Is The Irishman woke?
Movie · Released November 1, 2019
The Irishman has a wokeness score of 1/10, which we rate as Not Woke. No political or woke messaging whatsoever. Focuses entirely on story, characters, fun, or escapism.
Key points
- All-male historical cast with no diversity or inclusion mandates in mafia and union portrayals.
- Focuses on loyalty, violence, and personal regret without modern social or political overlays.
- Examines 20th-century crime and corruption through pure narrative, avoiding ideological lectures.
Wokeness analysis
The Irishman is a straightforward epic gangster film directed by Martin Scorsese, centered on the life of Frank Sheeran, a WWII veteran who becomes a mob hitman and associate of union leader Jimmy Hoffa. The narrative follows his rise in organized crime, involvement in key historical events like Hoffa's disappearance, and reflections on loyalty, violence, and regret in old age. There is no progressive social or political messaging, no emphasis on marginalized group representation, and no attempts at indoctrination or contemporary social commentary. The cast is predominantly male and drawn from traditional Hollywood stars portraying historical figures without any forced diversity or inclusion elements. Themes of corruption in unions and the mafia are presented through a historical lens focused on personal downfall rather than systemic critiques aligned with modern ideologies. Analyses of the film highlight its examination of empire and power structures in a non-didactic manner, consistent with Scorsese's prior crime dramas like Goodfellas. One outlier discussion of toxic masculinity is explicitly rejected by critics as inapplicable, underscoring the film's lack of engagement with current cultural debates. Entertainment derives entirely from character study, period detail, and storytelling without ideological intrusion.
Plot
The Irishman follows Frank Sheeran, a World War II veteran turned truck driver who becomes a hitman for the Bufalino crime family. He rises through the ranks of organized crime while working closely with Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa. The story spans decades as Sheeran reflects from a nursing home on his life, key murders, connections to powerful figures, and his alleged role in Hoffa's 1975 disappearance. Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, the film explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the toll of a violent life in post-war America. Based on the book I Heard You Paint Houses, it premiered at the New York Film Festival in September 2019 with a limited theatrical release on November 1, 2019, followed by Netflix streaming.
Analyzed by AI on October 21, 2026