Its been 38 years in the making for this years best director, Martin Scorsese and my favorite director of motion pictures of all time, to get what is rightfully his, that golden statue nicknamed Oscar. For anyone that knows me, knows I am proud to be an Italian-American from New York, after last nights Oscars I am even prouder. For many The Departed is the first Scorsese film they have seen, or maybe they have seen Goodfellas and/or Casino, his bigger films from the last 20 years. Myself, who one day hopes to achieve an eighth of the success of what Scorsese has achieved in his four decade career, has grown up on his films. Much like Marty himself, I grew up with films and stories of my heritage, I learned to read by reading film titles in the video store my mother owned as a child, I knew directors and casts of movies before I even knew how to write full sentences. Growing up behind the counter of a video store had an impression on me, but the one impression I would always have would be posters of Scorsese's films, Goodfellas, the flashy suites worn by the lead characters with a dead body laying below them, Mean Streets with an animated New York skyline with a gun representing a building in Little Italy. While it was his films and style that always intrigued me, it has only been the last four years where I have not only studied his way of film making, but have become totally engrossed with the type of person his is. His films focus on the anti-hero, characters who are put into situations who are forced to create a positive, or a character who is so selfish and so megalomaniacal, it will only lead to their own demise. For those who have really enjoyed The Departed, and by all means I applaud you, here are ten films that will take you into the world of Martin Scorsese and will define the fact that his is much more than a brilliant director, but a walking encyclopedia.
The Main Course, five basic films to get into his style's and motifs:
1) Raging Bull (1980), the first film Scorsese was nominated for best director. This is a true master piece and the best film he has ever done. In fact, Scorsese didn't even want to do this, Robert DeNiro pushed to get this film made. Its the first film that features the trio of Scorsese, DeNiro and Joe Pesci.
2)Goodfellas (1991) Talk to anyone in the film industry and they will tell you films like this are rare, because this is a truly flawless movie.
3)Mean Streets (1973) One of Scorsese's first films, the semi-autobiographical crime drama stars a very young Harvey Kietel and Robert DeNiro in his breakout role.
4)Taxi Driver (1976) The film that made DeNiro and Scorsese a household name. DeNiro stars as a Holden Caulfield-esque cab driver who tries to save the life of a young prostitute played by Jodie Foster.
5) Gangs of New York (2002) A film of epic proportions. The first time Marty and Leonardo DiCaprio team up in what will become one of the best film making teams in the business. Daniel Day-Lewis gives hands down one of the best performances of film history.
Once you master those, here are deeper cuts:
1) The Aviator (2004) The second pairing of DiCaprio and Scorsese, in a back to old time Hollywood basics film of grand proportions.
2) The Last Tempation of Christ (1988) Fans of Donnie Darko will know this film, due to its parallels to Jake Gyllehals famous character. However, before The Da Vinci Code, Scorsese scored up controversy in the Catholic Church with his look at Christ's final hours before being Crucified.
3) The Age of Innocence (1993) One of his first period pieces about love and lust in 19th century New York.
4) My Voyage to Italy (1999) If there is one thing you should know before watching a Martin Scorsese documentary, they all clock in over three hours. However, the time is well spent, it is the cheapest film school you will ever go to. With this, Scorsese takes us through, one of my favorite genres, Italian Neo-Realism. Neo-Realism, evolved after World War II in Rome and Southern Italy, and they were mostly unscripted films about life and struggle in a worn torn, post fascist society. These films paved the way for what we now know as the documentary.
5) The King of Comedy (1983) DeNiro plays a stand up comic who feels that the only way to gain attention and popularity is to be billed with his favorite comedian. Therefore he goes on a never ending hunt into stalking the popular comic to try and gain notoriety.
These are Martin Scorsese at his finest. I hope you enjoy these films as much as I have.
