The Irishman

The curtain opens on a somber scene: Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), an aging veteran of World War II, sits confined to a wheelchair in a retirement home, his mind wandering back through the decades to relive the turbulent events that have brought him to this crossroads. As he reflects on his life as a "house painter" - a euphemism for hitman - we are transported to the 1950s, where Frank resides in Pennsylvania, eking out a living as a truck driver for a meat-packing company. He's married to Mary (Aleksa Palladino) and has a young daughter, Peggy (Lucy Gallina), bringing a sense of normalcy to his otherwise precarious existence.

It is during this period that Frank crosses paths with Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci), a formidable figure who advises him on matters of the heart - or rather, the truck. Their initial encounter is marked by an air of mystery, as Russell declines to introduce himself, instead departing with a cryptic warning: "Take care of yourself." This enigmatic stranger's counsel will prove pivotal in Frank's future endeavors.

As Frank navigates the complexities of his profession, he finds himself drawn into the orbit of local gangster Felix "Skinny Razor" DiTullio (Bobby Cannavale), who cultivates a lucrative business partnership with Frank. A chance encounter during one of his deliveries, however, sets off a chain reaction that will have far-reaching consequences: a client discovers that Frank's truck is empty, leading his employers to accuse him of theft. Seeking guidance, Frank turns to lawyer Bill Bufalino (Ray Romano), who skillfully navigates the situation by advising Frank to maintain silence on the identities of those he has been serving.

The wheels of fate continue to turn as Frank meets Russell under more formal circumstances, courtesy of Bill's introduction. Over a meal, Frank regales Russell with tales of his wartime exploits, highlighting his proficiency in eliminating enemy targets - a skillset that will serve him well in the years to come.

Frank is subsequently approached by Whispers (Paul Herman), a low-level gangster, who requests his services to eliminate both Russell and Angelo Bruno (Harvey Keitel). Frank's hesitation ultimately proves decisive, as he decides against taking action and instead shares the information with Russell and Angelo. In a gesture of goodwill, Frank offers to return the payment to Whispers, but Angelo assures him that this will no longer be necessary.

As the narrative hurtles forward, we find Frank returning home to discover his daughter Peggy distraught. Mary reveals that Peggy had an unfortunate encounter at the local supermarket, where she accidentally knocked over a display and was subsequently berated by the store owner. Frank's paternal instincts are triggered as he takes Peggy back to the market, where he confronts the offending party in a violent outburst. This episode culminates in a vicious assault that leaves the store owner battered and bloodied, his dignity shattered. The aftermath is marked by Peggy's increasing trepidation around her father, a dynamic that will continue to unfold as Frank navigates the consequences of his actions.

As Russell's criminal empire flourishes, he invites Frank to join the fold as a skilled hitman, introducing him to a rogues' gallery of underworld figures whose gruesome fates are cryptically revealed through onscreen text. Meanwhile, Frank's personal life undergoes a significant transformation as he leaves his wife Mary for Irene (Stephanie Kurtzuba), with whom he goes on to have two more daughters, Connie and Dolores. His reputation as a "house painter" eventually catches the attention of union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino), who reaches out to Frank after hearing about his work. This marks the beginning of a complex alliance between Frank, Russell, and Jimmy, with the latter's International Brotherhood of Teamsters serving as the umbrella organization for their illicit activities.

As Frank becomes Jimmy's trusted bodyguard, he also brings him into his own family circle, where Peggy is surprisingly enamored with Jimmy - even more so than she is with Russell, whom she knows to be a troublemaker. This dynamic is further complicated by Jimmy's deep-seated animosity towards the Kennedys, which reaches a fever pitch following JFK's election in 1960. When Jimmy launches into a tirade against the new administration, he unwittingly targets Frank as well, only to reassure him that his ire is not directed at his trusted associate.

In the aftermath of JFK's assassination, Jimmy's callous comment about Bobby Kennedy (Jack Huston), the former Attorney General, sets the stage for a confrontation between the two. As Bobby forms a task force to take down Jimmy, the union leader finds himself arrested and charged with jury tampering. In Jimmy's absence, Frank "Fitz" Fitzsimmons (Gary Basaraba) assumes control of the Teamsters, using the organization's funds to fuel his own selfish ambitions or extend loans to organized crime.

