The Irishman [Scorsese, Netflix]

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BMD wrote:Joe Pesci Finally Signs On To THE IRISHMAN
Scorsese’s dream cast is complete.

We’ve been hearing about The Irishman for a number of years now, Martin Scorsese’s So I Heard You Paint Houses-based mob movie set to star the trio of Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci, and it’s almost surreal that production finally begins next month. Pesci seemed to be the last piece to that puzzle, having reportedly dropped out back in May, but the Netflix project appears to be operating at its exciting optimum with Scorsese/DeNiro’s Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Casino collaborator having agreed to hop on board.

Deadline reports that Pesci has signed the dotted line after having said no multiple times – a number rumoured to be as high as 50! He’ll play Pennsylvania crime boss Russell Bufalino, long suspected to be involved in the disappearance of Pacino’s Jimmy Hoffa (they also report Pacino is still in final negotiations, with the likes of Harvey Keitel and Bobby Cannavale in talks). Rounding off the unprecedented trio is DeNiro’s titular Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran, with all three actors are set to be digitally de-aged by the legendary director.

De-aging has rarely looked perfect, but we’ve also seen what happens when you put new technology (like digital 3D) in the hands of someone like Scorsese, who’s now embraced the digital era and uses it to the fullest. Given that he really, really, really wants this specific set of actors rather than casting age-appropriate, one has to assume he has all the right tricks up his sleeve. What is this movie even going to look like?! We’re excited to find out.

The Irishman doesn’t have a release date yet, but you can expect it sometime next year.

Re: The Irishman [Scorsese, Netflix]

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was great to see everyone together again in this. it's 3.5h long. i have been saying i don't care, i want every possible moment captured on screen. but really, it's long. could have been edited a bit more i think. and i've been trying to put my finger on why i enjoyed this less than, say, goodfellas or casino, and i think it's that there's just no joy in this film. "dark" isn't really the right word... somber? it's all just business, and a somber portrait of a guy's life in "the life" from beginning to end. oh, and may be all bullshit, but who really knows? it's obviously very good, but will need repeat viewings to really say where it ranks for me. i just don't know when i'll be in the mood to do that again.

Re: The Irishman [Scorsese, Netflix]

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Can't disagree much with any of that. The CGI de-aging, though, isn't ready for primetime. We were very distracted by it throughout the first half. As the characters approached ages closer to the actors', it became less of an issue. On that note, I thought it was a rare movie that got better as it progressed — the last 45 minutes or so were pretty flawless and quite moving.

Did it need to be 3 1/2 hours? Probably not. I watched it over two nights and it was fine.
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Re: The Irishman [Scorsese, Netflix]

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yeah i'd agree with all that. also, the scene where deniro takes his daughter to the corner store is ridiculous. the glass breaks for no reason, and bob clearly moves like an old man. it's borderline embarrassing watching him. if they had filmed from a different angle maybe (like the street, but then it's just goodfellas), or just cut away to the daughter until the hand stomp part... anything other than watching a digitally de-aged old man try to stay upright as he pretends to kick someone.