Considering that the movie is mostly about a man who had claimed to have killed Jimmy Hoffa and also the fact that there is quite a bit of mystique and speculation on how he actually had been killed, I think this title would be more succinct and have more emotional impact.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the movie. I think that Al Pacino was great in it, and considering that he is pushing 80 years old now, he also looked looked great.
That has to be one of the worst ideas I've seen in a long time. That's the title you'd give to a documentary, not a Scorsese film. Like calling 'Goodfellas' 'The Rise and Fall of Henry Hill', just embarrassing
shareI prefer "The Irishman" as a title. The movie's about the life of its main character, so he gets the title. It's also a character who invites some mystery: who exactly was this guy, what did he do, and what's his connection to Hoffa and the other major players of the day? His life is a bit opaque - doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve, we don't know who he is as much as some of the other characters - so to call him "The Irishman" in the title is to lend a bit of mystery and a bit of distance to him, which makes us want to know more.
Maybe there's a better title out there for the film, but The Death of Jimmy Hoffa is too on the nose, too much about a secondary character (however prominent that character is), and doesn't really make me want to know more.
Kind of an insult to all Irish in a way.
shareI think one would have to really want to be insulted, or to find insult, to perceive the title as a knock against the Irish.
shareBottom line it's a shitty title. Better to call it "The House Painter" or "The Corruptors" or lots of other things.
shareThe alternate title, within the film, of "I Paint Houses" would have been a great title. I'd go with "The House Painter", sure; that one's good.
I disagree that The Irishman is a bad title, though. I like it.
The title is bland like most movie titles. Back to the future is a great title because of the contradiction of going back to the future. I wish Tinseltown would
shareOr "Martin Scorsese's Theory on the Disappearance of James Hoffa".