Though unduly long at 3:29, this story of a mid-century hitman working for the mob and Jimmy Hoffa is quite the masterpiece, and earned ten Oscar nominations but no wins (total 66 wins and 318 nominations, according to imdb).
Robert DeNiro plays the title role of Frank Sheeran, beginning and ending in a nursing home telling his life story (that technique is often called bookending). The movie flashes back to the 1950s-70s, when he begins working for mob boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and later meets Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). Almost 500 actors are listed on imdb, many uncredited. Digital technology rather than makeup was used to change the actors' ages, although coaches on set helped them with body language.
Martin Scorsese directs from a script by Steven Zaillian, adapted from Charles Brandt's 2016 book I Heard You Paint Houses.
Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto was also lauded for his beautiful camera work.
Robbie Robertson is the credited composer and you can stream the 65-track official movie soundtrack playlist on Spotify or one with 20 on Apple Music. Lots of fun songs from the various periods.
De Niro was last blogged for Joker, Pacino for Danny Collins, Scorsese for Rolling Thunder Revue, Zaillian for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (the American remake), Prieto for Silence, and Robertson for Shutter Island.
Rotten Tomatoes' critics' average is 96% and its audiences' 86.
We watched this at home on Netflix with friends on January 9, 2020, before the Oscars. We took two intermissions (grateful for the pause feature) because it's so effing long!
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