Martin Scorsese’s latest movie, The Irishman, is based on the book I Heard You Paint Houses. The book is written by Charles Brandt, a former homocide prosecutor and attorney, which chronicles the life of Frank Sheeran, an alleged hitman for the Buffalino crime family.
The movie features an all-star cast of Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano and Anna Paquin.
The Irishman gives a behind the scenes glimpse of the intimate connection between the mob, the union and the 1960 Presidential election.
Deniro plays Frank Sheeran, a truck driver who begins to sell the contents of his load to eager mobsters. When Frank finds himself caught in allegations of his “theft”, the Teamsters Union attorney, Bill Buffalino, played by Ray Romano. Buffalino defends Frank and as a reward for “not naming names”, introduces Frank to his cousin Russell, played by Joe Pesci.
The relationship between Frank and Russell grows with Frank eventually making the acquaintance of the Teamsters Union President Jimmy Hoffa.
The Teamsters played an intricate role in the expansion of the Las Vegas, Nevada, casinos by way of their pension fund. The mob would come to Hoffa for money, at a cost.
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The Teamsters also played a pivotal role in the election of President John F. Kennedy when a tremendous amount of dead people voted for him.
The mob was heavily connected to Kennedy’s father, who wanted his son to become President.
Hoffa didn’t foresee himself becoming the target of the new Attorney General Bobby Kennedy. The movie doesn’t delve into whether the elder Kennedy knew of his son’s intent on bringing down the mob.
The movie follows the strained relationship between Frank and his four daughters that stemmed from a beatdown he gave a corner store market owner for pushing one of his young daughters.
Loyalty, friendship and betrayal dominate this three and a half hour masterpiece that concludes with a candid revelation into the last day Jimmy Hoffa was seen alive.
Scorcese is able to draw you in with a superb cast of actors, a remarkable script and a storyline that answers the questions of “who killed Kennedy” and “what happened to Jimmy Hoffa”?
The Irishman is a must see and is available on Netflix and select theaters.
