The Irishman (2019)

[Winston T. Boogie]

Title: The Irishman

Tagline: YES THERE ARE.

Genre: Drama, Crime

Director: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Harvey Keitel, Joe Pesci, Bobby Cannavale, Ray Romano, Stephen Graham, Kathrine Narducci, J.C. MacKenzie, Craig Vincent, Anna Paquin, Gary Basaraba, Jesse Plemons, Jack Huston, Domenick Lombardozzi, India Ennenga, Joseph Russo, Aly Mang, John Cenatiempo, Larry Romano, Sebastian Maniscalco, Rebecca Faulkenberry, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Robert Funaro, Veronica Alicino, Jeremy Luke, Natasha Romanova, Doris McCarthy, Louis Cancelmi, George Katt, John Scurti, Liz Celeste, Welker White, Kevin O'Rourke, Bo Dietl, Ashley North, Claudette Lalí, Kevin Kane, Alex Ziwak, Kenneth Carrella, Jennifer Mudge, Jessica VanOss, Paul Borghese, Frank Modica, Kelly P. Williams, Mike Massimino, Josephine Velez, James Lorinz, Erika Smith, Salvatore DiSanto, Saskia Slaaf, Jim Coniglione, Mark Falvo, Brent Costantino, Danny A. Abeckaser, Scotty Atkins, Arthur Hiou, Tom Rhoads, Lauren Aparicio, Robert C. Kirk, Jessica Carollo, Gino Cafarelli, David Wenzel, Patrick Gallo, Kent Sladyk, Jarrod LaBine, Clark Carmichael, Siena Marino, Ron Castellano, Joseph Oliveira, Vincent Riviezzo, Anne Horak, Thomas Bencivenga, Bill Timoney, Frances Mignano, Frank Amoruso, Kerry McGann, Samuel Difiore, Thomas E. Sullivan, James Ciccone, Rob Tunstall, Melody Krell, Anthony Welch, Dominick LaRuffa Jr., Scott Eliasoph, Erick Zamora, Cliff Moylan, Matteo Borgomanero, Richard V. Licata, Franco Quartuccio, Al Linea, Patrick Borriello, Gregory Cioffi, John Antorino, Jamie Mattus, Cilda Shaur, Gage Maynard, Emilie Cantante, Gina Lerario, Steve Garfanti, Kevin D. McGee, John Polce, Jason Liebman, Thomas D. Weaver, Michael Romeo Ruocco, Matthew F. O’Connor, Rebecca Merle, John Cashin, Tommy Bayiokos

Release: 2019-01-01

Plot: A mob hit man recalls his possible involvement with the slaying of Jimmy Hoffa.

 

[Jake Lipson]

While I appreciate that Netflix is paying for this to get made, I can't quite imagine a Scorsese film not having a theatrical release.

I hope his stature in the film world convinces Netflix to do a theatrical run first (not to mention a Blu-ray release, which they've also withheld for all of their original films.)

 

[TravisR]

While I appreciate that Netflix is paying for this to get made, I can't quite imagine a Scorsese film not having a theatrical release.

Especially one with a cast like De Niro, Pacino, Keitel, Pesci, Anna Paquin, Bobby Cannavale, Jesse Plemons, Jack Huston and on and on.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Was this the film where Scorsese was talking about doing extensive digital de-aging for the cast? On the one hand, the technology has gotten a lot better, but on the other hand, the seams still show, especially the longer the shot goes on, and especially if the digital character speaks. It works for the brief moment that Marvel used it for in some of their recent movies with Michael Douglas (though I think their young Robert Downey Jr looked ghastly and wrong), but I can't imagine it working well for a substantial period of time.

(I can more easily accept the digital work on Jeff Bridges in Tron Legacy because the de-aged character is meant to be a computer program anyway - so it's just easier for me to accept that the character who isn't real doesn't look real.)

That said, Scorsese and this cast - I'm in.

 

[Jake Lipson]

Was this the film where Scorsese was talking about doing extensive digital de-aging for the cast?

I'm pretty sure yes. I remember that too. We'll see how it goes.

 

[AshJW]

It works for the brief moment that Marvel used it for in some of their recent movies with Michael Douglas (though I think their young Robert Downey Jr looked ghastly and wrong), but I can't imagine it working well for a substantial period of time.

Kurt Russell in Guardians of the Galaxy 2 looked also quite good.

 

[PMF]

Floored to learn from this thread that "The Irishman" isn't going to be a theatrical release. Am I still in? Oh, yah. I've been all over this one since its pre-production announcement. I guess the only possible justification for it's not being a theatrical release would be due to a lengthier running time; but I have no idea what that may be.

All that aside, what a reunion of Scorsese's earlier stock company of actors; with the long overdue introduction of Al Pacino under Marty's direction. Can't wait.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Actually, I think Scorsese got in his deal that this would get a theatrical release not sure how wide or how many theaters but I am pretty sure it will play in major cities at least. Netflix ended up with the film because it was felt that the picture was going to cost too much so it was sold off to Netflix. As a side note I believe this is the most expensive film he has made so far...at least that's what I've heard.

I want to see this in a theater. Scorsese wants you to see this in a theater. The reality is now though that guys like Scorsese and the Coen brothers or anybody shooting original material meant for an adult audience are likely going to struggle to get their films into theaters but Netflix, Amazon, or other VOD/streaming services want the content.

