The Irishman (Scorsese / DeNiro / Pacino / Pesci) (November 27 @ Netflix)

First, the good news: after what feels like many, many years, Martin Scorsese's The Irishman (based on Charles Brandt's succinctly-titled "I Heard You Paint Houses": Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran and the Inside Story of the Mafia, the Teamsters, and the Last Ride of Jimmy Hoffa) finally sounds like it's ready to roll, with Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino all reportedly interested in starring in the film.

And now, the bad news: nothing's set in stone and the deal could still fall apart. According to Deadline:

    Martin Scorsese’s long-gestating The Irishman — which may bring together Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci (amongst others) in one film — is coming together very quickly and could be made available to international buyers if Paramount, which currently controls the project, finishes a deal to sell international rights off to Fabrica de Cinein time before the Cannes begins on May 11.

Yes, Paramount's currently attempting to secure international financing for Scorsese's $100m would-be gangster epic, and if they can seal a deal, this thing might actually happen. How likely is it that the deal will go through? The in's and out's of this thing are both tedious and complicated, but to hear Deadline tell it, the odds are pretty much right up the middle: 50/50.

If you're unfamiliar with The Irishman, here's an official description of Brandt's book:

   The first words Jimmy Hoffa ever spoke to Frank "the Irishman" Sheeran were, "I heard you paint houses." To paint a house is to kill a man. The paint is the blood that splatters on the walls and floors. In the course of nearly five years of recorded interviews Frank Sheeran confessed to Charles Brandt that he handled more than twenty-five hits for the mob, and for his friend Hoffa.

   Sheeran learned to kill in the U.S. Army, where he saw an astonishing 411 days of active combat duty in Italy during World War II. After returning home he became a hustler and hit man, working for legendary crime boss Russell Bufalino. Eventually he would rise to a position of such prominence that in a RICO suit then-U.S. Attorney Rudy Giuliani would name him as one of only two non-Italians on a list of 26 top mob figures. When Bufalino ordered Sheeran to kill Hoffa, he did the deed, knowing that if he had refused he would have been killed himself.

If Scorsese maintains the scope of the book (and, more importantly, if the film finds the financing it needs), that really does sound like an epic project. You've got mob hits, some WWII stuff, a little courtroom drama, the murder of Jimmy Hoffa. All of this stuff is right in the Scorsese wheelhouse, so obviously we're hoping this thing comes to pass.

And on a personal note, I'd love to see Pesci make a return to the screen in a new Scorsese joint.

Rumors about that de-aging technology of some sort might be employed in the making of the film, which I assume is a factor in that $100m pricetag. See Ant-Man (or, better yet, see Civil War this weekend) to get an idea how much Scorsese might be able to do with that tech and this cast.

ForeverBlu wrote:Pesci coming out of retirement for DeNiro again.

Last time was a decade ago, The Good Shepherd.

UltimateMarvel wrote:Trailer looks good. Can't believe this thread existed since 2016. lol

Tyger wrote:Watched it last night, thought it was great. I never really got used to the de-aged DeNiro or the contacts, but I was still engaged.

I was most impressed with Pesci, this was definitely worth coming out of retirement for and Pacino really shines too

Rusty wrote:It's on my list for tonight.

Tyger wrote:I watched it again yesterday. The deaging and blue eyes on DeNiro are still distracting, but the film is so good

Tyger wrote:Pesci steals the movie, he has an undeniable presence. Pacino is really great too. Bobby D does work, but the deaging just distracts from his actual performance too much.

Tyger wrote:Yeah, Pesci and Pacino never look too off the way DeNiro does.

I haven’t, but I’ll find it. I haven’t seen anything including Pesci and he’s the one I actually want to hear from the most.

Rusty wrote:Watched the movie last night. Such a good film. Pesci and DeNiro just work so well together.

UltimateMarvel wrote:Watched it finally and great performances, Pesci definitely shines and he can be scary for a little guy. Their lingo was interesting too like I'm concerned and I'm very concerned meant something different in their world. I found "back to school" hilarious too. lol Their hits were brutal too, bullet to the face. Damn! I didn't think Frank would do Jimmy in the end but he got plenty of warnings and he kind of brought it on himself instead of playing ball. Overall, length is the only issue for me but really great movie.

Tyger wrote:He doesn’t know history, man

WyldeMan wrote:Mafioso lingo is often amusing like that. In Donnie Brasco, Pacino's Lefty character is explaining to Depp's Donnie that when a wise guy is introduced as a "friend of mine" he's a connected guy and a "friend of ours" is a made guy.  

WyldeMan wrote:Did you think Jimmy Hoffa returning home at the end of the movie was an actual possibility?

WyldeMan wrote:

Tyger wrote:He doesn’t know history, man

I blame the American education system and his parents.

But he failed upward the American way and now sits atop the head of a major Hollywood studio.

Tyger wrote:Don’t tell him about JFK

UltimateMarvel wrote:You guys are not completely wrong. I hated History in high school and it was my worst subject.