Based on the book “I Heard You Paint Houses” (2004) by Charles Brandt, “The Irishman” delves unhurriedly into the connections between Francis Joseph Sheeran (1920 – 2003), one of America’s most notorious mobsters in the 1960s and 1970s, and the disappearance of union leader Jimmy Hoffa (1913 – 1982). Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film traces Sheeran’s journey from his initial association with Russell Bufalino (1903–1994), a powerful gangster in Pennsylvania, to his transformation into a “house painter” — a metaphor for the bloodstains left by his murders. Brandt drew inspiration from this phrase to title his book.
With a narrative that shifts across timelines, Scorsese, as he did in films like “Goodfellas” (1990) and “Casino” (1995), brings a distinctive fluidity to Steven Zaillian’s meticulous screenplay. This effect is amplified by the sophisticated editing of Thelma Schoonmaker, Scorsese’s collaborator since “Raging Bull” (1980). The innovative framing techniques, combined with Rodrigo Prieto’s cinematography, earned Oscar nominations in 2020 for all four of them, as well as for Best Picture. Yet, in a controversial move, the Academy left the film without a single award, a decision many view as a glaring injustice.
However, “The Irishman” transcends accolades, serving as Scorsese’s tribute to the figures and stories that shaped America’s underworld — and to cinema itself. The film opens with a frail Sheeran in a wheelchair, reflecting on his life from a nursing home while confessing his sins to a priest, framing the story’s beginning and conclusion. While divine mercy might extend to this World War II veteran, viewers are left grappling with both revulsion and fascination. From a butcher’s delivery driver in Queens to Hoffa’s confidant, Sheeran rises within organized crime, forging a friendship fraught with tension with the union leader.
Scorsese intricately examines this central trio — Sheeran, Bufalino, and Hoffa — as Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci deliver performances that seamlessly navigate shifting timelines through a blend of CGI, makeup, and hairstyling. The film’s final half-hour is particularly gripping, solidifying its place as a portrait of a world where loyalty and betrayal intertwine. Despite the lack of recognition from the Academy, “The Irishman” remains a landmark in cinematic ambition. Perhaps the mob’s reach extended too far — even for the Oscars’ seasoned voters.
Film: The Irishman
Director: Martin Scorsese
Year: 2019
Genres: Crime/Drama
Rating: 10/10