The Irishman. It's coming.

[Dylan383 6]

I liked it but can’t see watching it again. Too slow and couldn’t get the face de-aging with the bodies into my head as realistic. Also the story is suspect. Frank is the Forest Gump of the mob. He’s a part of every major mob event of the 20th century and from Pennsylvania. Yet no one has ever heard of him.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Lazarus Bocanegra 305]

Thought it was good.  Took me about two weeks to get through it, including one night when I fell asleep and had to go back to my previous stopping point.  And if you're looking to read the film as Scorsese's mea culpa for all the mob glamorizing over the years, one need only contrast the prison scenes at the end with those in Goodfellas

[billfromlaketravis 11,518]

Scorsese has won best director. He’s never won best picture. I don’t think he deserves it for The Irishman, but I bet they give it to him as a lifetime achievement type award. The Academy always does this. 

[Jerry Callo 8,704]

1 hour ago, Lazarus Bocanegra said:

including one night when I fell asleep and had to go back to my previous stopping point

I watched the ending twice because my wife thought she fell asleep.  Turns out she didn't fall asleep, then ending was just that boring.

[BornOrange 1,441]

They should have named it Old Fellas.

What's even sadder than the grocery store scene is the round table discussion with Scorsese, Pacino, DeNiro, and Pesci. They are almost orgasmic about how the CGI effects made them look so much younger.

It was like watching Ali vs Holmes, or Apollo Creed vs Ivan Drago.

[RPM 26,323]

10 minutes ago, BornOrange said:

They should have named it Old Fellas.

Glad I'm not the only one that thought this. I was extremely underwhelmed.

[Guest Lobo]

csb/ Much of what you saw adorned on Bobby DeNiro has been sold to endow a professorship in his name.  

[Brew 3,049]

Watched it tonight, I thought it was solid and told the story from the book extremely well. I’m sure a part of me would have liked it even if it had been a big steaming pile though. This is bound to be the last time we see this group together and they have been responsible together and apart for a number of the best movies from my past. Even the ancillary characters have been involved in movies, the sopranos, etc that I enjoyed.

[bamachine 1,231]

Was a good watch, maybe not the best of any of their careers, the actors or MS. Still enjoyed it though.

[tx 3 putt 77,084]

I’ll definitely re watch it before the new year 

[Baboontyme 2,814]

Just finished re-reading the book. Started a thread here if anyone is interested in some of the criminal happenings. 

 

[billfromlaketravis 11,518]

7 hours ago, Baboontyme said:

Just finished re-reading the book. Started a thread here if anyone is interested in some of the criminal happenings. 

 

Thanks Baboo. Just posted in the James Riddle Hoffa thread. 

I think the movie will age well. It is better on a second watch at home. Behind the last the 45 minutes and the CGI, my third biggest problem with the film is how Tony Pro was portrayed as this cartoonish bad guy. Tony Pro was a very serious guy who ran the New Jersey faction of a very serious crime family, the Genovese. To portray him as little cigar chomping 1930s gangster film wise guy is laughable. 

Stephen Graham is good in everything, but Scorsese should have reeled him some. Graham portrayed Al Capone on Boardwalk Empire, and I guess that’s what he’s going for as Tony Pro? It’s just one note over the top gangster bad guy caricature. 
 

I think control of his actors is where Scorsese has lost his fastball. He let Jack Nicholson do an over the top Joker type performance in The Departed and it became a very different movie. Scorsese let Nicholson improvise and rewrite some scenes. He would never let Pesci or DeNiro do this, but they would never even ask. Whitey Bulger and Frank Costello could never be confused as the same person. 

 

Edited January 2, 2020 by billfromlaketravis

[Buzzrock 14,922]

Huh. I didn’t know that Costello was supposed to be based on Bulger. I knew that The Departed was a remake of another movie, Infernal Affairs, but not the WB piece.

Then again, based on doesn’t mean identical, and I don’t think Jack’s portrayal of Costigan was full on Joker. But I also love that movie and think it’s every bit as good as Goodfellas.

[SuingToGetAMessageBoard? 3,861]

I liked the dynamic where Pesci is above De Niro, instead of the other way around as in every other movie.  Other than that, I give it a Fine But Forgettable rating.

