THE IRISHMAN
Masterfully made, morally dark, and not recommended.
Should You Watch It?
The answer is clear even though the filmmaking is excellent: skip it. Martin Scorsese’s epic gangster drama is meticulously crafted and absorbing across 209 minutes, with electric performances from Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and especially Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa.
But the cost is excessive. The movie presents a brutal life of crime, multiple point-blank murders, corruption, mob activity, and abundant foul language. Its dark vision of America and warped relationships can support a morality lesson, but that does not make the experience suitable for your family.
The film eventually turns toward confession, God, and possible salvation through a Catholic priest. Yet it does not show Frank converting or accepting Christ, and its ending remains open-ended. For a family viewing choice, skip this one.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESFrank Sheeran, a former Teamster leader and mob hit man, looks back on his life from an old folks’ home. After serving in World War II, Frank becomes a truck driver and meets Pennsylvania mob boss Russell Bufalino.
Frank soon works as a legbreaker and hit man. He later becomes bodyguard and enforcer for Teamster president Jimmy Hoffa, whose passion for the union draws him into conflict with Mafia-connected leaders. Frank’s loyalty to two friends eventually faces its greatest test.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is outstanding filmmaking despite its length and moral darkness. THE IRISHMAN is meticulously crafted and absorbing across its 209-minute running time.
Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci portray Frank Sheeran and Russell Bufalino as cold, calculating killers. Al Pacino gives an electric performance as Jimmy Hoffa, a mad, passionate genius whose ego becomes entangled with his love for the Teamsters Union. His supercharged union speeches help explain why Teamster members loved him.
The Worldview
THE IRISHMAN presents a strong mixed pagan worldview through a man who claims to have been a Mafia and Teamsters hit man. It details a life of crime and portrays America as deeply corrupt, perhaps because men are sinful from their youth.
The film does offer moral consequences. Frank loses the respect of his daughters, and his youngest daughter never reconciles with him. Near the end, he consults a Catholic priest about God, confesses his life of crime, and hears that confessing sins and asking forgiveness might eventually lead him toward remorse. But the movie does not show Frank converting or accepting Christ. Its conclusion leaves viewers to decide whether grace and happiness ultimately eluded him.
The film’s central question concerns death, the afterlife, and our relationship with God and other people. Scripture gives the answer the movie leaves open: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong mixed pagan worldview about a man who claims to have been a hitman for the Mafia and the Teamsters Union, which was connected to the mob, where the man details his life of crime, but, at the end, he consults with a Catholic priest about his possible salvation, though the ending and final image are open-ended, the man becomes estranged from his children, and the movie can be seen as providing a morality lesson, plus the movie presents a dark vision of America as being corrupt, but perhaps because men are sinful from their youth
Foul Language
At least 211 obscenities (mostly “f” words), five GD profanities and one light profanity
Violence
Extreme violence includes multiple point blank gunshot murders with a hitman brutally killing people in cold blood and blood spraying (the blood spraying is compared to painting houses), car bombs explode, two men fight while having lunch in prison in one scene
Sex
No sex scenes implied or otherwise, but protagonist gets a divorce
Nudity
Upper male nudity in one scene
Alcohol Use
Lots of alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
Smoking but no drug references;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Very strong miscellaneous immorality includes union corruption, stealing, much gangster activity, mobsters raid union pension fund, lying, man steals meat from his meat truck and denies having any knowledge of the theft, man prepares to commit arson against a laundry company but stops when he learns the Mafia has a piece of the action.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film portrays a life shaped by violence and corruption. What does Scripture say about the condition of the human heart and the path of sin?
Romans 3:23 · James 1:14–15Frank speaks with a priest about confession and forgiveness, but the movie does not show him accepting Christ. What does genuine repentance involve?
Acts 3:19 · 2 Corinthians 7:10Frank loses the respect of his daughters and never reconciles with his youngest daughter. How do our choices affect those closest to us?
Galatians 6:7–8 · Ephesians 4:31–32The story asks viewers to consider death and ultimate destiny. Where does Scripture direct us to place our hope?
John 3:16 · 1 Peter 1:3–4The Final Word
THE IRISHMAN is exceptionally well made, but its extreme violence, abundant profanity, and very strong criminal immorality make it a poor choice for your family. The film gestures toward confession and salvation without showing conversion. Our answer is clear: SKIP IT. For better options, see.
