The Irishman review: Martin Scorsese’s insanely ambitious Netflix crime epic is a modern classic

IMAGINE being Martin Scorsese, having already made Goodfellas, The Departed and Taxi Driver - yet still having enough in the tank aged 76 to round up the greatest actors on the planet for one last love letter to the mob life.

The Irishman is an epic, sprawling, dense movie which will go down as an instant classic.

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Based on the 2004 book ‘I Heard You Paint Houses’ (a reference to hitman code, with the paint being blood) this insanely ambitious crime drama follows the life of Frank Sheehan (De Niro) and his rise from truck driver to mobster, whose relationship with the powerful Union boss Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino) creates problems with mob boss Russell Bufalino (Pesci).

Sprawling across decades it details the irrepressible temptation of power and the inevitable regret that follows.

You’ll have already heard about the de-aging technique used on De Niro, Pacino (the first time the director has worked with him) and Pesci (who came out of retirement especially) - which is for the first time unnoticeable (in as much as it isn’t a distraction) - and the three and a half hour running time.

What you won’t have heard is just how damned watchable it is.

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Honestly, the time flew by - it was an utter joy seeing them all on screen together for one last hurrah.

It is Scorsese’s funniest film by a mile and the chemistry between Pesci and De Niro makes the hairs on your neck stand on end.

Full credit to Brit actor Stephen Graham who not only holds his own among this group of titans, but has ensured his seat at their table.

Rest assured, you will want to set aside a whole evening for this - and then want to watch it again straight away.

Available on Netflix right now.

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The Irishman - 209 mins

★★★★★