Is the CGI in The Irishman 2019 Really Horrid? Debunking the Controversy

I know I was.

Many viewers, including myself, found the de-aging effects in The Irishman to be quite horrid. In the case of Robert De Niro, the de-aging looked particularly terrible. While I found it more effective for Al Pacino, the character he played, he isn't as easily compared to a real-life persona like Jimmy Hoffa, which meant that any inaccuracies stood out more.

Of course, De Niro doesn’t look anything like Frank Sheeran. The bigger issue with the de-aging effects, however, is the overall believability. In the scene where De Niro assaults the shop owner, the way he clutches his left hand doesn’t convey a man in his prime. For me, it was a distraction that suggested the de-aging effects needed work. When I watched the movie, I mistakenly assumed Frank Sheeran to be in his 60s, considering his appearance in the film. But, in reality, Sheeran was in his 40s at the time. Here is De Niro in his actual 40s from the 1988 film Midnight Run:

How was the De-aging Perceived?

Some viewers, however, disagreed. In fact, many others found the CGI effects in The Irishman to be quite fine. Particularly in the case of Al Pacino, the de-aging effects were more seamless, making the transition more convincing. This illustrates the subjective nature of visual effects and how different viewers can perceive the same technology in different ways.

My Background in Film

As someone who has worked in the film industry for years and has extensively written about visual effects, I can attest that the CGI in The Irishman was on par with industry standards. However, the quality of visual effects doesn't always translate to audience satisfaction. The Irishman is a case in point, where the de-aging effects, while professional, didn't quite capture the essence of the real-life personas they were aiming to portray.

Is the Controversy Over?

The debate over the CGI in The Irishman highlights the ongoing tension between technical achievement and narrative effectiveness. While the film received high praise from critics and earned many accolades, the de-aging controversy remains a point of contention for some audiences.

Key Takeaways

De-aging can be a powerful tool in film but requires careful consideration to maintain believability. The quality of visual effects is subjective, and different viewers can have very different opinions on what looks good. The success of a film depends on a balance between technical excellence and narrative coherence.

In conclusion, while some may find the CGI in The Irishman to be horrid, many others see it as finely executed. The key to understanding the impact of visual effects lies in the overall narrative and how well it resonates with viewers.