The Irishman reviewed by Mark Kermode 

Next summer, look out for 'The Italian' - Starring Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne, and Colm Meany.

Actually, the last third of the movie is the cherry on the cake, and it's exactly the right length. This is a film that takes enough time to tell its story. It shows the slow dissolution of the lead character, watching him get older and older, less and less capable: watching his friends die off, shunned by his family: trying to confess his sins, while not ever changing or even accepting that his entire life was a wretched bloodbath steeped in the betrayal of everyone he should have cared about. Having spent his life murdering people to provide a permanent solution to the mob's problems, but being afraid of having his remains cremated, because he hasn't achieved the self awareness or understanding that death is actually permanent, and your body doesn't matter. The fabulous layers of meaning in the final shot, of leaving the door ajar. Is he thinking of Jimmy, leaving his door open years before? Is he scared of the dark? Is hoping someone (and there's a long list of candidates, good and bad) will come and see him?

Joe Pesci's movie, without doubt... He dominates every scene he's in, or shares with the other two legends. It's a measured, quiet performance that is utterly mesmerizing.

I'm just excited to see Pesci again

Imagine this technology was available in the 70's, there'd be no Deniro playing a young Corleone, just a digitalized Brando.

Loved the film but DeNiro nevered seemed younger than 70 for even a moment.

I got that 76 year old kid on the phone 😂😂😂

Funny to think that in the 80s, Robert De Niro was aged up with makeup to look like an old man for parts of Once Upon a Time in America (probably one of the best films I've ever seen in my life) and now he's been de-aged by CGI to look like a young man for parts of this film.

Agree with Kermode on Anna Paquins role. Her silent judgement is very powerful and the only thing that really weighs heavy on De Niro till the end. Its a character he cannot try to verbally or physically persuade like hes so used to and that eats him up inside.

Its not so much the cgi that is distracting. Its the fake blue eyes, they looked like cats eyes at one point.

Anna Paquin was brilliant in this and Mark hits the nail on the head. Her presence alone had gravitas. Anyone criticising the movie for how many lines she gets is an utter idiot. De Niro was back to his best, Pesci was remarkable and Pacino had energy he hasn’t had since 1995. I thought the cgi worked well, just as Mark said, like a video game cutscene but not distracting at all. Overall I loved the film, not as iconic as Goodfellas but still a beautiful piece.

I only really noticed the deaging when it cuts to deniro driving the truck after that I didn’t really notice it

I so wish this was getting a wider cinema release than it's getting - I'd love to see it on the big screen!

My local independent cinema has just started getting Netflix films this week with The King (just went along to the first screening.) Even as a 4K Netflix subscriber nothing beets the big screen with no distractions (and supporting a local business that’s been under threat of closure twice in the past 10 years. I’m super excited to see this two weeks early next Friday (although I’m little bit nervous about the run time without an interval.)

I heard you review movies...

The thing is we know what De Niro and Pesci looked like when they were in their thirties/forties and they didn't look like they do in this film.

This movie isn't a minute too long, IMO. That last 20 minutes or so is like the exquisite final act of 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.' It brings it all home emotionally.

Having watched this 3hr+ epic the 4th time, I realized I was immersed in the narration and timelines the entire time. Its slow paced and long yes! But it takes you on a deeply personal journey into the world of crime and makes you question the very concept of morality, all with a mostly light hearted tone. A true masterpiece by the King of Crime Dramas

He waffles on for ages without telling us if the film is any good!

That housework euphemism is ripe for an SNL sketch......"I heard you paint houses", "Yes sir, I also do my own carpentry", "What about resurfacing, maybe some ceramic tiles", "Is this the right number?"

What about DE Niro's performance? Personally I thought it was one of his greatest. The final sequence in the home showed for me how great an actor he still can be.

This review doesn’t really get to the bottom of whether The Irishman is a good film or not.

Fun fact. The Mafia boss Russel Bufalino (played by Joe Pesci) was the real-life inspiration for Don Corleone in The Godfather.

Saw it last night at the Leeds Film Festival. Very watchable, not a boring moment. Class acting and three hours flew by. Got to be watched in the cinema !

Talk about a non review. Am a fan of Mark's reviews but this was pointless. The thematic aspects of the film are barely discussed. He actually starts talking about the film's merits in the last 30 seconds. Spent 6 minutes talking about the de-aging technique. Was looking forward to hearing Mark's thoughts on the film. Shame.

