Okay...I see a lot of movies. But yet, Ive realized that the only movie that I've seen by Martin Scorsese is Gangs of New York! (I also saw about 30 minutes of Taxi Driver)

Yes thats Martin Scorsese! The man who many consider the greatest living director!

So Ive decided to start watching more Scorsese movies and was wondering what are some people's favorite movies by him, and/or which ones I should see first.

The most obvious places to start are "GoodFellas", "Raging Bull" and "King of Comedy." I don't lionize Scorsese like most critics do. Most of his films are interesting enough, but I find some of his "classics" to be weak. "Who's That Knocking at My Door" is almost unwatchable, and "Mean Streets", "Taxi Driver" and "Kundun" are vastly overrated (to me.) Some others are "entertaining" ("Cape Fear", "Casino", "The Color of Money", "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and "The Age of Innocence"), if deeply-flawed.

I'll stand by recommending those first three, and then you can decide where to go next.

Thanks mark, Ill look into those. Kundun overrated?? I cant really disagree with you cuz I havent seen it but to me it seems underated! Many people tell me how amazing it is, yet I barely hear about it and its not even mentioned or scored here on metacritic?

Whether or not they're the "best" Scorsese movies, my favorites are:

Goodfellas
Cape Fear
The Age of Innocence
Taxi Driver
Gangs of New York

Unfortunately for him, I don't think Scoresese is considered a "great" director by most people anymore. He's made a lot of films that just aren't very good. This includes:

"After Hours"
"Kundun"
"Bringing out the Dead"
"Casino"

A maker of some "great" films? Yes. A "great" director? No.

I did forget to mention "The Last Temptation of Christ", which I find to be intellectually-stimulating, deeply-moving, and a very-personal film. Of course, when I say that I thought the same thing about "The Passion of the Christ", I might need Jesus's help to keep you from casting the first stone at me.

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Originally posted by mark f:
I did forget to mention "The Last Temptation of Christ", which I find to be intellectually-stimulating, deeply-moving, and a very-personal film. Of course, when I say that I thought the same thing about "The Passion of the Christ", I might need Jesus's help to keep you from casting the first stone at me.

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I wont stone you Mark cuz I COMPLETELY agree with you (though "The Passion" as good as it was is NOT "Best Picture" quality so what's all the controversy about?).

Thank you E,the tough part is when you decide not to "stone" the people you DISAGREE with. The thing about "Passion" was, that even though I found it fairly compelling (yet sobering) while I watched it, when I considered 'forgive your enemies 490+ times' and 'turn the other cheek', it became so much more powerful.

"the last waltz" is a great music documentary. i think scorsese and the band's robbie robertson were roomies or something like that back in the day.

Yeah..this is purposeless, but Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and Casino should do the trick for anyone. If you aren't open minded then I wouldn't suggest the Last Temptation, and just to say something new, the Aviator is supposed to be amazing.

St. Niok. Yer growin' on me.

rightly so

I'm a huge Scorsese fan. Actually, I should say that I was a huge Scorsese fan because I think his best work may be behind him. His last great film, as far as I'm concerned, is GOODFELLAS. I've liked some of his post GOODFELLAS work, but haven't loved them like I loved GOODFELLAS, TAXI DRIVER (on the short list for my all time favorite film), RAGING BULL, MEAN STREETS & KING OF COMEDY (who knew Jerry Lewis had it in him).

However, I flat out disliked GANGS OF NEW YORK, which played like what it was, a cut film, and KUNDUN. THE AVIATOR was ok, but not on a level with Scorsese's best work. I thought Scorsese and Schrader went to the well once too often with BRINGING OUT THE DEAD, which may be Martin's worst film.

I think Scorsese's metier is the gangster film and to find his bearings I wish he would revisit that genre to get his career back on track.

Scorcese's directed some of my very favorite films, particularly Goodfellas/Afterhours, and His 45 minute piece for New York stories, which may be the best film ever on an artist's working process.

No matter what else can be said about him, he is a master, master craftsman...incredibly inventive...one of the all time bests. He will always be one of my very favorite and most inspiring directors.

That said, Scorcese does have his limititations, most stemming from the fact that he is such a deeply personal director. He's not a Speilberg, who in contrast seems to work not from personal experience, but point of interest.


Hence Speilberg can make a movie about shoeboxes interesting in his sleep. Scorcese couldn't make a movie about the end of the world interesting without a bona fide personal link.

Most of Scorceses biggest failures artistically have been the closer to studio fare projects...Color of Money/Kundun/Cape Fear etc, that though he claimed interest in where actually quid quo pro assignments taken to subsequently get something else made.

More recently, though, I think he's just shot his load. Casino proved he doesn't have another singular gangster film in him, and to be honest, I don't know what else is left for Scorcese to communicate...so now he's turned his attention to glossy golden era-styled historical epics, which while interesting at times, don't have any of the vigor of the films from his heyday.

His upcoming remake of the Japanese film noir should pretty much put a final exclamation on this argument one way or another.

But regardless of his inconsistencies, it's important to remember the man is as good as they come when at his best.

Martin Scorcese is one of the least overrated dudes ever. Goodfellas, Casino, Taxi Driver, and Raging Bull are all really great.

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Originally posted by Illiniq:

Most of Scorceses biggest failures artistically have been the closer to studio fare projects...Color of Money/Kundun/Cape Fear etc, that though he claimed interest in where actually quid quo pro assignments taken to subsequently get something else made.

I've gotta disagree with you here. I think both the COLOR OF MONEY and the CAPE FEAR remake are very good, if not great, films. I think Marty was criticized because these two films weren't "personal projects" and he was a director for hire. I enjoyed both films and wish he would take more of these director for hire gigs.

I have to disagree that KUNDUN was done for the money/to get credibility with the studios. I think it was a personal/non-commercial project on the order of THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST. I didn't care for KUNDUN (nor did I care for TEMPTATION), but wouldn't lump it in with COLOR & FEAR.

quote:

Originally posted by Illiniq:His upcoming remake of the Japanese film noir should pretty much put a final exclamation on this argument one way or another.

I think you are referring to THE DEPARTED which has been released since you wrote this. The origin of the film is Hong Kong or Taiwan, not Japan. In any case, I think THE DEPARTED is a return to form for Marty and is his best film since GOODFELLAS. I hope the film wins Best Picture and he finally bags his Best Director Academy Award.

Scorsese is a brilliant director. As far as a technical director he's spot on, and the care for his characters is overwhelming. Who else could have made such a an emotional movie about such a jackass as jake La motta( but i think all of us guys have a bit of la motta in us. Tell me you don't have a single insecurity and i'll call you a jackass.) It was heart wrenching the way he destroyed himself by beating on his own brother just out of suspicion. or who else could have portrayed such a realisitic descent into insanity as scorsese did with taxi driver. Its subtle and believeable, and whats scary is that we all may agree with travis a bit for blasting that brothel. and Mean Streets is fantastic as well. A lot of people dont like it but i found it brilliant, the way charlie(Harvey keitel) tried to rid himself of guilt by aiding Johnny Boy (Robert DeNiro) take care of his debts. The lengths at which Charlie goes for redemption are heart breaking

Chalk up another vote for Scorsese being overrated. He's had some truly great films, and I think -- based on those -- critics give him a huge 'pass' that he still banks on.