The Irishman
February 12, 2020
The Irishman follows a character named Frank Sheeran as he transforms from a lowly truck driver to a mob hitman and key player in the truckers union, set in 1950’s Pennsylvania.
This film differs from the rest of the nominees because it is a character study of Sheeran, meaning that rather than following a single primary conflict or ordeal, it follows his life in a biographical manner, exploring his character over the span of a few decades.
Martin Scorcese is considered a master when it comes to character studies, and he directs this film, starring Robert De Niro as Frank Sheeran, with Al Pacino and Joe Pesci in supporting roles.
The film has been criticized by many for being too long, with a runtime of three-and-a-half hours, and moving very slowly. For some, this coupled with the lack of a singular, central conflict makes the film difficult to watch and hard to follow. Certain scenes are included with heavy amounts of dialogue that might seem extraneous a more traditional movie, but Scorcese uses this method of examining his main character, rather than the plot.
— By Zach Helfand, Opinion Editor