Worries about the deaging process? Forget about it

"What kind of man makes a phone call like that..." Chills when De Niro says that line! Movie's a masterpiece in my book, and has one of my favorite De Niro performances. Similar to Jackie Brown in how understated yet nuanced it was, just brilliant stuff.

The de-ageing was noticeable for a couple of minutes, and then I completely forgot and enjoyed the story and performances

IDK if I'm on-board with the de-aging technology because De Niro always looked a lot older than his character

A good and thoughtful movie, very different in tone and tempo to Scorsese’s previous gangster flicks. I did think the de-aging didn’t quite work though. DeNiro in particular - who is supposed to be a very physically formidable character - moved obviously like an old man all the way through (for instance one scene where he had to throw something was almost laughable). And the faces did have a slightly unnatural caste to them. Having said that, and though I definitely wouldn’t want this to become the standard production technique, for this one movie I was able to put that to one side and become engrossed in a beautifully told tale. One of the main themes of this movie is the fact of ageing; time moves on, we get old, and all the things we did fade into history. So having these old guys play it out, and to be able to see their old selves inside their young selves, is in some ways quite poignant.

Drink every time Kermode says incidentally.

In the still of the night has been stuck in my head since seeing it at my local art house theater. What a great film.

Not only Pesci, but everyone involved- phenomenal performances. I am not big fan of Al Pacino, can’t name a movie I seen him in, but only realised midway here it’s him. Effects were really smooth and great storytelling despite several timelines it never felt confusing. Little trick with no background music in culmination scene created nerve wrecking atmosphere. Loved it.

Just saw the picture today in Chicago. God damn beauty. A- Can’t wait to rewatch this masterpiece

the de-aged Robert De Niro reminded me of Arthur Mullard when he did "You're the one that I want"

Pacino finally gets to work with Scorsese. That is worth the price alone. I suspect like a lot of Scorsese’s recent work(The Departed, Wolf of Wall Street, Gangs of New York and The Silence) - it’s perhaps overlong, and could do with losing about 30 minutes or more. Anyway, it does look intriguing.

Surprised that no one's mentioned the scene where deniro beats up the shop owner. I found it hilarious because you've got this young, albeit waxy looking face plastered onto a body that's moving like it's 70 years old - which of course it is. I couldn't stop laughing because rather than looking like someone being brutally beaten up, it looked like my grandfather trying to stamp on an acrobatic cockroach.

I can't wait to see it both at Cinema and at home too!!! 😎 What an Age we live in!!! 🙄

It wasnt that the deaging didnt work, its that deniro looked like he was 50 years old when he should have been 37 at the time of meeting hoffa. And at no point did his body move like a 30 something. He moved like an older man. i never was able to buy into the idea that he was a father of young kids. He also looked too old to be a guy learning the ropes.

Pesci was great. Stephen Graham is a star. The Anzio scene upset me because my Italian-American Great Uncle fought there against the Nazis and his sister/my Grandmother hated the mob (and presumably mob movies) for giving a bad reputation to Italian-Americans. (It's a shame that Scorsese never makes a film about a good Italian-Americaan family.) I'm glad it's on Netflix, because I watched it over 3 sittings.

I was hoping this was about Frank Carson.

Just has the chance to see it in the cinema, Scorsese’s best film since Good Fellas imo. Length and the de-ageing wasn’t an issue for me. Don’t think it’s out of order to call it a masterpiece.

Yeah, the grocery store scene was the only time De Niro's character moved like an old man, and that's because it was a physical altercation.

As someone who watched this film not knowing anything about it, I didn't even realise that there was any de-aging. I just assumed they had done a great job on the makeup when I saw a younger version of the different actors. Mark is spot on in saying that if you don't know about it and try to scrutinise every detail, it's very well done.

DeNiro's unnaturally blue eyes were way, way, WAY more distracting to me than the CGI. I was constantly aware of them for the entire movie.

If anyone can find a review that isnt entirely about the deaging technology please leave a link.

Bravo Mark. You totally understand the Anna Paquin character. Critics complained how she doesn't have enough dialogue and screen time. That's the whole point!

About a character not having many lines, J.K. Simmons in "I'm Not Here" was completely silent and gave a hugely powerful performance.

a big reason on why this movie works is because of Scorsese's special weapon. And what is this special weapon? The same one he uses for everyone of his movies and that weapon is Thelma Schoonmaker. I wish more people would mention her when reviewing The Irishman, she's one of the greatest cutters of all time.

Al Pacino looked nothing like Jimmy Hoffa but he did a great job.

