Why you want to see The Irishman today

Will this then be Netflix's very first Oscar contender? Will it become an Oscar winner? There has been a long debate in Hollywood about whether streaming films should be eligible for that coveted golden statue. Initially, the rules stated that a film had to have been shown in a theater to be eligible for an Academy Award. And that is not the case with Netflix, of course. Fortunately (for Netflix, many filmmakers do not agree), it was decided in their favor, but they still played it safe and ensured that the new hit The Irishman was shown in a small number of cinemas.

Because The Irishman, that's where Netflix is putting its money when it comes to the Oscars. Seems like an obvious choice to me: director Martin Scorsese (for the first time in a while without Leo DiCaprio), Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci... It couldn't really go wrong. And it didn't, because it has been online since Wednesday and I must say: it truly lives up to the expectations. It should, considering the film cost around 300 million. All for an Oscar, right?.

But converted, that's still quite reasonable (for Hollywood standards), because that's just over a million per minute. Yes, seriously. The film lasts almost 3.5 hours. Not exactly a film you watch quickly in between. No, you really need to manage your time for this one. But honestly: the film is long, but I wasn't bored for a moment. So that says something.

If you're somewhat familiar with the actors, it probably won't surprise you that it's a gangster film. And — I always find this very interesting — based on a true story. The story of professional hitman Frank Sheeran (De Niro) and the (still officially unsolved) disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. If those names don't ring a bell, I recommend you look into it. Very interesting, and especially this Frank Sheeran had quite a tumultuous life: according to sources, he may have even had something to do with John F. Kennedy. Hmm, I do enjoy a conspiracy theory from time to time, so I'm totally on board with this.

But anyway, 3.5 hours. That's going to be a very short Friday afternoon drink today if you want to be done before midnight, but it's worth it, trust me. And I'll reassure you right away, because in the next Martin Scorsese film, Leo DiCaprio will be back in action. Phew.