Jimmy's imprisonment proves a fertile ground for further drama as he crosses paths with Tony Provezano (Stephen Graham), the vice president of the Teamsters. Despite their shared animosity towards each other, they attempt to resolve their differences through a heated conversation that ultimately devolves into a violent brawl, halted only by the intervention of guards and fellow inmates.

As the vibrant parade procession unfolds, a sudden and shocking act of violence cuts through the festive atmosphere. A hapless mobster falls to the ground, felled by a ruthless assassin. Frank and Russell swiftly deduce that this brutal killing was orchestrated by Crazy Joe Gallo (Sebastian Maniscalco), a hotheaded enforcer notorious for his reckless behavior. When Frank and Russell accompany Joe to a Don Rickles (Jim Norton) performance on his birthday, they're met with an unpredictable outburst of temper when Joe takes offense to the comedian's wisecracking humor. It becomes clear that Joe is a liability, and Frank is dispatched to eliminate him. Flashing back to the past, we see Frank meticulously selecting weapons for the task at hand. He tracks down Joe, who's enjoying a family dinner at Umberto's, and delivers a swift and merciless execution outside. With his mission accomplished, Frank makes his escape.

Meanwhile, Jimmy emerges from prison, granted a presidential pardon by Richard Nixon. Though he can't return to the Teamsters, he's determined to reclaim his former influence. This involves discrediting rival Teamster leaders and dismissing the crime families' authority. Russell implores Frank to reason with Jimmy about his erratic behavior, but Jimmy confidently asserts that he's untouchable, threatening dire consequences for anyone who dares to harm him.

The narrative jumps forward to 1975, where Frank, Russell, Irene, and Russell's wife Carrie (Kathrine Narducci) are en route to a wedding celebration for Bill's daughter. The story has intermittently cut between this pivotal event since the outset. As they arrive at their destination, Russell informs Frank that it's time to take care of Jimmy once and for all. Frank travels to Detroit, where Jimmy is scheduled to meet with Tony Pro and Anthony Giacalone (Patrick Gallo). However, Jimmy is taken aback when he finds Frank accompanied by his foster son Chuckie O'Brien (Jesse Plemons) and fellow gangster Sally Bugs (Louis Cancelmi), assuming that Tony Pro has stood him up. He's subsequently directed to a new location where Tony and Russell are waiting for him. Frank leads Jimmy to this deserted house, only to reveal it's empty. As Jimmy grows increasingly uneasy and suspicious, he begins to leave, but Frank strikes twice, executing Jimmy with a pair of deadly shots to the back of his head. Leaving Jimmy's lifeless body behind, Frank departs, and it's later discovered by two men who cremate his remains.

As Jimmy's disappearance sends shockwaves across the nation, the Sheeran household becomes a hub of anxiety. Frank nonchalantly remarks about not having reached Jo (Jimmy's wife) yet, prompting Peggy (Anna Paquin), now a perceptive young adult, to intuitively link her father's actions to whatever fate befell Jimmy. This realization marks the day that Peggy effectively cut ties with Frank.

Meanwhile, in the present, Frank recounts how his life unraveled after Jimmy vanished. The authorities swoop in, arresting Frank and other suspects in connection with Jimmy's disappearance. As tensions escalate, lives are lost - Sally Bugs meets a tragic end, while Tony Pro succumbs to mortality. Amidst this chaos, Frank shares a poignant moment with Russell in prison before Russell is rushed to the hospital, where he ultimately passes away.

Frank's fortunes take a turn for the worse when he's released from prison and forced into a retirement home, his cancer-ravaged body struggling to cope with even the simplest physical tasks. A visit to Peggy at her bank job ends in disaster, as she recoils upon laying eyes on Frank, leaving him heartbroken. His attempts to mend relationships with other family members also flounder.

As death's shadow looms large, Frank prepares for his own mortality by selecting a green coffin and the final resting place that will be his eternal home. As night falls, an orderly escorts Frank back to his room, where he requests that the door remain open, holding onto a glimmer of hope that perhaps someone from his family will still come to visit him, offering a fleeting sense of connection before the darkness closes in.