Hailing from Flushing Queens, New York, Marty Scorsese is indisputably the artist’s artist who has played a significant role in building cinema to the glorious heights we see today.
Widely acclaimed as the man who perfected the art of storytelling in modern cinema, Marty has conquered multiple genres and captivated a generation of fans with his intense characterizations, realistic storylines, engrossing screenplays, and breathtaking performances.
Many upcoming directors today will be content if they even achieve one masterpiece in their lifetime but what if I tell you that this guy has 20 with at least 6 era-defining films, all of which are widely used in film schools today to teach the art of screenwriting, direction, and editing.
What makes him so special?
Well, if reinventing the Gangster, Historical Biopic, or Theological genre is not enough.
He is a director who has never compromised or been afraid of his depiction of the world as he sees it. Like many other filmmakers of his time, Marty took his foundational training in realism from Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali and later perfected it through his realistic screenwriting, punchy storytelling, and experimental direction. Glorifying and reneging all shades of realism in Goodfellas (Italian Neo-Realism), Raging Bull (Postmodernism), and Shutter Island (Psychological Realism).
Inspiration
In his own words, early inspiration for his films comes from the neighborhood of Little Italy in Lower Manhattan. As a perceptive child with severe Asthma, Marty was not allowed to play with the rest of the kids. However, through his keen eye and sensibilities, he was able to capture the intense mannerisms of Italian Americans, their fascination with food, and their peculiar sense of humor that he later replicated in the genre he became most famous for.
It is here in Little Italy where he discovered the entire world for most of his gangster movies. Primarily the holy trinity of Gangster movies, Mean Streets, Goodfellas, and Casino. The depiction of the immigrant culture be it the Italian Americans or Irish-American Immigrants is a recurring feature that can also be seen in later films such as Gangs of New York, The Departed, and The Irishman.
The Legendary Collaborations
From building great stories and character studies for big stars, Martin Scorsese is well-known for trusting only the best of the best for his projects. People who are largely known as his frequent collaborators. Primarily Robert De Niro and Leonardo Di Caprio who have starred in more than 15 films, 10 for De Niro and 6 for Di Caprio with Scorsese’s latest installment Killers of the Flower Moon featuring them together.
The list does not stop here as Harvey Keitel, Joe Pesci, and Daniel Day-Lewis are also among his gang of misfits. These iconic names are enough to sanctify the greatness of his features.
Themes
Known to focus on the known and unfamiliar aspects of human society, Marty likes to explore the depth of individual consciousness in all its psychological hues against the backdrop of the world around it. Sometimes the backdrop is moral corruption and sometimes survivalism.
This is the reason why most of his movies are character studies and in his own words, while receiving the Academy Award for The Departed, he said, “Perhaps this is the only movie that this the only movie that I made with a plot” shows the greatest of man and his craft.
Top 3 Movies
Now compiling a list of the top three movies for a director Martin Scorsese’s stature is one of the most difficult tasks in the world. Almost all of his movies are iconic in their way and hold a considerable cult following. For example, The King of Comedy – a movie that tanked at the box office and was somewhat criticized for its story at its initial release was later hailed as one of the greatest masterpieces by the American Film Institute, Empire Magazine, and The New York Times.
Therefore, categorizing his movies for their greatness is a task that would be even more difficult for the greatest of film critics, even Robert Egbert. However, ranking his top three movies from a subjective point of view is possible:
1. Goodfellas
Arguably if not the greatest movie of all time, the Goodfellas is undoubtedly the greatest Gangster movie ever made that provides one of the most vivid depictions of the Italian-American identity.
2. Taxi Driver
“You talking to me” – is one of the most iconic dialogues from possibly the greatest character studies in cinema history. The exploration of the isolation, dissatisfaction, masculinity, violence, and psychological decay of Travis Bickle on screen remains one of the most disturbing yet powerful performances of cinema.
3. The Wolf of Wall Street
Jorden Belfort is a name well-renowned and infamous for his greed, addiction, and moral corruption. An over-the-top flick exploring the overindulgence of man in material pleasures, The Wolf of Wall Street is one of the funniest depictions of the rise and fall of man.
The Gift of Remastered Versions
Almost all his movies have been remastered in Ultra HD and are available on most OTT platforms. For a buffer-free experience, fast-speed internet is a requirement. So, for your ultimate comfort and convenience, Xfinity provides one of the fastest and most reliable internet across the US. All you need to do is get in touch with their customer service team at the Xfinity phone number..
In short,
Watching a Scorsese movie is like watching a three-hour epic that you don’t want to end.