by Metaflix — 10 Nov 2019

There’s no question Martin Scorsese has forever left his mark on cinema. Still to this day he serves as the ordained staunchest defender of cinema. And when his maker finally reclaims him to the grandest of Wonder Theaters in the heavens above, he’ll deservedly be placed on the Mount Rushmore of cinema down here on earth, forever perched just a bit higher and with far greater permanence than us regular folk.

This review won’t be some drawn out ode to one of the greatest filmmakers of all time—and in particular our favorite director. His latest flick, ‘The Irishman,’ is magnanimous in its breadth and scale, though it isn’t perfect. We wish the blood effects used throughout the film were practical instead of CGI. The Canada Dry product placement is nagging. The decision to cast Action Bronson for a certain scene is downright bizarre and the ending should’ve been edited down, shaving off some of the bloated 3.5 hour run time.

Yet think about what this film represents. We have Scorsese directing De Niro, Pacino, and Pesci along with a veritable “who’s who” of the gangster genre. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime reunion of what is called the “New Hollywood” era of cinema, the movement in American film history from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s when a new generation of young actors and filmmakers came to prominence in the U.S.

We were fortunate enough to see this film at the gorgeous and historic Belasco Theatre. The experience felt like a throwback to the golden age of cinema. We’ll always cherish the memory and be thankful for all the enjoyment and pleasure Mr. Scorsese has given us over the years. If you’ve benefited the same, see the movie in select theaters now or on Netflix beginning November 27th.