The Netflix film The Irishman is 210 minutes long. You could do a lot in that timeframe—like fly from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, spend an hour at the slot machines inside McCarran International Airport and then fly back to LA with time to spare. Instead of that Vegas adventure, though, we opted to see The Irishman, in which director Martin Scorsese delves into the mob connections to John F. Kennedy’s assassination, showcases the advancements of de-aging technology for cinematic impact and corrals three of the greatest actors of all-time.
Based on Charles Brandt’s 2003 novel I Heard You Paint Houses, Scorsese’s adaptation centers on Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) returning from World War II to become a mob hitman under the tutelage of crime boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and alongside Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).
At the film’s world premiere during the 57th New York Film Festival, which ONE37pm attended, the three stars and Scorsese were joined by producers Jane Rosenthal and Emma Tillinger Koskoff, who all revealed tidbits about the making of the film, including how 309 scenes were shot in 108 days at 117 locations, often requiring as many as three moves per day. Without revealing any spoilers, here are the best surprises and insights from the film and its creators.