While we're making great strides with regards to CGI and real, human performances, it's still definitely a stage where it looks unconvincing and ever so slightly creepy.
You only need to ask anyone's seen Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and they'll know what we're talking about. The Polar Express, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, even comedies like Central Intelligence or Grudge Match have tried to blend CGI with human actors and the results have all been middling to poor.
Therefore, it's a bit of a disappointment to hear that Martin Scorsese will deploy CGI de-aging for Robert DeNiro on his upcoming return to the crime genre, The Irishman. The film, which was previously titled I Heard You Paint Houses, will feature digital alterations of Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci in their younger years. According to Gaston Pavlovich, one of the producers of the film, CGI is the next step on from makeup and prosthetics.
"(They) have acting and the technology is able to have them go through different time ages without the prosthetics. So we’ve seen some tests and it looks extraordinary. We were able to film Bob and just do a scene. We saw it come down to when he was like 20, 40, 60, so we’re looking forward to that, from that point of view, for The Irishman. Imagine seeing what De Niro looked like in The Godfather: Part II days, that’s pretty much how you’re going to see him again."
The Irishman follows the exploits of Frank Sheeran, who was allegedly involved in the disappearance of union leader Jimmy Hoffa. Sheeran was said to have murdered at least twenty-five men in his career, including Hoffa. DeNiro will play Sheeran whilst Al Pacino will play Jimmy Hoffa, with Joe Pesci set to play mobster Russell Bufalino.
Via CinemaBlend