Mark looking like he is in physical pain listening to that video game allegory kills me 😂

I wish the cinemas would have an intermission break. A film over 3 hours, would give the audience to have a break. This happens in theatres!

It's a little baffling that they didn't simply use the well-established technology of body doubles and face-replacement for some of those wide shots/action scenes. It's really jarring when you see De Niro moving like an old man when he's got the face of a 30something.

THIS is why Mark Kermode will always have my attention. He nailed all of the talking points about the film and explained them exceptionally. I don't always agree with Mark but that's not the point, the man knows film and he knows how to communicate what he knows in a review. I really liked the film and agree completely with Mark here, the de-aging is just a modern take on makeup and not all characters need lines to convey what the character is feeling.

Great film. Some scenes did tend to slightly drag, mostly the Hoffa ones. Nevertheless, brilliant to see DeNiro,Pesci,Keitel and Pacino all in the same movie. Cherish it as this will be the only time it ever happens.

Another masterpiece by Scorsese ! I wish the screen writer Steven Zaillian did some interviews on the film. The writing is really good.

Speaking of actors playing very different ages in a single film: I think Robert De Niro did an impressive job of it in "Sleepers" (1996). At the beginning he was (I guess) in his 20s, and later he's meant to be some 15 or so years older, and he really moved, and held his body and everything, like an older man. Anyway, I remember being fascinated at the time.

The scene outside the grocery store!! Exactly what i was thinking when he raised the topic of the deaging.

Just saw it today at the TIFF Bell Lightbox theatre, the only one showing it in the GTA I think, it was a very fast paced movie, but it incorporated a growing feeling of sadness and emptiness as the story unfolded. It was absolutely amazing, maybe Scorsese’s best film of the past 20 years (and that’s saying a lot). Unlike Goodfellas, Casino, and Wolf of Wall Street, this movie really lets the depressing consequences of the main characters’ actions sink in. There’s a great somber and reflective nature to it. The 3 other movies had a different, more upbeat, and straight-forward biopic approach.

If "Anna Paquin does not have enough lines" is the key takeaway, I feel sorry for them.

The visual effects did work overall, but we all know what DeNiro looked like in his 40's and he didn't look like that. But that's OK, because this isn't a movie about DeNiro.

Spoiler alert: Action Bronson makes an appearance

Mayo coming with a pretty excellent analogy about the digital de-ageing and video game cutscenes... That was quite whip smart.

Can’t wait to see it tonight!

I saw it yesterday and thought the performances were brilliant but the length of the movie is definitely a challenge. This would be a great movie to bring back the old intermission. I'm wondering if Netflix will show it in full or have it as 7 x 3O mins episodes-It feels quite episodic what with the different eras etc. But yes,performances brilliant...Pacino being maximum Pacino,Great to see Joe Pesci again (in one of his calmer mafia roles) and DeNiro in the movies that he excels in. I'm not sure it's quite up there with Goodfellas for me but it's solid-Maybe it would be closer with a bit of an edit?

I picked up on the grocery scene it wasnt natural seemed forced.

Anna Paquin's silence is crucial to the last half hour, which by the way is the summation of the characters understanding of consequences.

Is there an intermission in the cinema releases?

I hate the deaging thing, it means when im 100 ill still be getting dragged to see paul rudd a rom com looking 30

I can’t stay the way Mark Kermode pauses for breath and smacks his lips every few minutes as if he is about to say something profound- which he never does.

I watched this on Netflix on my iPad (I know not best way) and couldn’t notice any of the tech- amazing.. but I imagine on the big screen the deaging is much more noticeable . Either way: loved it!

Basically agree with Mayo on this one - the CGI de-aging was a constant distraction throughout the movie. Totally agree with Kermode about Anna Paquin though. In this particular role the entire point was the distance in their relationship.

A long time to discuss a tech feature that was largely unobtrusive.

All I gained from this was de-aging acceptance. Er, so did you like the film Mr Kermode?

If wanting to see it in a cinema, book your tickets now, very limited release (i have booked 2 seperate showings for next week)

'I'm gonna make him a Hoffa he can't refuse.'

Couldn't they just have got younger actors to play the elads. Y'know, like they did in Goodfellas...

Really loved it. Got to see it in a great theater (LA local), and god was it worth it. Scorsese still has it. Think some people will have quibbles with the last 30/40, but it's pure meditative Scorsese, and I couldn't love it more. Excited for more to see this once it's on Netflix, even though it deserves month(s) of running in theaters.

do you reckon there were any casting interviews or auditions for any character in this movie?

