MuckyMuckMan73

Scorsese returns to the gangster genre with the epic The Irishman. Told through flashback and present day we follow Frank 'The Irishman' Sheeran (DeNiro) form a close relationship with mobster Russell Bufalino (Pesci). After becoming Bufalino's trusted right hand man Sheeran is given the task of helping union boss Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino) where a long lasting friendship is forged. Scorsese has made a film that's epic in both runtime and scale. Set over decades from the 50s to 80s The Irishman is predominantly about ageing, loyalty, loss, regret and conflicted friendships within the criminal underbelly of the mafia. At 3 1/2hrs The Irishman is long but never feels that way thanks to the captivating performances of DeNiro, Pacino & Pesci (who steals every scene he's in and makes you wonder why he retired so early). Pesci must be favourite for an Oscar for sure! The supporting cast is also excellent, especially Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale and Brit Stephen Graham but Anna Paquin is severely underused with barely a line of dialogue to deliver. The CGI is also to be commended. Flawlessly taking years off the three main protagonists. So, The Irishman is a compelling drama, a little hard to follow at times with so many names to remember and criminal shenanigans going on, but which Scorsese strikes gold again in a genre he is so familiar with. A film I will definitely revisit and one of the best films of the year.

Sidney Lumet's glorious satire about the lengths TV networks will go to obtain those elusive viewing figures is a timeless drama that is as relevant now than it was when it was made considering the political turmoil we are currently experiencing. Peter Finch plays newscaster Howard Beale who is on the verge of a nervous breakdown after being told he will be sacked after 11yrs of working for the Network. While live on one of his final shows he dramatically tells his audience he will commit suicide on his last show. The executive board are furious and pull him screaming from his chair but viewing figures jump. Executive Diana Christensen (Faye Runaway) pursuades the board to reinstate him and viewing figures soar as his improvised angry rants resonate with the audience. Scrutinising the lengths the scrupulous & manipulative TV company's will go for higher viewing figures Paddy Chayefsky's incredible script sizzles off his pages and on to the screen as a tour de force cast deliver his lines. Peter Finch is superb as the crazed iconoclastic & morbid Beale, who tragically died shortly after filming but went on to win a post-humous best actor Oscar. But this isn't just a one man show, everyone involved is quite simply breath taking. Lumet always seems to get the best out of his actors and it's no different here. Brilliant performances from William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Robert Duvall and extraordinary cameos from Beatrice Straight & Ned Beatty (with two of the best scenes in the movie) make Network an outstanding piece of satirical work showing the manipulative power TV holds over the viewing public. It has to be right if the people on the TV are telling us this, right? Network is up there with 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon & Serpico as one of Sidney Lumet's best. I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore!

I Lost My Body is a captivating watch thanks mainly to the incredibly textured animation, but unfortunately I felt a little let down by the narrative which just seemed to go nowhere with no obvious resolution. Told through present day and two different periods of flash back we follow the hand of Naoufel which is desperate to reconnect with its owner after an accident. Prior to his accident we are drip fed information that Naoufel has had a tumultuous upbringing losing his parents in a car accident, growing up with an unloving foster parent whilst working unsuccessfully as a pizza delivery man instead of his early ambition to be a pianist or astronaut. It resonates for sure (I wanted to be a pilot or illustrator growing up, neither fulfilled like Naoufel). But after a failed pizza delivery his focus is given clarity in the form of Gabrielle. All the narrative jumps back and forth to weave the narrative together but its in the final act when the timelines converge that unfortunately Director Jérémy Clapin gave me no satisfying closure. I don't mind ambiguity in a film but this just seemed to peeter out without resolution. Undeniably the animation is mesmerising. Every frame is wonderfully drawn with texture on every surface, unlike many animated films which solely rely on one layer of shading to give form to a 2D image. The movement of the hand is also superb giving it a personality of its own as it goes on an urban assault course, avoiding both human and animal peril in order to find it's host. The music by Dan Levy is also brilliant and almost hypnotic adding atmosphere to the proceedings. Although not a perfect film I Lost My Body is a beautifully crafted animated film that might be more rewarding on repeat viewings but initially is somewhat of a disappointment due to it's ending.