Martin Scorsese is a living legend. It’s not a word of hyperbole to say that he shaped modern cinema. Today’s cinematic landscape would look a whole lot different without films like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas raising the bar for everything that followed. Anytime Scorsese releases a new film feels like a special occasion. But there is something different about the buzz surrounding his highly anticipated Netflix movie, The Irishman. The chatter over the film isn’t about whether or not the it will be good. Instead, people are asking if Scorsese has one more masterpiece left in him.
If Scorsese is ever going to release another masterwork, now is the time to do it. He is 76 years old, and few filmmakers few human beings remain in peak form as they approach their ‘80s. But with this movie, there are some reasons to stay optimistic.
Scorsese has the backing of Netflix, and the streaming giant placed loads of cash into the production. He’s also working with his long-time muse, Robert De Niro (and reuniting him with Joe Pesci and Al Pacino), and the two men seem to bring out the best in each other. But most importantly, Scorsese feels passionate about this story, and he’s putting his heart and soul into what will be a 210-minute epic. Think about that for a moment. The Irishman clocks in at three and a half hours long.
The Irishman trailer:
The Irishman has the potential to be the year’s most epic dramatic film. But there is also the potential for it to be the bloated work of a powerhouse filmmaker given too much money and creative freedom (the kind of movie we see from Terrence Malick again and again). Either way, we will know tomorrow night after the movie debuts at NYFF.
The Irishman synopsis:
Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci star in Martin Scorsese’s THE IRISHMAN, an epic saga of organized crime in post-war America told through the eyes of World War II veteran Frank Sheeran, a hustler and hitman who worked alongside some of the most notorious figures of the 20th century. Spanning decades, the film chronicles one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history, the disappearance of legendary union boss Jimmy Hoffa, and offers a monumental journey through the hidden corridors of organized crime: its inner workings, rivalries and connections to mainstream politics.
The Irishman opens NYFF on November 27 and will arrive in theatres on November 01 and be available to stream on Netflix on November 27, 2019.
