Martin Scorsese has one of the most versatile bodies of work of any filmmaker, yet he is probably best known for his iconic gangster movies. The Irishman is Scorsese’s latest exploration of the world of organized crime in the tale of Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), his rise as a mob hitman and his friendship with Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).
The film is another stunning masterpiece from Scorsese and one of the nominees for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars. The film is filled with amazing scenes of these world-class actors sharing the screen in intense, funny and heartbreaking moments. And the film delivers from lines that we will not soon forget. Here are some quotes from The Irishman that will stick with us forever.
I Work Hard For Them When I Ain’t Stealing From Them
When we see Frank as a young man, he is a blue-collar man working as a driver for a butcher company. He uses this position to get in the good graces of some wise guys by supplying them with free meat. This lands him in some legal trouble which is handled by his union lawyer.
When the lawyer asks him confidentially if he stole the meat, Frank casually responds, “I work hard for them when I ain’t stealing from them”. This actually perfectly sums up Frank as a man in this world. He is completely loyal until he is not.
Only Three People In The World Have One Of These And Only One Of Them Is Irish
The fact that Frank is welcomed so openly into the Italian crime family is a big deal. As an Irishman, he shouldn’t belong but he becomes friendly with many of the top guys, especially Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci).
As he rises further up in the organization, Russell bestows a great honor on Frank by offering him a special ring worn by only two other men, Russell and Angelo Bruno (Harvey Keitel). The moment is meant to be Frank’s welcoming into an exclusive club, but he finds it comes at a high price.
Whenever Anybody Says They’re A Little Concerned, They’re Very Concerned
Scorsese’s gangster films have a wonderful way of immersing you in these insane crime worlds and giving you a sense of how they operate. They even have their own kind of language, including the degree to which one should be worried.
In a memorable moment, Frank explains the truth behind someone saying they are concerned. It’s a funny moment that hints at the high intensity of this world but also pays off wonderfully later as the “concern” over Jimmy Hoffa increases.
Don’t Call Him
Even though we know an unpleasant fate awaits Jimmy Hoffa by the end of the film, we start to trick ourselves into thinking his friend Frank will somehow get him out of all this trouble. As Frank and Russell take a road trip to a wedding, they try to arrange a sit-down with Jimmy to straighten everything out.
Frank appears to have convinced Jimmy that a sit-down is in his best interest and Frank is very relieved. But the night before, Russell calmly tells him the plans have changed and they’ve done all they could for Jimmy. He coldly and directly tells Frank not to call him. Though they are good friends, Russell still knows he can tell Frank what to do.
More Than Ten, You’re Saying Something
One unsettling aspect the film keeps coming back to is how much a situation can spiral into violence. Misunderstandings or petty differences often lead to someone’s death and such was the case with Jimmy Hoffa himself.
In one memorable scene, Jimmy meets with his rival Tony Pro (Stephen Graham) to mend their differences. But Hoffa is a man of principles and when Tony shows up late, he cannot stand for it. They get into a hilarious yet intense debate about how much time a person should wait. Jimmy sticks to his guns and insists anyone who makes him wait more than ten minutes is saying something.
If They Can Whack A President, They Can Whack A President Of A Union
Frank Sheeran’s story is one that many historians have questioned or outright refuted, but the movie doesn’t ask you to believe that this is reality. This allows the movie to tell its own story, including answering some long-held questions about real historical events.
The movie shows Frank and the mob intricately linked to President John F. Kennedy including his election and the Bay of Pigs operation. But when Frank questions whether Jimmy Hoffa could really be killed, Russell makes another startling admission saying, “If they can whack a president, they can wack a president of the union”.
So You Charge With A Gun, With A Knife, You Run
Jimmy Hoffa is a larger than life figure and Al Pacino brings him to life in such a compelling way. We totally believe this guy has the charisma and confidence to run the union and stand toe-to-toe with the mob.
During one of his many legal trials, we can a glimpse at both the charismatic side and the dangerous side of Jimmy. When a gunman tries to shoot him in court, Jimmy charges the man and the assailant is quickly subdued. Jimmy then gives an impromptu lesson to the court about how to deal with a gunman versus someone with a knife.
What Kind Of Man Makes A Call Like That?
While the organized crime elements of the story are thrilling and fascinating, some of the best parts of the movie come when Frank and the others have become old men and he looks back on his life.
Alone and in a nursing home, Frank tries to find religion in his final days. But as he meets with a priest, it becomes clear that Frank doesn’t show much remorse about his actions. The one moment where guilt weighs on him is remembering his phone call to Jimmy’s wife after his murder. Frank seems to finally confront that he is a bad person and wondering how he became like this.
It’s What It Is
Despite numerous murders throughout the movie, the violence is dealt with in a very matter-of-fact kind of way. This is just a part of life for these people and they don’t put too much thought into it. And with all the assassinations, you never hear anyone say it directly which makes it all the more chilling.
When the problem with Jimmy escalates, Russell talks to Frank to try and talk some sense to Jimmy. He calmly tells him to tell Frank, “It’s what it is”. Though a seemingly simple thing, the way that it’s said and the way people take it, it’s clear the gravity that phrase carries.
I Heard You Paint Houses
I Heard You Paint Houses is the name of the book on which the film is based and the unofficial title for the film. It also makes for one of the most memorable moments in the film with Frank and Jimmy speak for the first time over the phone.
After making polite introductions, Jimmy says “I heard you paint houses” which is code for acting as a hitman. Once again, death is dealt with in such a carefree way. The movie has introduced the term to the public and it will no doubt live on for years to come because of this film.
