The conversation between Scorsese, DeNiro, Pacino and Pesci available on Netflix is a must watch. They get into the differences between this and Goodfellas. This is where Pesci says he wanted to play Tony Pro but Scorsese insisted he play a more mild mannered character this time. If Scorsese wanted a Goodfellas-Casino feel to it he would have had Pesci play a more aggressive character, and he could have done it with the de-aging technology. It's not like he has to jump out of helicopters. All he has to do is pull a trigger and cuss a lot.
When you consider the lengthy demise of Sheeran and Buffalino (there's about 45 min. of movie left after Hoffa is killed) I think this is what Scorsese wanted to do differently this time. The frailty of an aging gangster. The isolation from a disapproving family. Once the money stops rolling in their friends are gone. The ones who die young just might be the lucky ones.
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That last 30 minutes was quite emotional and - the frailty of an aging gangster - describes it perfectly. My heart sank watching Pesci in those last few scenes. I also loved how Scorsese closed the movie with Sheeran asking the priest to leave the door open a little bit on his way out. All of his friends were dead and the only person he loved that was alive hated him but he still couldn't let that door get closed. Painfully beautiful.