So, because this is a Netflix release it may be getting the multi-platform release now. I mean that's why they bought it I would imagine.

 

[PMF]

Netflix. I bet they'd love to be holding onto a Best Picture Oscar, if this becomes another Scorsese contender. But, without a theatrical release, I guess they'll never know. 'tis a pity; as I'd also love to see Martin Scorsese become a long overdue two-time Oscar winner for Best Director.

Netflix. Please get "The Irishman" booked in L.A. and NYC for that final week in December.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

I think Scorsese's film will be released in those cities and likely others as well. To some degree it would seem a bit obscene to me if it was not.

 

[Jake Lipson]

Oh, I'm sure it will have an awards-qualifying run. Netflix usually does that; they'll just rent a theater in LA and screen it for a week to make it awards-eligible. I don't think there's any question about that. But since I don't live in LA, what I want is for it to receive a wide theatrical release that I can go to, and that is very much in question if Netflix insists on streaming it same day.

 

[JimmyO]

(I can more easily accept the digital work on Jeff Bridges in Tron Legacy because the de-aged character is meant to be a computer program anyway - so it's just easier for me to accept that the character who isn't real doesn't look real.)

Bridges de-aging was not used exclusively for the computer program of CLU - it was used for Flynn himself in the real world and for Flynn in the world of Tron, in which his de-aging looked the same.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I have a harder time with that opening scene...but it’s just a brief moment so I let it go.

 

[PMF]

I think Scorsese's film will be released in those cities and likely others as well. To some degree it would seem a bit obscene to me if it was not.

I agree. And "obscene" wouldn't be an overreach of terms, either.
This re-teaming of Scorsese, De Niro and Pesci has not occurred since 1995's "Casino".
Add to that the re-teaming of De Niro and Pacino; which is also rare.
Come to think of it, there's also the re-teaming of Scorses, De Niro and Keitel;
which has not occurred since...well...maybe the late 1970's.
If this isn't enough, we've also got Scorsese and Pacino working together for the very first time.
This Dream-Team outing will never happen, again;
as all involved are at much later stages within their lives.
The material at hand, the timing of their availabilities and a master director.
Such possibilities for another gangster classic are endless.
And it feels as if the planets may very well be aligned.

Cut it any way you want, "The Irishman" is an event that demands a theatrical release.

 

[JQuintana]

Many many years ago if a movie like this came out with the caliber of folks tied to it, it would probably do above average business and might even be considered a "Must see" film. Problem is, those days have long gone. These actors aren't the draw like they were decades ago. Many movie goers today probably don't even know many of the actors, let alone the director.

As nice as it would be to have a theatrical release for true old school film lovers, it's just not where the world is going. Netflix is probably the wisest move by all involved. I look forward to watching it and won't feel cheated that it won't be at my local theater..

 

[PMF]

[...]Many movie goers today probably don't even know many of the actors, let alone the director.

What?
Scorsese not known?
E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y knows Marty.
Which generation did you think was buying up those tickets to see "Hugo" or DiCaprio?

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Many many years ago if a movie like this came out with the caliber of folks tied to it, it would probably do above average business and might even be considered a "Must see" film. Problem is, those days have long gone. These actors aren't the draw like they were decades ago. Many movie goers today probably don't even know many of the actors, let alone the director.

I do not disagree. I mean if you pop over to Box Office Mojo and have a peek at the top grossing films of the year, or pretty much any recent year, the films making big money are films designed to entertain mainly 15 year olds or younger.

I think the mark everybody is shooting for is half a billion dollars. That's where they mostly want to get to in terms of what a film makes. 12 films have done that this year so far. Now, I think beyond that when they are making films that cost in the $40-$50 million range the magic number is $200 million. Films made for a cost of $25-$30 million they want to hit the $100 million mark.

Not many films geared toward adults will hit these magic numbers so they won't make them. It would need to be a sequel of a popular film to even have a chance. You will get some horror films on occasion that make the cut.

I mean you have to go way down the list of top grossing films to even start finding the films I really wanted to see and then with something like You Were Never Really Here that only made $2.5 million and was released by Amazon.

So, I agree films that Scorsese is making don't fit the profile of films that are going to generate huge profits. This is why they are being sold off to Amazon or Netflix.

Here's the thing, The Irishman apparently cost $175 million to make and is Scorsese's most expensive film. That means it is budgeted at a cost that requires it to make about $600 million to be considered a financial success.

No Scorsese film has ever made that much money and so, what are the chances The Irishman gets even close to that in the age of superhero films, remakes, and sequels?

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

As a film fan, I don't care what Scorsese's film cost to make and I'm just happy somebody paid to make the picture. I honestly doubt he'll get that sort of budget again after this unless they somehow convince him to make a superhero movie or to direct a Star Wars film, or the next Fast and Furious epic.

 

[TravisR]

As a film fan, I don't care what Scorsese's film cost to make and I'm just happy somebody paid to make the picture. I honestly doubt he'll get that sort of budget again after this unless they somehow to convince him to make a superhero movie or to direct a Star Wars film, or the next Fast and Furious epic.

Isn't he involved with a Joker movie?

 

[Jake Lipson]

Isn't he involved with a Joker movie?

I don't think so. I think that was a rumor that didn't pan out.