I had thought about seeing this today on the opening weekend. My favourite film of all time has to be Goodfellas. You haven't said one bad thing about this film, apart from the end, so now I just have to see it. I could watch a Scorsese all day long.

Mark does his 'De Niro' impression at 5:00

Kermode if it wasnt for moviedrome well I would be a heathen your are a legend I always pay attention to your reviews agree or disagree I value your opinion in film always moviedrome seems like such a long time ago but it was because of that for so many films.thank you.

Sure the scene outside the grocery store is the one when you mostly notice that the body is an old guy body. But I honestly noted that the protagonist walks like an old man for most of the movie, it is a very distinctive walk... And I think that this is not great when you describe a dramatic story, but if you talk about young fellas that work in a violent environment it is quiet a big deal, nobody would be scared of a young kid with a heavy slow walk

The runtime is (by far) the biggest problem I had with this film. Saw this in theaters on Sunday with a friend and, while he loved it and thought it flew by, I found it to be extremely long in the tooth. I definitely thought it was a great and truly epic movie, a solid 8 out of 10 from me, but I wish I wasn't so bored by it (especially as it moved towards the end). Joe Pesci stole the show here and I kind of forgot how much I loved him as an actor, so I'm glad that Scorsese was able to bring him back for one more classic. I don't think I'll ever consider this film to be a "classic", but I do understand why most critics are saying it is. 3 1/2 hours though? I can see why they're only doing a limited theatrical run for this because I foresee most viewers pausing it about halfway through for an intermission (something that I wish the theater I saw it in had).

Just after watching it. Loved it, too short though.

It was probably slightly too long but still by a mile the best film he's done since The Departed

Agree with some of the points here was ridiculously jarring to hear Pesci refer to De Niro as a kid when he looks like a 50 year old man with a billy cap. The CGI is better for Pesci than for De Niro but it's still not great for me.

The digital de-aging was great apart from them deniro having blue eyes,it was unnecessary as lots of Irish people have dark eyes anyway,they didn't even look like decent contacts they just looked fake,that said it was a pretty good film

If someone's favourite film is The Exorcist I listen to them.

I never want Scorsese to leave. I love him so much. It was such a beautiful eulogy on life and it would be a perfect culmination on everything Scorsese and De Niro have done. The 20 min scene of silence as the camera stays on Sheeran's inner struggle as he "has to do it" is incredible work. Just beautiful

The de aging was not a problem in how it looked, it was a problem in how deniro moved. When he beat anyone up he had no physicality or presence or threat. It just looked totally unconvincing. Deniro as an enforcer was a complete wiff and it destroyed the film.

Aside from the critiques of the actors' characterizations and the de-aging discussion, the film is successful in its storytelling. Kudos again to Thelma Schoonmaker, Scorsese's go-to editor, for her skill in making over 200 minutes seem like less than 90. As a fictional screenplay, it unfolds in retrospective form quite well, however; it is fiction, nonetheless. Mr. De Niro himself, when questioned on the validity of certain historical points in the film, said he simply thought it was a good read. All of the actors display the chops we've come to admire and respect of them but my favorite scene was when De Niro left the meeting where Pacino was ranting on. The back and forth between these two titans about " Where're ya going?" was deliciously done.

I think the cinema release proves Scorsese’s point about the Marvel films

I have to say that after 2 hours I had to stop watching. I preface this by saying I just love Scorsese and all the other wonderful films that he made. I just cant get it through my head with De Niro being an old man and having the CGI try to make it look like he is in his late 30's to early 40's. It just killed it for me. So unbelievable. They should have used younger actors for the early parts. It would have made it so much better.

Anyone know what Mark means by the digital deaging not working in "the scene outside the grocery store"? What scene was that?

I love this movie. It is one of my favorite mob movies and i too will admit that at some point in the movie i just simply forgot about the tech they used on the actors faces.

Simon watched the movie with "child 1".

Mark looks like a mobster from a Scorsese movie😊

Joe P is the best in the film, just my opinion. The "Youth-ification" got on my nerves quite frankly. De Niro's stooped posture detracted from the air-brush face and the same for Pacino.

The first part of the movie actually felt more like a dark comedy, especially with Pesci and Diniro background. The portrayal of these blue collar American teamsters from my father's generation was so spot on. During the 70's road trip you see the roads are actually our busted pot hole roads from this century! In the 60's and 70's American roads were beautiful and actually a jewel of our nation. Especially for commerce which is why teamsters were so important. Movie does turn sad when the ageing and displaced Hoffa becomes front and center which is why Pacino's performance becomes so spotlight.