The Irishman 11/28/20

The Criterion Collection
Blu-ray

Martin Scorsese’s best feature in years is a lengthy but fully rewarding underworld version of the life and untimely demise of Union leader Jimmy Hoffa. As part of the new media alignment with streaming companies, Netflix backed the ambitious, not-conventionally-bankable premise. Special digital manipulation was used to partly rejuvenate the three leads — Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci (Pesci makes a stunning comeback). “I Heard You Paint Houses” was the title of Charles Brandt’s book; screenwriter Steve Zalian’s adaptation embraces the longform format afforded by Netflix — 3.5 hours. Out on parole, recidivist reviewer Charlie Largent puts the 2019 epic under the crime lab microscope… it isn’t multi-generational in the Edna Ferber sense, but it feels as if it captures an entire lifetime. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
11/28/20