The Irishman

The Irishman

Year: 2019

Runtime: 209 min

Language: English

Director: Martin Scorsese

Echo Score: 89

Budget: $159M

BiographyDramaHistoryThrillerCrime

Frank Sheeran, a World War II veteran, recounts his life as a hustler and eventually a hitman in post-war America. His path crosses with notorious figures of the 20th century, leading him into a world of organized crime and political intrigue. The film explores Sheeran's involvement in the disappearance of union boss Jimmy Hoffa, revealing a complex web of rivalries and the dark undercurrents of American history across several decades.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Irishman (2019)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Irishman (2019). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1950s, 1960s, early 2000s

The movie spans several decades, beginning in the 1950s when Frank Sheeran becomes entrenched in the mob lifestyle. The turbulent 1960s witness significant political and social changes, paralleling the rise and fall of key criminal figures, with a reflective return to the early 2000s in a retirement home reflecting on the past.

Location

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is a historic city known for its rich culture and pivotal role in American history. As the setting for Frank Sheeran's early life, it represents both his humble beginnings as a truck driver and the ominous undercurrents of organized crime that would shape his destiny.

🏙️ City 🚚 Transportation

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 18:53

Main Characters – The Irishman (2019)

Meet the key characters of The Irishman (2019), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Frank Sheeran

Frank Sheeran is a conflicted protagonist whose journey from a humble truck driver to a notorious hit-man illustrates the dark allure of organized crime. His character embodies loyalty, betrayal, and the heavy toll of violent choices, which ultimately alienate him from his family and loved ones.

🕵️‍♂️ Hit-man ⚔️ Conflict 💔 Betrayal

Russell Bufalino

Russell Bufalino serves as a mentor and mob boss figure for Frank, drawing him deeper into the criminal underworld. His calm demeanor belies a cunning intelligence, and his relationship with Frank showcases the mentor-student dynamic that fluctuates between trust and ulterior motives.

👨‍👦 Mentor 😈 Mobster

Jimmy Hoffa

Jimmy Hoffa is a charismatic yet volatile leader of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, whose ambition and desire for power lead to his downfall. His complex relationship with Frank highlights themes of loyalty and the stark realities of political maneuvering within the mob.

💼 Leader 📉 Ambitious 🔥 Charismatic

Peggy Sheeran

Peggy Sheeran is Frank's daughter, whose perspective serves as a haunting reminder of the personal costs of her father's criminal life. Her evolving understanding of Frank's actions culminates in a profound emotional distance that drives the narrative's emotional core.

👧 Daughter 💔 Emotion 🚪 Distance

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 18:53

Major Themes – The Irishman (2019)

Explore the central themes of The Irishman (2019), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️‍♂️ Loyalty and Betrayal

The film intricately explores themes of loyalty and betrayal within the criminal underworld. Frank's relationships with figures like Hoffa highlight the complexity of trust in a life driven by violence and self-preservation. Ultimately, his betrayal of Hoffa marks a profound moment of moral conflict.

👨‍👧 Family Dynamics

Family plays a crucial role in the narrative, particularly illustrated through Frank's strained relationship with his daughter, Peggy. The cost of his life choices leads to an emotional distance from his family, culminating in a poignant longing for connection in his final days.

🔫 Crime and Consequences

The film emphasizes the relentless grip of crime on personal lives, portraying a gritty reality filled with violence and moral decay. Frank's involvement in organized crime brings both power and tragedy, culminating in a series of consequences that haunt him until his last moments.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 18:53

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Bleak crime epics with heavy regret like The Irishman

Slow-paced crime epics that dwell on the moral cost and lonely consequences.If you liked the reflective, somber tone of The Irishman, explore more movies like it. This collection features sprawling crime dramas and biographies that prioritize the emotional fallout of a life of violence over action, leaving characters with profound loneliness and bleak endings.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically span decades, tracing a character's rise within a criminal organization or violent lifestyle. The narrative momentum comes not from heists or chases, but from the gradual accumulation of moral compromises, culminating in a final act of isolation where the character is left to confront the emptiness of their choices.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared commitment to exploring crime as a source of tragedy rather than glamour. They share a slow, deliberate pacing, a melancholic tone, and a heavy emotional weight centered on themes of aging, regret, and the irreversible decay of personal bonds.

Movies with tragic father-daughter relationships like The Irishman

Stories where a father's moral failings sever his most important bond.For viewers moved by the heartbreaking estrangement between Frank and Peggy in The Irishman, this list features similar movies where a father's life of crime or moral compromise leads to the irreversible loss of his daughter's love and respect.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a father figure whose profession or personal code is at odds with being a good parent. The daughter, often observant and morally clear, becomes increasingly distant as she witnesses his true nature. The story's emotional climax is not an action sequence, but the quiet, devastating moment of permanent estrangement.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their focus on a specific type of emotional tragedy: the cost of a man's actions measured by the loss of his child's love. They share a heavy emotional weight, a somber mood, and often a bleak ending feel, as this particular loss is portrayed as unforgivable and final.

Unlock the Full Story of The Irishman

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Irishman in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Irishman is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Irishman Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Irishman, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Irishman Summary

The Irishman Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Irishman with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Irishman Timeline

The Irishman Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of The Irishman? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

The Irishman Ending Explained

The Irishman Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Irishman that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Irishman Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Irishman

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Irishman: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Irishman

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