Is The Irishman a true story? The Netflix film leaves out mysterious details surrounding real Jimmy Hoffa’s death
NETFLIX released The Irishman on November 27, 2019, and it has certainly generated plenty of buzz.
But is the new film based on a true story? You can find out below.
Is The Irishman a true story?
One of the newest films to come out on Netflix tells the true story of union leader Jimmy Hoffa, who was allegedly assassinated by Frank Sheeran, a union official.
After serving as the President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, from 1957 to 1971, Hoffa mysteriously disappeared in 1975 and was never found.
He was legally declared presumed dead in 1982.
Frank Sheeran, who was a member of the army and fought in World War II from 1941, honed his craft in Europe and later returned to the US as a hitman.
His work saw him employed by the infamous Bufalino crime family and that is where he began to form a close relationship with Hoffa.
The film is told from the viewpoint of an elderly Sheeran, reflecting on the life he has lived.
How did Hoffa die and why has it still not been solved?
The mystery surrounding Hoffa's death remains today.
Though hid death remains unknown, the consensus is that it was a mob-related hit.
He stayed on as Teamsters union president until 1971 despite being sentenced to 13 years in prison from 1967, refusing to resign from his post.
He was released from prison after serving just five years.
Many believe his death came after he ignored the ruling that he could not participate in union activity until 1980 and worked behind closed doors to regain his authority.
His endeavours to re-assert his power did not go down well with his mob associates and this gave them motive to take him out, but it's never been confirmed that this actually happened.
The location of where Hoffa was last seen was his home in Detroit, where he left to have a meeting with mob and union-related associates.
Does The Irishman leave out details about Jimmy Hoffa's death?
Hoffa's disappearance is one of the most enduring mysteries American crime history has ever known.
It's a conundrum that has frazzled the brains of the most competent investigators and mafia enthusiasts for over four decades.
Netflix's newest film does not tell us everything about this fascinating story though.
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Based on unproven claims from I Heard You Paint Houses, a narrative non fiction book written by a former homicide prosecutor, claims The Irishman is by no means a story that is entirely true.
Many critics disagree with statements made in the book and it has been reported that 14 different people have said that they killed Hoffa.
FBI reports claim that while Sheeran was in Detroit when Hoffa vanished, many believe the role he may have had in the murder of his former friend and colleague has been exaggerated.
