The Irishman

Robert de Niro, Joe Pesci, Ray Romano,

Harvey Keitel, Al Pacino, Bobby Canavale,

Anna Paquin, Stephen Graham

"His story Changed history"

NETFLIX

Scorsese, De Niro, Pesci, Pacino - their surnames alone can draw in the crowds! But this mob thriller was released on Netflix, the streaming service. No need to head to the cinemas to see these film industry bigwigs acting flawlessly in a compelling film based on the nonfiction book "I Heard You Paint Houses" by Charles Brandt.  

The author interviewed Frank Sheeran, the Irish hitman for the Bufalino crime family who confessed in a series of interviews that he was the one who killed Jimmy Hoffa, the teamster and union leader who disappeared in 1975.

We are first introduced to Frank Sheeran (Robert de Niro) as a truck driver who delivers good quality meat to restaurants. Wanting to earn more money, he agrees to deliver his first grade steaks to Skinny Razor (Bobby Canavale), a mob boss who worked for Angelo Bruno (Harvey Keitel), the head of the Philadelphia crime family for two decades. Frank gets fired from his job and hires union lawyer Bill Bufalino (Ray Romano) to represent him. Sheeran is acquitted, then introduced to Bill's cousin Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci), an upper state Pennsylvania mobster, who hires him to 'paint houses'. So begins the WWII veteran, former truck driver's life of criminal activities, working for both Bruno and Bufalino.  

Sheeran claims "I heard you paint houses?" was the first thing Hoffa asked him when they first spoke over the phone. A mob term which means "I heard you kill people". Russell Bufalino, sort of "loaned" Sheeran to Hoffa so Frank could take care of matters for the head of the Teamsters, from being a bodyguard, a thug to a traveling companion, following Hoffa around the country as he held local meetings, fortifying the labor union.  

Sheeran and Hoffa were two peas in a pod, their families were close, a symbiotic relationship that lead to a life long friendship. In fact, Hoffa trusted Frank so much that even at that instant when he entered that house in Detriot for an alleged meeting with some mobsters, he had no idea it was his last day on earth. Fell by two bullets behind his head, shot by his friend, Frank. Hoffa's body was taken and burnt in some oven pit. Well, is this true? Did Sheeran really kill his friend as ordered by several mob bosses? We can never know for sure but an old Frank claims, he did it. 

This well directed, well crafted epic movie rolls for 3 hours and 30 minutes. Thankfully, it is shown on Netflix so I could pause it for toilet breaks and get some snacks. I was totally engrossed in the story, I barely noticed the time. Told through the eyes of a much older and cancer stricken Sheeran in a wheelchair, waiting out his final days in a hospice - the non linear flashbacks complete with de-aging technology (which works wonderfully), adds much gravitas to this realistic mob story. Based on true mobsters, Scorsese would add snippets beside the characters's faces - notes on how they met their untimely (or timely) death. Sure there are violent scenes but it won't be a credible crime story without some brutality, right? 

For the supporting cast, we had Ray Romano doing a good job as the sly attorney, a far cry from his comedic days. Too bad, Harvey Keitel is given very few lines, in few scenes. He barely scratched the surface of an intriguing character as Angelo Bruno. The indefatigable Al Pacino is excellent as Jimmy Hoffa. Pacino can overact sometimes but in this case, it was a plus as he essayed a larger than life, colorful character, whose disappearance still remains one of life's greatest mysteries, as enigmatic as the Loch Ness monster saga. 

Lastly, I want to thank Scorsese for (1) bringing De Niro and Pesci together in movie. I read that Pesci turned down Scorsese's offer several times, preferring to enjoy his showbiz retirement in peace. I grew up watching their tandem in such classics as "Goodfellas" and "Casino". Even though they are already much older, their rapport never missed a beat. Both of them giving spectacular performances in roles which they can act out in their sleep. (2) For proving that good film making is still very much alive! Relying on a credible plot, hiring an ensemble cast of great actors, peppering the story line with just the right blend of action, adventure and drama - a cinematic feast. So you can take as much time as you want to regale us with your master storytelling, Mr Scorsese!