[Guest Lobo]

Pesci was about to be above DeNiro in goodfellas.  But “there was a problem, and we couldn’t do nothing about it.”

[Deej 76,831]

[Guest Lobo]

pos rep.  But is deNiro really above Pesci in "a Bronx Tale"?  One is a civilian outside the hierarchy.   And Pesci is above him in "Once Upon a time in America" but his role in that movie is far smaller than most pictures he was in.   But I like this sub-topic.

Edited January 3, 2020 by Lobo

[Liquor and Poker 3,659]

3 hours ago, Lobo said:

Pesci was about to be above DeNiro in goodfellas.  But “there was a problem, and we couldn’t do nothing about it.”

It’s been along time but Casino, too, right? Same idea as Goodfellas-he was the made guy and DeNiro was the talent but ethnically an outsider IIRC. 

Edited January 3, 2020 by Liquor and Poker

[Genco 3,041]

On 12/16/2019 at 8:05 AM, billfromlaketravis said:

Scorsese has won best director. He’s never won best picture. I don’t think he deserves it for The Irishman, but I bet they give it to him as a lifetime achievement type award. The Academy always does this. 

The Departed also won Best Motion Picture in 2006. He didn't pick up the statue for producing it but if that's the criteria then he's only been nominated for Wolf of Wall Street and Hugo. He was hardly passed over for those two.

[Buzzrock 14,922]

Wait, do producers usually win the best picture award? If not then why did Graham King win for The Departed instead of Scorsese?

[Guest Lobo]

Yeah, Marty doesn't usually produce the movies he directs, and vice-versa.  Usually, not always.  Hence his low number of Oscar wins.  

 

[Buzzrock 14,922]

I did not realize that. Well, The Departed won best picture and best director so not sure what more you could ask for.

[Dennis Taylor 18,831]

On 1/3/2020 at 7:23 AM, Buzzrock said:

Huh. I didn’t know that Costello was supposed to be based on Bulger. I knew that The Departed was a remake of another movie, Infernal Affairs, but not the WB piece.

Then again, based on doesn’t mean identical, and I don’t think Jack’s portrayal of Costigan was full on Joker. But I also love that movie and think it’s every bit as good as Goodfellas.

One of my favorites as well... btw, Leo was Costigan, Jack was Costello

[billfromlaketravis 11,518]

On 1/3/2020 at 12:57 PM, Lobo said:

Pesci was about to be above DeNiro in goodfellas.  But “there was a problem, and we couldn’t do nothing about it.”

It would have been a really weird dynamic if Tommy had lived/become a made man and Jimmy reported up to him. As depicted in the movie and in real life, Jimmy Burke was pretty autonomous from the Lucchese Family. Yes he reported up to Lucchese Capo Paul Vario, but Jimmy sent envelopes for protection and pretty much did whatever the hell he wanted to. The Lucchese Family is well known for giving their members/associates more autonomy than other families. Tommy getting made would probably helped Burke, in that he'd have a close friend in the club, but I don't think Jimmy would have reported up to Tommy. Burke was one of the most powerful associates in the history of the mafia. 

 

[billfromlaketravis 11,518]

On 1/3/2020 at 7:23 AM, Buzzrock said:

Huh. I didn’t know that Costello was supposed to be based on Bulger. I knew that The Departed was a remake of another movie, Infernal Affairs, but not the WB piece.

Then again, based on doesn’t mean identical, and I don’t think Jack’s portrayal of Costigan was full on Joker. But I also love that movie and think it’s every bit as good as Goodfellas.

Correct. The Departed is a remake of Internal Affairs, but Costello's character was supposed to be based on Bulger. Not surprising, but DeNiro and Pacino turned down the role. Pacino's reason is unknown, but DeNiro was focused on his passion project The Good Shepherd. It's a very different film with either. The Departed would have been much darker, not as funny, and probably not as charming. 

[mr. sunshine 2,827]

48 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said:

It would have been a really weird dynamic if Tommy had lived/become a made man and Jimmy reported up to him. As depicted in the movie and in real life, Jimmy Burke was pretty autonomous from the Lucchese Family. Yes he reported up to Lucchese Capo Paul Vario, but Jimmy sent envelopes for protection and pretty much did whatever the hell he wanted to. The Lucchese Family is well known for giving their members/associates more autonomy than other families. Tommy getting made would probably helped Burke, in that he'd have a close friend in the club, but I don't think Jimmy would have reported up to Tommy. Burke was one of the most powerful associates in the history of the mafia. 

