VIDEO: Movie Review: "The Irishman" - **** (four stars)

I almost never do movie reviews, for the simple reason that I don't see many new movies. Why should I, when there's so much dreck coming out of Hollywood... sequels, prequels, "action movies" featuring superhuman characters... And then there's the horror of going to a cinema, to be surrounded by people stuffing their faces with junk food while at the same time talking or texting on their idiot phones. Who needs it?

So I waited until last night, when The Irishman debuted on Netflix (it was in the theatres on November 1st) to see what was hailed by reviewers as "the best movie of the decade", "an instant classic", "Martin Scorsese's best film ever", and so on. I'm pleased to say I wasn't disappointed. I didn't even take a break at any point during the three-and-a-half-hour epic.

The Irishman tells the story of Frank Sheeran (played by Robert DeNiro), who, near the end of his life, claimed to be the one who killed Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) at the behest of Mafia boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci). Here's the trailer.



Spanning decades, the film chronicles one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history, the disappearance of legendary union boss Jimmy Hoffa, and offers a monumental journey through the hidden corridors of organized crime: its inner workings, rivalries and connections to mainstream politics. The story is told through the eyes of World War II veteran Frank Sheeran, a hustler and hitman who worked alongside some of the most notorious figures of the 20th century, and through his connection with Jimmy Hoffa became president of the Detroit Local (299) of the Teamsters Union.

Martin Scorsese has coaxed fine performances out of a trio of aging stars. Al Pacino is a bit larger-than-life as Jimmy Hoffa, but then Hoffa himself was larger-than-life. Joe Pesci plays Russell Bufalino with meancing understatement, so well that you forget his unfunny performances as the comic relief in earlier movies. And Robert DeNiro, as Frank Sheeran, nailed it.

I was watching with a critical eye for historical or other inaccuracies, but if you accept as truthful what Frank Sheeran told author Charles Brandt, as detailed in I Heard You Paint Houses, the book on which the movie is based, you'll not find much in the movie about which to be skeptical. I give it the highest possible rating - **** - four stars!

Further reading: "Frank Sheeran's Ring in The Irishman: What Does It Mean?", on Heavy.com. Spoiler Alert! Walt recommends reading this after you've seen the movie.

UPDATE on the pipe bombs hoax (???)

Waking up to the ayem news -- all the truth the lamestream media cares to share -- I hear that the FBI has revealed the identities of three more intended victims of the same type of pipe bombs sent to (((George Soros))), the Clintons and others earlier this week. See "Who's behind the pipe bombs?", WWW 24/10/18. They are: ex-Veep Joe Biden, Representative "Mad Maxine" Waters, and washed-up actor (and "Fuck Trump!" cheerleader) Bobby DeNiro.

One report ringing in my ears right now says that the feds are "searching a Delaware mail facility" for a suspicious package believed to have been sent to Mr Biden. To me, that means the package has not been found, but that somehow the G-men know it exists and know it's similar to the ones "discovered" yesterday. They are said to look like this.

Notice anything unusual about this package, which was allegedly mailed via the USPS? There's no postmark! Ed. has checked the Net for images of other packages, and has yet to find one with any postmark or other indication of where it was posted. My innocent question: Is it possible that none of the packages was actually entered in the mail stream? Could it be that some or all of them were packaged as we see them and hand-delivered, not to the addressees but to the FBI or other "authorities"?

Why would someone take the time and trouble to build and pack up allegedly explosive devices and then hand them over to the people charged with protecting the Clintons and their friends? Can you say "fake news", boys and girls? How about "hoax"? I knew you could...