Is it too early to open your stocking stuffer? On the night before Thanksgiving, Netflix begins streaming “The Irishman,” directed by Martin Scorsese. Robert De Niro stars as a truck driver-turned-hit man who becomes embroiled with crime figures (Joe Pesci) and enters the entourage of powerful Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).
For fans of Scorsese, this marks the return to territory explored in “Goodfellas” and “The Departed.” It also reunites Pacino and De Niro, who starred together most notably in “The Godfather Part II.”
This marks the second holiday season in a row when Netflix has introduced a grand epic and given it a brief moment in movie theaters before making it a streaming option. Last year, “Roma” appeared in theaters long enough for Oscar consideration, and “The Irishman” has just done the same.
This production and release strategy for major motion pictures makes some worry about the very future of “movies” as we know, or knew, them. At the same time, Scorsese has observed that he could never have made “The Irishman” in the conventional manner, and that not even his pedigree or the legacy of “Goodfellas” could get his project “green lit” by an industry addicted to comic book adaptations and reboots.
Most reviews of the film have been positive. Some of the most critical have focused on its length — more than three and a half hours. One has to wonder how many home viewers will watch this in one sitting.
You have to wonder if Netflix could have approached this from another perspective: 209 minutes makes for nearly five 45-minute installments. Is that a movie, a limited series or a miniseries? Is it a sacrilege to think of “The Irishman” as such?
— You get what you pay for. As we approach shopping season, Netflix launches the documentary series “Broken,” exploring how shady manufacturers, deceitful marketing and the bargain-hunting mentality of consumers have created a global nightmare of shoddily made and dangerous products.
Episodes focus on flimsy furniture that frequently falls on people, children and pets; black market cosmetics marketed by unknown “influencers” that contain poisons, and the vaping industry’s ability to hook a whole new generation on nicotine by marketing itself as a smoking-cessation tool. It also demonstrates how criminal recycling ventures hoodwink the well-meaning while creating environmental devastation. Black Friday is only one day away!
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— Clint Eastwood stars in the 1965 Western “For a Few Dollars More” (7:49 p.m., Starz, TV-14). While he doesn’t wear a serape, the title character in “The Mandalorian” on Disney+ is based on Eastwood’s Man With No Name.
— The gang gathers ‘round the pingpong table on “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-G).
— “A Saturday Night Live Thanksgiving Special” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14) serves up old turkey day sketches.
— Photogenic strangers help an old lady recover her lost savings in the 2019 romance “The Christmas Club” (8 p.m., Hallmark, TV-G).
— An antiques shop owner seeks the rightful owner of old items in the 2019 romance “A Very Vintage Christmas” (8 p.m., Lifetime, TV-G).
— “NOVA” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) uses noninvasive cameras and drones to capture animal behavior.
— A wealthy man hires Dex to find the one that got away on “Stumptown” (10 p.m., ABC, r, TV-14).
— The PBS Newshour presentation “The Plastic Problem” (10 p.m., TV-PG, check local listings) explores the daunting scope of plastic pollution and looks at proposed solutions.
CULT CHOICE
If “The Irishman” isn’t epic enough for you, there’s always a shot of “Lawrence of Arabia” (8 p.m., TCM, TV-14), followed by a “Citizen Kane” (midnight, TV-PG) chaser.
SERIES NOTES
“Survivor” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … Audience participation on “Ellen’s Game of Games” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) … “The Masked Singer” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … Ryan Seacrest hosts the first night of the “iHeartRadio Music Festival” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14).
Ray takes charge on “SEAL Team” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … Julia’s mixed feelings on “Almost Family” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … On two helpings of “Modern Family” (ABC, r, TV-PG), Claire meets the press (9 p.m.), swimsuit mortification (9:30 p.m.) … Hondo feels the allure of the streets on “S.W.A.T.” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
LATE NIGHT
“Conan” (11 p.m., TBS, r) visits Greenland … LL Cool J and Jose Andres appear on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes John Boyega, Abigail Spencer and JP Saxe featuring Julia Michaels on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Evan Rachel Wood, Melissa Benoist, Mike Birbiglia and Bloc Party appear on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (12:35 a.m., CBS).
