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2019 Cinematic Icons Robert DeNiro & Martin

23rd, Scorsese Bring “The Irishman” To Life Adding

October To Their Catalog Of Mob Mayhem

| By Brad Balfour 2007 she and partner DeNiro
EXAMINER WMartin Scorsese have Machine.” “On a call with
hile master actor Robert were trying to make another
DeNiro and director movie, “The Winter of Frankie

IRISH established voluminous and highly Paramount Pictures head Brad
praised careers separate from each Bray, Bob brought up this other
other, the work they’ve together has book that he had read and said,
stirred huzzahs that have made them ‘Maybe we could do this togeth-
Olympiansofcinema.Whetheritwas er or maybe not.’ The book was
“Taxi Driver or “Raging Bull,” their ‘I Hear You Paint Houses,’ and
collaborations have raised the level we decided we should do that.”
of cinematic art and establish a With that, Scorsese respond-
dynamic that has been truly special. ed, “When Bob presented the
Over 50 years, the Academy Award- book to me, it seemed that he
winning filmmaker also crafted iconic was very strongly attached to
gangsterstoriesfrom“MeanStreets”to the character. We didn’t have to
“Goodfellas”and“Casino;”now“The say much. After the phone call lenge for any actor. For Helman and Maya had come thought, ‘why is he doing this
Irishman”joinsthatlist. with Brad, I got Steve [Zaillian] Scorsese, this film offered an up with a solution for the de- again?’”
While the jury hasn’t really to write the script. That was opportunity for him to finally aging process that wouldn’t Scorsese explained, “I always
entered the box yet on “The about 10 years ago.” work with Pacino, who plays interfere with Bob and Joe — told this story about the first day
Irishman” — it will take time Based on Charles Brandt’s the legendary Teamster leader. like talking to each other with shooting with you, getting out
and a shelf full of awards to 2004’s book, “The Irishman” The award-winning actor helmets on or tennis balls on of the chair. It was you and me,
establish its ultimate status — stars DeNiro [who is part Irish], remembered, “Oh yeah, it was their faces. We did tests a few and you were complaining
the talk is good. It has received Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci as Frank because in today’s world, you years ago, but it’s a costly about “those Kennedys they go
incredible reviews when it "The Irishman" Sheeran, Jimmy have a lot of access to those experiment. Yet Ted and every- to war with these people” —
opened the New York Film Hoffa, and Russell Bufalino, kinds of characters because of one at Netflix said, ‘go with it!’ remember on the TV? That was
Festival, making it a certain respectively; in it, Sheeran people who know them, or Creatively, they turned to us the first time I have ever worked
Oscar contender. Scorsese’s recounts his job as a union offi- knew them, there’s books about and there was no interference with you too and I said, ‘That’s
three-hour long epic was com- cial who doubles as a hitman for them. We had access to all that. of any kind. There were some great!’ It was really good what
pared to a Rembrandt painting the Bufalino crime family. Born When I played Serpico, the notes from time to time and we he did and I said one more take
by The New York Times and in 1920 to Philadelphia-base thoughtofhimonavideosome- addressed them or not. and he gets up out of the chair,
the film received an unprece- house painter Thomas Francis where was, I mean it was not “The point is that it was nec- yells at the TV and leaves again,
dented 100% “fresh”rating from Sheeran Jr., and Mary Agnes even a thought, but I had him. essarily an interesting hybrid in at which point I say, ‘Good,
Rotten Tomatoes. Hanson, the young Sheeran That’s always an advantage. But a way, because it hung in the maybe we’ll do one more and I
But getting the film financed grew up in a small working-class Jimmy knew so much about it, I balance [for] what a film is. All think we can move on.’
for both big and small screen — Irish neighborhood on the out- grew up at the time of it.” of this is an extraordinary time “There were two cameras
this time around, it’s Netflix’s skirts of Philadelphia, Darby, The movie also re-teams the of change, but when it comes going, and this was [with] the
movie — again presented a Pennsylvania. As a World War director with DeNiro and Pesce down to it, ultimately, we all three lenses on each camera. I
daunting challenge to Scorsese II veteran, he learned his killing who last worked together felt the picture had to be made think it was [cinematographer]
and DeNiro. Recalled the leg- skills fighting in many important maybe 20 years ago. As DeNiro for ourselves really. We had to Rodrigo Pietro, Pablo and I
endary 76-year-old director, battles in Italy. noted, “Opportunities passed check in with each other; you think Gary. It isn’t just about
“There’s a really long history “The Irishman” received and then Joe and I would talk know, as you grow older, peo- lenses and computer imagery.
because Bob and I really wanted incredible reviews, making it an about the movie too. We went ple change differently at times It’s about posture, it’s about
to work together since we did obvious Oscar contender in a through our own process of and you grow separate away movement, it’s about every-
‘Casino’ which was in 1995, and variety of categories. Scorsese’s talking about it as far as all that from each other. This was not thing, so there were people on
we would check with each other film has been compared to a goes. But I’m just happy we all the case; we just kept coming each element dealing with the
and what we were doing, what Rembrandt painting by The finally got to do it because it did back and still have a telepathic actors on this. And Gary came
projects we were doing, things New York Times and received take a long time. The way that way of working together, par- over and said, ‘I have to tell you
like that, never quite connect- an unprecedented 100 percent Martin was able to do it and the ticularly with certain charac- something.’ And I’m like
ing.” “fresh” rating from Rotten way that we wanted to do it, we ters. And, It’s my first time ‘What?’ and he says, ‘He’s sup-
Added the Oscar-winning Tomatoes. were lucky to have the people working with Al, finally!” posed to be 49.’ I said, ‘Why are
actor, “Yeah, we were talking In the film, the killer looks that put up the money.” To which, Al chimed in, “I you telling me?’ he says, ‘No,
about two years before, and I back on his Mafia life, the hits Scorsese agreed, “Yes, that read the script, I promise!” you have to tell him!’ I walk
said now I should just read it for that defined his career, and the was the key! We couldn’t get a On that, Scorsese replied: “I over and say, ‘Al, everything’s
research on Frankie Machine. part he claims to have played in backer, there was no way, for know because the marks you hit fine, but one of the things is that
And then I read it.” the disappearance of life-long years. But, ultimately it was and the lines were very specific. when you get out of the chair,
The 76-year-old actor is refer- friend Jimmy Hoffa, the former [Netflix’s] Ted Serrandos. They Certain people think he would you’re supposed to be 49.’ Al’s
ring to another project that had president of the International actually backed the film and have a lack of appreciation… like, ‘Oh God, Okay!’ We were
been under consideration, “The Brotherhood of Teamsters, who financed it.” You know it’s there, it’s in the sculptingthis whole thing, itwas
Winter of Frankie Machine.” mysteriously vanished in late Still there was another huge script, but it is the interpretation. like working models in a way,
Though it was pitched for possi- July 1975 at age 62. A classic challenge facing the director. The 79-year-old master thes- plus the truth about how they’re
ble production, it fell to this proj- mobbed-up union figure fight- The story spans three decades pian added, “Somebody said to interpreting. It’s an extraordi-
ect to get made. How did it get ing for his constituency — while and more. And that offered a me, about the age thing, and nary experience!”
started? Producer Jane taking wads of cash under the unique opportunity. “[Visual they showed me this thing of To which Pacino acknowl-
Rosenthal had explained that in table — Hoffa provided a chal- effects supervisor] Pablo Bob doing Good Fellas, and I edged, “Young again!” C