This week, we talk about The Irishman, the new Netflix funded film from Martin Scorsese.
Based on the book I Heard You Paint Houses, The Irishman tells the story of Frank Sheeran. A truck driver who rises through the ranks of the criminal underworld. Under the tutelage of the notorious mobster, Russel Bufalini, Frank soon gets promoted from deliveryman to hitman for hire. He eventually rises to power and ends up working for the powerful teamster, Jimmy Hoffa.
The film is directed by Martin Scorsese, with a cast comprising of Robert Deniro, Al Pacino, Harvey Keitel and Joe Pesci. You can only expect powerhouse performances from these legendary performers. However, the film received a small theatrical run, despite the star power behind the scenes.
We ask if movies like The Irishman should be limited to streaming platforms like Netflix. Or with the current state of mainstream films and trends in the box-office, is this a paradigm shift in cinema? Are streaming platforms the place to go for filmmakers to achieve creative freedom while attaining the budget needed, outside the current studio system?