 

Thanks. You’ve officially blown my mind

[billfromlaketravis 11,518]

11 minutes ago, mr. sunshine said:

Thanks. You’ve officially blown my mind

I don't think Jimmy gave Tommy up. So yes, Paul had the power to whack guys in Jimmy's crew. From all accounts, Paul fed Tommy to the Gambinos for trying to rape Karen Hill while Henry was in prison and killing Batts. 

[billfromlaketravis 11,518]

I'll give Pacino's Hoffa portrayal the nod over Nicholson's. Pacino brought some warmth to the role. He makes you love Hoffa and feel sadness when he dies. 

Hoffa is a darned good movie. Small quibbles with Tony Pro being portrayed as The Godfather, and the depiction of Hoffa's death. It was a really cool action sequence, but that's probably not how Hoffa died. 

[GreenspointTexas 9,651]

The whole time, i felt like i was watching a low budget, made for tv movie

[Gil Bang 25,975]

worth a watch IMO
 

 

[sheeeit 129]

Finally got through it.  Just OK for me.  DeNiro has been in soooo many movies like this that I just see him and not the character.  Never been a big Pacino fan (he tries too hard most of the time) but he was good and Pesci was very good.  Way too slow throughout most of it.  

Pretty shocked at the number of oscar nominations but I cant figure that shit out very often anyways.

[Carl Spackler 3,486]

On 1/6/2020 at 6:20 PM, billfromlaketravis said:

 but that's probably not how Hoffa died. 

That's an understatement.  

[Horn80 6,130]

Didn’t care for it.  Too many scenes were actors were used as just props especially Jessie Plemons and DeNiro seemed to be constantly be over acting.

Edited January 24, 2020 by Horn80

[ChiTownDoc 21,154]

I’m a total dork for mob history.  Knowing most of what was shown was total BS made it really hard to enjoy.  I can sit here and say the acting was great - I really think it was...but the BS factor was too much to overcome.  

[ChiTownDoc 21,154]

54 minutes ago, Horn80 said:

Didn’t care for it.  Too many scenes were actors were used as just props especially Jessie Plemons and DeNiro seemed to be constantly be over acting.

I don’t know.  I dated Joey ‘the Clown’ Lombardo’s niece 15 years ago.  Last name Longo, google is your friend...

Going to Melrose and doing dinners w her family...that’s how they all acted.  It didn’t come off as over the top to me.  

[Continental Op 3,934]

Watched this on Monday.  It was put together well but it came across as very clinical to me.  

[Hank Scorpio 17,729]

 

 

[Johnny Sack 8,397]

On 1/3/2020 at 9:40 AM, SuingToGetAMessageBoard? said:

I liked the dynamic where Pesci is above De Niro, instead of the other way around as in every other movie.  Other than that, I give it a Fine But Forgettable rating.

Pesci was definitely above DeNiro in Casino.  Tony Spilotro was a made guy and the de facto boss of Las Vegas.

[billfromlaketravis 11,518]

I’ve rewatched it a few times. I’ve resolved to just enjoy the story and not worry about the shitty CGI or the length. 
 

It’s a good movie with great actors giving terrific performances with one of the best directors of all time. Enough said. 

I would watch the hell out of a Philly mob series. Great source material to work with including some very public wars. 

[66BUFF 2,564]

14 hours ago, billfromlaketravis said:

I’ve rewatched it a few times. I’ve resolved to just enjoy the story and not worry about the shitty CGI or the length. 
 

It’s a good movie with great actors giving terrific performances with one of the best directors of all time. Enough said. 

I would watch the hell out of a Philly mob series. Great source material to work with including some very public wars. 

Watch Kill the Irishman.  Great movie.

[lateshow 1,304]

On 6/4/2021 at 9:12 PM, billfromlaketravis said:

I would watch the hell out of a Philly mob series. Great source material to work with including some very public wars. 

Same. It doesn't get much play like New York or Chicago.