Martin Scorsese, super genius

Topic: Martin Scorsese, super genius

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Posted at July 26, 2009, 11:12 am:

OK, somehow in all this time I don't believe we've ever had a thread devoted specifically and exclusively to Marty Scorsese.

It's no secret I think he's THE best director around. For me, he hasn't made a "bad" film yet - excluding his Roger Corman entry to Hollywood. He's one of the few filmmakers you can say that about, and he's been making movies for thirty or so years. Some are better than others, of course, but it's remarkable how many are masterpieces of some order.

Personally, I'd rank his filmography thusly...

1. GoodFellas (1990)
GRADE: A+++
2. Taxi Driver (1976)
GRADE: A+++
3. Raging Bull (1980)
GRADE: A+++
4. After Hours (1985)
GRADE: A+
5. The Age of Innocence (1993)
GRADE: A
6. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
GRADE: A
7. The King of Comedy (1983)
GRADE: A
8. Mean Streets (1973)
GRADE: A-
9. The Last Waltz (1978)
GRADE: A-
10. Casino (1995)
GRADE: A-
11. The Aviator (2004)
GRADE: A-
12. Bringing Out the Dead (1999)
GRADE: B+
13. Cape Fear (1991)
GRADE: B+
14. Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)
GRADE: B+
15. Gangs of New York (2002)
GRADE: B+
16. The Departed (2006)
GRADE: B+
17. Kundun (1997)
GRADE: B
18. New York, New York (1977)
GRADE: B
19. Italianamerican (1974)
GRADE: B
20. American Boy: A Profile of Steven Prince (1978)
GRADE: B
21. "Life Lessons" segment of New York Stories (1989)
GRADE: B-
22. The Color of Money (1986)
GRADE: B-
23. Boxcar Bertha (1972)
GRADE: C-

I didn't include his student films, though I've seen them all too (except for the apparently vanished Street Scenes - not even Scorsese hinmself has a print). The student projects are certainly worth seeing, especially for budding filmmakers, as It's Not Just You, Murray and Who's That Knocking at My Door? definitely show the promise that was about to explode onto contemporary American cinema.

I think GoodFellas, Taxi Driver and Raging Bull are his three masterpieces among masterpieces. After Hours and The King of Comedy are his two best but least-known great works. Sadly more people know The Last Temptation of Christ for the "controversy" around it and haven't even bothered to see it for themselves. The Age of Innocence was somehow largely overlooked in the early '90s and richly deserves to be rediscovered. Kundun and Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore also have the potential to reach so many people, but maybe all three of those movies are relatively ignored because they don't seem to fit into the Scorsese canon...at least as most people perceive it? The Last Waltz is the greatest concert film ever made, and weather you know or like the music of The Band and Dylan and Clapton and the rest of the guests or not, watch the film and you'll probably become and instant fan. Mean Streets has been a bit eclipsed by his later work, but it's a gem waiting to be uncovered, and an amazing "debut" film (not counting the Corman exploitation quickie Boxcar Bertha, which even manages to signal some of the visual strengths that would quickly become his trademark). New York, New York was bashed, I think unfairly, by critics upon release and never had a chance to find it's audience. Cape Fear is Scorsese's Touch of Evil, a master having so much fun playing with genre. The Color of Money for me is his least ambitious and ordinary movie, but that being said his stylistic touches are brilliant, the performances are a treat, and even the "least" of Scorsese's work is better than most directors' "best" stuff.

Anywho, what else to say? As a filmmaker I find him an expert craftsman, a complex and emotional storyteller, a master of mood and tone and music, a visual virtuoso who's style doesn't overwhelm the characters but magnifies them, he coaxes consistently flawless performances form the actors he works with, and all with an intenstity and power that can still have surprising moments of humor - that's right, he's funny...like a clown...he amuses me.

Apart from his filmmaking, he's also the perfect ambassador for the craft and magic of the movies. He has been a tireless agent for the preservation and restoration of film since the '70s, a true champion of the medium. His passion for the art is palpable and contagious, one could say it even borders on mania. He has a depth and width of knowledge that is astounding, like an idiot savant of all things cinematic.

Put simply, he is The Man.

So that's my opening ramble. What are everybody's thoughts on Scorsese? Their likes and dislikes. Rate what you've seen, confess what you haven't. What were you blown away by, what made you scratch your head, what have you not even heard of?

And for anyone who considers themself a fan of the man, try your hand at my quiz on this site, HERE.

Original of the message was taken from http://www.movieforums.com/community/

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