It happened, people! Martin Scorsese’s long-awaited crime film “The Irishman” has finally been seen by real people at the New York Film Festival. And as you might expect, even though reviews won’t hit until later this evening, social media is abuzz with take after take from people who have witnessed the 209-minute epic.
Overall, it appears that there are a few people saying the film is a masterpiece (which is par for the course, when it comes to these Twitter hot takes), but by and large, most feel that the film is good, perhaps great, but not on par with the director’s own previous mafia films. That being said, when those previous films include the likes of “Goodfellas” and “Casino,” that’s a mighty high bar for anyone.
Playlist contributor/great guy Charles Bramesco said, “THE IRISHMAN: Pacino unhinges his jaw and swallows this thing whole like a python choking down a gazelle carcass, berserker mode king shit.”
Another familiar name around these parts, Jason Bailey said, “Anyway THE IRISHMAN is like a movie genetically engineered to my interests so take my recommendation or leave it, but I think it’s a terrific picture – and an A+ example of a late period director saying, “oh, this is what you want?” and stabbing you in the fucking neck with it.”
/Film’s Chris Evangelista minced no words with his reaction, declaring, “THE IRISHMAN is a masterwork. Funny, epic, and most of all, melancholy. It’s Scorsese confronting aging, legacies, and mortality. I may or may not have teared up at the end…”
Other critics weren’t so overjoyed with the feature, as Kyle Smith of the National Review said, “Enjoyed Martin Scorsese’s THE IRISHMAN but it’s underwhelming in some ways and he’d be wise to cut 30-45 minutes from this very digressive 3 1/2 hour film. Clearly it’s his least-good mob movie.”
US Weekly critic Mara Reinstein said, “I wish I could take a photo in the dark of all these people on their phones doing twitter hot takes on #TheIrishman. Here’s mine: it’s middle of the Scorsese pack. Def more of a sober character study than classic tense mob thriller.”
READ MORE: 2019 New York Film Festival Preview: The 12 Most Anticipated Films
Our full review of “The Irishman” will be arriving this evening. The film, itself, will arrive in select theaters on November 1 before hitting Netflix on November 27.
Here’s a relatively small selection of the hot takes from Twitter:
https://twitter.com/jasondashbailey/status/1177623826571649025
I wish I could take a photo in he dark of all these people on their phones doing twitter hot takes on #TheIrishman. Here’s mine: it’s middle of the Scorsese pack. Def more of a sober character study than classic tense mob thriller
— Mara Reinstein (@MaraReinstein) September 27, 2019
THE IRISHMAN: Pacino unhinges his jaw and swallows this thing whole like a python choking down a gazelle carcass, berserker mode king shit
— Charles Bramesco (@intothecrevasse) September 27, 2019
THE IRISHMAN is a masterwork. Funny, epic, and most of all, melancholy. It’s Scorsese confronting aging, legacies, and mortality. I may or may not have teared up at the end…
— Chris Evangelista (@cevangelista413) September 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/kristapley/status/1177624308190859264
https://twitter.com/frankpallotta/status/1177623741616001024
THE IRISHMAN is like a greatest hits album from a master of the medium. Yes, that’s a positive.
The artifice of de-aging is more feature than bug.
It’s not “slow.” It often moves like lightening & elsewhere it’s downright Bressonian.
This is not a review! Those are embargoed.
— erickohn (@erickohn) September 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/jhoffman/status/1177620230434168832
Enjoyed Martin Scorsese’s THE IRISHMAN but it’s underwhelming in some ways and he’d be wise to cut 30-45 minutes from this very digressive 3 1/2 hour film. Clearly it’s his least-good mob movie. @TheNYFF
— Kyle Smith (@rkylesmith) September 27, 2019
THE IRISHMAN – Audacious, epic, a film that feels like it spans lifetimes yet whisks by. Technically bold, performances raw and darkly humourous, it is the culmination of Scorsese's genre fascinations, and a late career triumph. Truly cinematic, demanding to be seen big #nyff57
— Jason Gorber (@filmfest_ca) September 27, 2019
THE IRISHMAN: al pacino … oscar ?????
— karen han (@karenyhan) September 27, 2019
It’s a masterpiece. Period. #TheIrishman @TheNYFF
— Robert Levin (@Rlevin85) September 27, 2019
THE IRISHMAN is Marty’s old man movie! it’s about how you gotta have fifty conversations to do anything and everybody’s got an ego and it’s mostly just people chatting to each other and getting grumpy. terrific!!
— David Sims (@davidlsims) September 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/melvillmatic/status/1177621028941582336
Alright, more coherent thoughts on #TheIrishman to come in my review tonight but I’ll say this for now because I know people are curious about it: The de-aging worked for me! Jarring at first, but you got used to it, and De Niro was good enough that it didn’t matter.
— Anna Menta (@annalikestweets) September 27, 2019
THE IRISHMAN: DeNiro and Pesci carefully plotting out a lengthy road trip on a paper map, DeNiro and Pacino wearing old man pajamas, obviously was in my middle-aged glory PLUS it's funny and terribly sad. #NYFF
— Jesse Hassenger (@rockmarooned) September 27, 2019
Me: 🙁
The Irishman: *plays*
…3.5 hours later…
Me: 😌
— Michael. (@yosoymichael) September 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/PatrikSandberg/status/1177621126207475713
THE IRISHMAN: Scorseseness about Scorseseness
— Richard Lawson (@rilaws) September 27, 2019
reviews of The Irishman are embargoed to this evening but I can give an A+ to the shot of the Friendly Lounge sign. We do however need to talk about the Villa di Roma scenes.
— Sam Adams (@SamuelAAdams) September 27, 2019
I spent all 209 minutes of THE IRISHMAN regretting skipping breakfast
— Jeva Lange 🫎 (@Jee_vuh) September 27, 2019
I’m here to tell you what you *really* need to know about THE IRISHMAN and it’s that Action Bronson is in it. #NYFF
— Tiffany Vazquez 🇵🇷 (@filmiliarface) September 27, 2019
