Movie Review #3965 : THE IRISHMAN.

The story of mob hit man Frank Sheeran (no relation to Ed!) from Netflix who unlike most of his ilk was not Italian.

Also unlike most, he made it to a ripe old age at a time when his contemporaries were usually dispatched well ahead of time.

Three giants of moviedom, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, nicely digitally de-aged for relevant scenes, own the almost three and a half hours of screen time, and our own Anna Paquin shows up as one of Sheeran’s daughters, prompting a few local complaints around her lack of the same.

The proceedings explore the relationship between Sheeran and Teamster’s Union head honcho Jimmy Hoffa, splendidly portrayed by Pacino, and his supposed involvement in Hoffa’s disappearance in 1975.

Lotsa perhaps’ and maybe’s around nailing anyone for the assumed murder which remains open even today and which are certainly emphasised here, no doubt to avoid any legal ramifications the portrayal might have.

Dazzling turns by Pacino and De Niro however I think Joe Pesci probably edges it by a nose for his rendition of mob boss Russell Bufalino, who like Sheeran was one the few to avoid an early dispatch.

Nice reproduction of mid-seventies eastern US as Frank trundles up and down the coast painting houses and acting as mediator between varying mob factions as he goes.

Long but enjoyable and perhaps does offer the most likely answer to Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance.

​8/10. ​