Martin Scorsese Essays - English-language Films, Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese Martin Scorsese. Movie critic, Roger Ebert, has called him a directing god. He has been called the most influential and best director of their time by fellow director, George Lucas. Director Martin Scorsese has been an influential director for the past twenty years. In the 60s class of directors that included, Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Brian De Palma, and Steven Spielberg. Scorsese ranks with this class of artists, and his movies have changed the film industry of America (Friedman I). The impact of Scorsese can be shown in a number of ways, such as his style of directing, the films that he has made, and also the relationships that he has made in the film industry. The first is his directorial skills, which are second to none. Scorsese doesnt just set up the scene, he paints images and feelings into our minds by using camera shots that have become his trademark in the film institution. Another reason for his great success is the films that he directs and the actors he uses. He also has picked certain actors (notable Robert DeNiro) to portray his characters (Kelly 25). In the ruthless business of Hollywood, Scorsese has built loyalties to actor, screen writes and editors whom he uses in many of his films (Kelly 26). Martin Scorsese was born on November 17, 1942 in the East Side of Queens, New York, in an area called Little Italy. Little Italy consisted of about ten blocks, but as Scorsese talks about it, each block had there own boundaries where everyone stayed. He grew up on Elizabeth Street, and he spent much of his time in the movie theater (Scorsese 17). As he was growing up, he had strong Catholic roots in his Italian heritage that would later influence such films as Mean Streets, Goodfellas, etc (Scorsese 18). Growing up, Scorsese was not thinking of becoming a director, but rather a priest. In fact, he went to college to become a priest. He ended up dropping out his first semester, and then attending New York University film school. At NYU, he made several student films that received praise from the school. One short film called Whos That Knocking at My Door starred a young Harvey Keitel. Scorsese financed and made this film entirely by himself. He went on to making documentaries, and then was hired by producer Roger Corman and directed a low budget film, Boxcar Bertha. This opened the door to Hollywood productions (Friedman 31). In 1973, he made his first New York set film, Mean Streets which was a powerful portrayal of life in Little Italy. This film showed the talent he possessed as well as started a relationship with actor Robert DeNiro who would star in eight more Scorsese films (Friedman 47). Scorseses next film was Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore in 1975 which was a big popular success. The following year, he made one of his best films, Taxi Driver, a disturbing story of a loner cab driver who goes on a mission to clean up the streets. The film received worldwide recognition, and Scorsese moved into a place as an elite director (Friedman 59). Scorsese moved on and made the musical New York, New York that was a tribute to the 40s and 50s musicals that Scorsese grew up enjoying. Scorseses next work was a documentary The Last Waltz in 1978 that is considered to be the best concert movie ever made (Friedman 63). After changing pace, Scorsese returned to his roots, and directed one of his greatest works, Raging Bull. Which is a story of boxier Jake LaMotta portrayed by Robert DeNiro. Scorsese received a nomination for best director, and DeNiro playing the part of a lifetime won the Oscar for best actor. DeNiro gained sixty pounds to fit LaMotta in his older days. The film today still ranks as one of the best ever. It is ranks in the top twenty-five films on the American Film Institutions list of the one hundred best movies of all time (Kellman 108). Scorsese then moved on to comedies with The King Of Comedy, and After Hours. These films didnt do as well nationally. He moved back into drama films with The Color of Money, and moved back