bob-larrance

A sizzling, contemporary, crisply edited film based in Mozambique, with a dynamic soundtrack and wonderful performances...what else might you want? Though (I suppose) it was probably released in a language other than English the version I enjoyed was very expertly dubbed to English - and in a fashion that enhanced the film and kept the story moving much more quickly than subtitles might have, IMHO. Most of the action takes place in and around Maputo, and the filming captures the bright & beautiful colors of Eastern Coastal Africa, I'm a little shocked by the budget listed on IMDB, the production costs alone would clearly be several times that amount. The hip hop/Afro pop soundtrack is a real treat, never overbearing, offering the sort of freshness I usually look around for as a 'soundtrack' compilation release after I've enjoyed an assembly of sounds like the movie offers. Special mention to Director Mickey Fonseca who has a pretty nice resume on IMDB if you read the fine print, Gil Alexandre, who has the lead role, and Laquino Fonseca, playing an old friend. Overall, my first try with a movie from Mozambique, and now I'm looking for another.

I'm watching the program, loyally, each week. And, I must say, if it's a drama with actors paid to study then perform on a stage, then some simply aren't up to muster. (Some of the acting is just awful.) If it's reality, then I must say it needs sharper editing (please), because some of the scenes reveal those featured in such an unflattering manner as to be cruel. Otherwise, nicely filmed city scenes, sharp camera work and crisp scripts that pretty much remain terse. Too bad about the performances.

My one-sentence, bottom-line, conditional recommendation: The Irishman is worth watching, good but not great, and fails to live up to all the marketing hype. Plan on two sittings, since it is rather long. Fortunately, at home one can insert a pleasant intermission.

Long before the Irishman was released it was announced that high tech would be used to shave many years from the physical appearances of the lead actors, so that the gentlemen concerned would appear much younger, looking like the correct ages for the roles. The results of the efforts are mixed. Deniro and Pacino, for the most part, look younger, though in many scenes they still appear too old in the context of particular moments in the narrative. The high tech fix for Pesci doesn't seem to work, at all.

It is clear to me, from following the marketing for the project, that the appearance of the aging stars was an issue to the producers. The fix, for the rather expensive project, was to alter the looks of the stars with technology. The whole matter begs a question, at least for me: why not hire lower-priced, age appropriate actors?

In addition, the actors concerned might have altered 'looks' but in physical movement, etc. they appear to be their actual ages. I found myself reminded of many roles by Jimmy Stewart, years ago, when he continued to play the 'leading man' part in film after film, even though he might have been better cast as the leading man's grandfather. In other words, a distracting internal inconsistency. In one scene Pesci refers to DeNiro as a 'kid'. It just doesn't work.

Perhaps the strongest part of the movie is the script, deserving an 'A' grade. Supporting actors are all up to task, and the overall production is good, as might be expected from Scorsese. One distraction I could have lived without was the old rock and roll inserted into the soundtrack. This particular Scorsese technique is simply over-used, and only amplifies the age-issues with the film's leads.