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Friday, November 29, 2019

Report Card---"The Irishman".

"The Irishman" is the "Forrest Gump" of gangster films.  Everything that everyone knows about
gangsterial events in the 1950's, 60's, and 70/s, come up in "The Irishman".
From the point of view of the perpetrators.
That's the main problem with it.
The less you know about the era and gangsters, the more you should like this movie.
I knew way too much.
There were virtually no surprises.
Yet, there are great performances with an all-star cast---Pacino, DeNiro, Pesci, Keitel.

On to the scoring.

Is it interesting?

The first hour is.  Until you realize that you know exactly where it's going.  Then it's all about enjoying the acting.
B+.

Compelling even?

It's as well told as a gangster movie can be.  But still not compelling.
B+.

Is it good storytelling?

First rate.
A+.

Is. it well written?

Very. 
A.

Is it well cast? Well played?

Extremely.  And really nice turns by Steve Van Zandt as Jerry Vale, and Jim Norton as Don Rickles.
A+.

Did the director put such a personal stamp on it so that no one else could have made it?

It reeks of Scorcese.
A+.

How long does it take to establish the film's locale and time period?

Immediately.  It flips around from the 50's to the 70's.  You can tell by the cars.
A+.

Is it too long? Too short?

It's 3 and a half hours, but I didn't feel any length at all.
A+. 

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?.

Totally, and totally.
A+.
.
Is it predictable?

Totally.
C.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

Not really.
C.
  
Is it funny?

It has it's moments.
B.
.
Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?

It's on Netflix, so not an issue.
No grade. 

Is it impressive?

Extremely.
A+.

Overall grade: A.

I wish I was a little less gangster-literate.

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My books, "Show Runner" and "Show Runner 2" can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store,
along with newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.,
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not e-books.
But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, there's my reading of my screenplay of my unmade "Laverne and Shirley" movie on "YouTube".

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Hi. I am, according to my Wikipedia entry,(which I did not create) a noted television writer, playwright, screenwriter, and occasional actor. You can Google me or go to the IMDB to get my credits, and you can come here to get my opinions on things, which I'll try to express eloquently. Hopefully I'll succeed. You can also e-mail me at macchus999@aol.com. Perhaps my biggest claim to fame is being responsible, for about six months in 1975, while Head Writer for the "Happy Days" TV series, for Americans saying to each other "Sit on it."