LOS ANGELES — With legendary stars and a legendary director, "The Irishman" might be the dark horse candidate for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Martin Scorsese directed the Netflix film that touts an epic ensemble cast, featuring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, and Al Pacino. The movie follows Frank Sheeran as he gets involved with Russell Bufalino and his Pennsylvania crime family. Sheeran becomes a hit man and eventually starts working for Jimmy Hoffa, a teamster tied to organized crime.
The film spends its three hour and 30-minute runtime covering decades of organized crime and the disappearance of Hoffa.
“Strap in for the long haul. It’s a movie that requires patience,” Mark S. Allen, ABC10 entertainment reporter, said. “Everyone talks about how long it is, but there’s not a moment, not a theme, not a breath in this movie that I can imagine editing out.”
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“The Irishman” also has its cast bringing heart and soul to its characters, showing why Pesci, De Niro, and Pacino are household names in the film industry.
“You start to understand that there was a duality in these people,” Allen said. “They may have been some of the most horrific mob bosses, but, at the end of the day, they had to put braces on their kids and go home to family drama.”
Adding background for the actors, a highlight of the movie is its special effort to capture a snap shot of the era.
“They’ve gone through painstaking steps for art direction to make sure the 50s, 60s, and 70s are just absolutely nailed in this movie,” Allen said.
The movie took home gold for Best Acting Ensemble at the Critics' Choice Awards, and earned a nod for Best Motion Picture at the Golden Globes.
"The Irishman" is also nominated for an Academy Award in:
Actor in a Supporting Role, Al Pacino
Actor in a Supporting Role, Joe Pesci
Cinematography, The Irishman
Costume Design, The Irishman
Directing, The Irishman
Film Editing, The Irishman
Production Design, The Irishman
Visual Effects, The Irishman
Writing (Adapted Screenplay), The Irishman
Starring:
Robert De Niro
Al Pacino
Joe Pesci
Harvey Keitel
Where to watch:
"The Irishman" is available for streaming on Netflix.