The Irishman: Netflix's Biggest Hope at Best Picture?
Netflix is slowly but surely positioning itself as not only a content dumping mega power but also the premium Oscar contending streamer. Roma picked up some major steam late last year and Marriage Story promises to do the same in the coming months. Then, we have the elephant in the room. The “event” movie that Netflix payed an exuberant sum of money to finance that almost seems criminal to watch on the small screen. I’m obviously referring to Martin Scorsese’s 3.5 hour mobster epic, The Irishman. Pacino, De Niro, and Pesci all wrapped up in a reportedly $200+ million movie from one of the greatest living auteur directors...Sign me up!
Luckily, as an LA native, I had the opportunity to catch this behemoth on the big screen. It really does seem paradoxical that The Irishman debut on Netflix. It seems so antithetical that many will only know this story through their TVs at home. Admittedly, the 3.5 hour runtime may seem a less daunting task, knowing you can watch it from the comfort of a couch. It’s hard to imagine that everyone is dedicated enough to plan their whole day and drinking schedule out around a piece of entertainment. I, for one, refused to get up, go to the bathroom, and miss even a single frame of such a wide reaching and sprawling story. Not sure that’s the case for everyone though.
The length is really what makes The Irishman special. It’s a full meal of a movie and by its final shot, you feel that you have truly gotten the chance to live and ruminate with these characters. Following the career of famed union leader, Jimmy Hoffa, and his involvement with organized crime, Scorsese seems completely at home, taking on yet another gangster epic. Based on the novel, I Heard You Paint Houses, we see these events portrayed through the perspective Frank Sheeran(De Niro), one of Hoffa’s most trusted allies who had heavy ties with organized crime.
This time, however, the traditional mobster flick feels slightly different. It’s more reserved and less bombastic and with the way it plays out, only a seasoned veteran like Scorsese could pull it off. It feels all the more fitting that De Niro, Pesci, and Pacino, who are all legends in their own right, portray these characters. Don’t be mistaken... The Irishman still has its fair share of memorable, energetic moments. At the same time, however, it’s a much more emotional journey than Goodfellas or Casino, especially towards the film’s last act. It starts to feel like a hybrid between classic Scorsese and something much quieter like Silence. He really showcases the extreme highs and extreme lows of a life in organized crime. Goodfellas gives you a little bit of that with Henry Hill in witness protection, complaining about the spaghetti with ketchup he’s been forced to eat. The Irishman, on the other hand, gives you that but to the nth degree.
Does the film feel as lengthy as its run time suggests? Unfortunately, it does at times. However, the 209 minutes of story also gives you the opportunity to take a deep dive into the world of these characters. I found myself completely engrossed during most of The Irishman and I don’t think Scorsese would have pulled that off with a shorter length. I can’t definitively say that this film met all my expectations but what I can say, is it gives you a whole lot of great that leaves you thinking long after leaving the theatre. One thing I can say for sure is that the humor in this movie is fantastic and the music is just as strong. The acting is of course another stand out element(with the de-aging VFX working really well).
It’s simply one of the strangest releases I can think of. This is such an event that screams to be seen in theaters and yet it is one of Netflix’s first major tests in releasing more prestige, big-budget films. All I can recommend is that when it hits the streamer, sit down, turn off the lights, and give The Irishman your undivided attention for 3.5 hours. Hop on to Netflix as quickly as possible on November 27th and join the conversation into what is bound to be one of the most talked about awards contenders of the year. Scorsese perfectly described his new film as an “intimate epic” and The Irishman feels like the director’s swan song as well as a last entry into an era of film that no longer exists(cue the overly dramatic music). The Irishman represents a changing era in Hollywood, specifically in regards to filmmaking, and in a time when the way we consume our entertainment is so in flux, it will be interesting to see what precedent its release strategy sets for the future.
