It’s coming to Netflix and it will have more scenes than any other Scorsese film.
In terms of eagerly anticipated films, any new feature from Martin Scorsese is always going to be an event that film fans will mark in their calendar. This being said, The Irishman already has a very different feel to it.
Why? Well, the list of talent in this new gangster epic is the very definition of a dream cast.
Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Jesse Plemons, Anna Paquin, Stephen Graham, Ray Romano and Bobby Cannavale are just some of the names involved in this adaptation of Charles Brandt’s beloved novel, I Heard You Paint Houses.
Aside from the magnificent talent on-screen, the old cliche still applies – the most important thing is the story – and the events which will infold in The Irishman are absolutely incredible.
In the course of nearly five years of recorded interviews, Frank Sheeran (played by Robert De Niro) confessed to the author Charles Brandt that he conducted more than twenty-five hits for the mob, and for his friend Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).
Sheeran learned to kill in the U.S. Army, where he saw an astonishing 411 days of active combat duty in Italy during World War II. After returning home, he became a hustler and a hit man, working for legendary crime boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) .When Bufalino ordered Sheeran to kill Hoffa, he did the deed, knowing that if he had refused he would have been killed himself.
Of course, fans of the gangster genre are absolutely delighted to see a reunion between Scorsese and these superb actors, but during an interview with JOE, Charles Brandt, author of the book that the film is based on, has said that The Irishman is currently being targeted for release in the autumn of 2019.
When asked about the release date, here’s what he said: “I know a little bit from talking to the ILM (Industrial Light and Magic) people and the publicity department of Netflix. The fall of 2019 is what they’re targeting for release. They don’t yet know if it’s going to be released in theatres, or whether it’s going to be released simultaneously in the streaming that Netflix does. We don’t know for sure if it will even be the fall of 2019, we just know that it’s being targeted.”
Despite the fact the film finished principal photography in March, the editing process on The Irishman is quite complex because all the actors will also be playing younger versions of their characters. It’s reminiscent of the technique that David Fincher used on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Here’s what Brandt had to say about this de-aging process: “I had the privilege of being on set when they were using this technology that comes form ILM. A man named Pablo Helman invented this de-aging technology where Robert DeNiro can play the Irishman in his 70s and in his 30s. The same is true for Pacino. The technology they use in this film involves a process that involves special editing. Once the film was wrapped, they had 18 months to do this special editing with this de-aging technology.”
Brandt has assured fans that The Irishman will be worth the wait because it’s shaping up to be every bit as epic as promised.
In fact, it could be Scorsese’s longest ever film because he shot “close to 300 scenes” during principal photography.
“As we look at what’s being reported in the press, it’s that most scenes in films have 40 to 50 scenes, this film has close to 300 scenes and they’ve been very faithful to the book. De Niro was very gracious as was Marty – obviously Marty was preoccupied with actually getting the film made and Bob was occupied with the role – but when we had script meetings it was Scorsese, De Niro, Steve Zaillian (scriptwriter), and me in the room. To be in the room with those people was like winning the lottery.”
Brandt adds: “I sat there with these men as part of a very important and historic project. It was awe-inspiring and humbling. They’re such geniuses and I don’t know their craft, but I know that the questions they asked me about the people involved showed a sensitivity and humanity that I was in awe of.”
If you’re a fan of true crime literature then you’re in luck because Charles Brandt will be in attendance to talk about I Heard You Paint Houses at I.NY Festival 2018.
The festival will be taking part in Limerick and it’s part of the Global Irish Festival Series. It takes place at venues across Limerick City from October 7-14. For tickets and information visit www.thisisINY.com
The Story of Frank Sheeran with author Charles Brandt in conversation with Mick Clifford takes place on Wednesday October 10th at 8pm in LIT Millennium Theatre. Tickets priced from €15 – €20 from www.thisisINY.com
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