Stephen Graham is the kind of actor whose talent can never be praised enough. A versatile performer who always imbues his characters with an empathetic blend of heart and raw emotion, the actor first courted mainstream audiences with a series of supporting roles throughout the early 2000s. Subsequently working in franchises as lucrative as Pirates of the Caribbean and projects as acclaimed as Boardwalk Empire, Graham has only garnered broader recognition in recent days, his reputation peaking with the breakout success of Adolescence earlier this year.
As a result, it’s easy to overlook many of Graham’s more subtle accomplishments, such as his long partnership with the mafia don of moviemaking himself, Martin Scorsese. Beginning with Graham’s work in 2002’s Gangs of New York, the pair have crossed paths many times over the years, but no collaboration has been quite as memorable or high profile as Graham’s casting in The Irishman. Starring as Anthony Provenzano, or Tony Pro, in the film, Graham’s supporting role in Scorsese’s swansong to the mob not only lends the film one of its standout moments but also qualifies as one of the funniest scenes Scorsese has ever directed in his long, prestigious career.
Stephen Graham Wears Shorts To Meet Al Pacino in Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Irishman’
The scene in question unfolds just over halfway through The Irishman‘s infamous runtime, after the embattled Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) is released from prison and attempts to regain control of his union. Short on the votes required to wrench power away from the teamsters’ replacement, Jimmy meets with Graham’s Tony Pro in order to sway him to his side. However, due to a scuffle the two shared while imprisoned together, Tony Pro decides to show up late wearing shorts, offending Jimmy’s aggressive sense of business decorum. What follows is a hilarious meeting from hell that goes off the rails before it even starts, consisting of a quick mention of votes before Jimmy spearheads an increasingly awkward conversation about traffic times and the insult of business casual.
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Despite his character playing a secondary role in The Irishman‘s acclaimed story, what really stands out about this scene is Graham’s powerful screen presence. Sitting at a table with both Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, Graham not only manages to hold his own but also throws Pacino’s quiet menace back at him while effortlessly embodying the proud bravado of a strongman resolved to stand his ground. This aloof characterization only heightens the scene’s comedy by drawing a sharp contrast to Jimmy’s mounting frustrations and the helpless attempts by De Niro’s Frank Sheeran to defuse the tension, creating an entertaining break from the dark stakes of a film that is otherwise brimming with brutal violence.
Graham’s Role in ‘The Irishman’ Showcases Martin Scorsese’s Bitter Brand of Comedy
In a broader context, this scene also highlights Scorsese’s unique use of comedy in his films. While you’d be hard-pressed to call the filmmaker’s bloody repertoire lighthearted, it’s also impossible to ignore that some of Scorsese’s darkest films feature hilarious moments that have become completely ingrained in pop culture. Think Joe Pesci‘s “funny like a clown” scene in Goodfellas or the incomprehensibly absurd, Quaalude-driven antics scattered throughout The Wolf of Wall Street. Like Graham’s scene in The Irishman, these moments give audiences a moment to catch their breath in films otherwise defined by high body counts and tragic character endings. They are also borne out of the massive egos that populate the crime-ridden sandbox in which Scorsese loves to play.
Whether it’s Tommy or Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) taking offense to some perceived disrespect, Scorsese’s ability to spin absurd moments out of his characters’ own insecurities is part of what makes his films feel so layered and memorable. By achieving a seamless balance of laughter and lawless slaughter, Scorsese prevents his movies’ tones from ever falling completely flat while simultaneously satirizing the excesses of America’s underworld. As one of the most recent examples of Scorsese squeezing an amusingly awkward scene out of a man desperately trying to feel powerful, The Irishman‘s meeting between Jimmy and Tony Pro therefore embodies Scorsese’s unique approach to humor in his films.
While not as offensively hectic as The Wolf of Wall Street, as bone-chilling as Goodfellas, or as expletive-laden as The Departed, this moment nonetheless moves Scorsese’s story forward with a grounded dose of humor, allowing audiences to better understand why the filmmaker’s storytelling is so successful. Likewise, for those who are either longtime fans of Graham or just now beginning to delve into his accomplished career, this scene can greatly expand your understanding of the performer. Aside from proving he can act at the highest caliber, this moment underscores Graham’s range and ability to immerse himself in any role, demonstrating the kind of cinematic history that can be made when two dedicated creatives combine their talents and work together.
The Irishman
- Release Date
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November 27, 2019
- Runtime
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210 minutes
