The Irishman

A hitman looks back on his life and his involvement with the mob, reflecting on his role in the disappearance of union leader Jimmy Hoffa, while contemplating the costs of loyalty and betrayal.

The Irishman follows Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), a World War II veteran turned hitman, as he recounts his long and tumultuous career in the criminal underworld. Frank becomes involved with mob boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and works closely with union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino), a powerful figure with political influence. As Frank rises in the ranks, he becomes a trusted enforcer for both the Mafia and Hoffa, navigating the complex dynamics between the criminal world and labor unions.

The film is an introspective reflection on Frank's actions, especially his involvement in Hoffa’s mysterious disappearance in 1975. As the years go by, Frank grows older, and the impact of his violent choices takes a toll on his relationships, particularly with his family. Through a series of flashbacks, we see the cost of his loyalty to the Mafia and the emotional weight of his actions, including the moral dilemmas that arise from his role in the mob's operations.

Martin Scorsese's direction brings a haunting gravity to the film, with a compelling exploration of loyalty, guilt, and the passage of time. The stellar performances from De Niro, Pacino, and Pesci, paired with Scorsese’s meticulous attention to detail, create a slow-burn crime epic that spans decades. The film’s use of digital de-aging technology to portray the characters over several decades adds a unique layer to the storytelling, emphasising the long and painful consequences of Frank’s life in crime.

The Irishman is a reflective and melancholy meditation on aging, the cost of loyalty, and the brutal reality of the Mafia, making it a fitting conclusion to Scorsese’s exploration of organised crime.