A Complete Review of Martin Scorsese's work

Cast : Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Anna Paquin, Jesse Plemons, Harvey Keitel

What was it about?
A mob hitman recalls his possible involvement with the slaying of Jimmy Hoffa.

My two cents:
Of course, this combo Scorsese-De Niro-Pacino sounded like movie heaven and when the critics turned out to be wild enthusiast, my expectations went sky high. Well, I find it rather difficult to judge this movie after all and, to be honest, I wasn’t really blown like I was expecting to be. First of all, even though the CGI deaging of the main cast had pretty much doubled the costs of the production and had been widely praised, I didn’t feel it was really convincing. Seriously, I was constantly wondering what age their characters were supposed to be and it was pretty obvious through the whole duration that all the actors (Robert de Niro (75), Al Pacino (78) and Joe Pesci (75)) were so much older than their respective characters. Even if ‘Gemini Man’ was a major flop and a rather average action flick, at least, the 20 year old version of Will Smith was just mindblowing to behold. Concerning the character themselves, I thought that Russell Bufalino was actually the most interesting one. Indeed, if Al Pacino delivered a solid performance, to be honest, Jimmy Hoffa felt rather clueless or at least really reckless considering the way he handled the threats from the mob. Concerning Frank Sheeran, De Niro was fine as well but I was missing some kind of drive behind his actions. Still, even if this story might seem to be pretty basic, it was not a simple movie, especially due to the fact that it was Scorsese’s longest movie so far and I think I would need to rewatch it at some point to make up my mind for good about the damned thing.

My rating: 07/10

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Cast : Bob Dylan, Allen Ginsberg, Patti Smith, Joan Baez, Sam Shepard, Sharon Stone, Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler

What was it about?
In an alchemic mix of fact and fantasy, Martin Scorsese looks back at Bob Dylan's 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue tour and a country ripe for reinvention.

My two cents:
Like anyone else who has a decent taste in movies, I have been anxiously waiting for ‘The Irishman’ but, suddenly, out of nowhere, Martin Scorsese released another movie and, of course, I had to watch it, especially since it was available on Netflix. To be honest, I have to admit that I did struggle a little bit to get into the damned thing. Indeed, even if I did grow up listening to his music thanks to my father, I have never been a huge fan of Bob Dylan and, to be honest, I find his aloof attitude actually slightly annoying. At least, the whole thing was really original as it was some kind of combination of a standard concert movie with a documentary but also a mockumentary. Indeed, there were apparently some fake stuff and it was slightly too bad that the whole thing with Sharon Stone properly never happened. As a result, everybody involved claimed that this project was something creatively amazing but, as far as I’m concerned, it did look like a mess and the mockumentary elements didn’t really help me to shake this feeling. Anyway, even if I wasn’t completely blown away, it was still a decent watch.

My rating: 07/10

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Cast : Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson

What was it about?
In the 17th century two Jesuit priests face violence and persecution when they travel to Japan to locate their mentor and to spread the gospel of Christianity.

My two cents:
Since I'm a huge of fan of Martin Scorsese, of course, I was really eager to check this flick but there were a couple of things that worried me about this project. First of all, even though Scorsese had announced that he will direct this movie, he kept pushing it indefinitely to release something else and, when it finally seemed that he would finally get it done, I had the feeling that it was partially because he was contractually obligated and also to finally getting done with it. On top of that, it wasn't exactly a huge critical success when it was released so, to be honest, I had lowered my expectations and I thought it might turn out to be a minor effort for this great master. Well, even though it was definitely one of his least accessible movies, the damned thing was actually quite spellbinding to behold. The fact that I have always been fascinated by the subject of religion certainly did help and I thought that this movie was a really interesting study on faith and on how, at the same time, it can be completely misguided but also really inspiring. With this movie, you can pretty much feel how conflicted Scorsese will always be towards the Catholic church even though you might wonder if almost 3 hours were really necessary for this journey. Still, even though it won't be considered as one of his best movies, I'm amazed by how much it touched me.

My rating: 07/10

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Cast : Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Rob Reiner, Jon Bernthal, Jon Favreau, Jean Dujardin, Spike Jonze

What was it about?
Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.

My two cents:
I thought it was a really entertaining and actually a downright hilarious feature which wasn’t something I really expected. During some scenes, especially when DiCaprio was heavily intoxicated, he gave us some real slapstick and it actually worked like the charm. I mean, even though there was a really solid supporting cast, the focus was put on Jordan Belfort and as a result, DiCaprio had basically to carry the whole thing on his shoulders. He did a fine job, supported by the fine directing provided by Martin Scorsese, but honestly, by now, we know pretty well that he can play the talented but very neurotic characters like no one else and it would be nice if he tried something else for once. Furthermore, the other characters were not very well developed since they didn’t get much space in my opinion which is rather surprising since the movie lasted 3 hours. Still, even though it might not be one of the best movies made by the duo Scorsese-DiCaprio but it was terribly entertaining and the most hilarious film from 2013 that I have seen so far.

My rating: 08/10

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Cast : Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Ray Winstone, Emily Mortimer, Christopher Lee, Jude Law

What was it about?
Set in 1930s Paris, an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.

My two cents:
Since I kept hearing some great things about this flick and since I have always been a huge fan of Martin Scorsese’s work, I was really eager to check this flick and I had some rather high expectations. Basically, after making all those gangsters flicks, Scorsese decided to make for the first time a 'family' feature but, to be honest,, in contrary to most of the critics and viewers, I wasn't exactly blown away by the whole thing. I mean, first of all, I don't think it is really a interesting movie for kids in general. It is not really fun even rather sad and all the cinéma references were way too high-brow for young viewers (even most of the adults won't have any clue about who is George Méliès). Furthermore, even though the story was entertaining, it was still nothing really amazing. Still, what remains is a really gorgeous movie (it was one of the few movies I have seen where the 3D provided some actual added value) and a sweet love letter to the history of motion pictures. To conclude, even though I enjoyed it, in my opinion, it remains a minor effort in Scorsese's career.

My rating: 07/10

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Cast : George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Stuart Sutcliffe, Ravi Shankar, Jane Birkin, Yoko Ono, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Tom Petty, Phil Spector, Jackie Stewart

What was it about?
Inter-cut with archive material, friends, family and associates of the musician tell the story of his life and how spirituality became such a major part of it.

My two cents:
Even though I have lots of respect for the Beatles and their legacy, I never cared for their music and I wasn't exactly thrilled by the idea of watching a 3 hour long documentary about one of those guys. Eventually, I thought it was pretty good. Harrison obviously had a very rich life. The first 90 minutes were of course devoted to the Beattles during which George Harrison was often eclipsed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. But you learn also about his solo career, his experimental drug using, his spiritual journey, his passion for car racing, his passion for gardening, the fact Eric Clapton fell in love with his wife, that he was stabbed by a mad man in his own house, his battle against cancer and many many other things. Most of it was really interesting but I can't say I was really blow away by the whole thing. Indeed, many anecdotes were barely interesting and some elements were rather rushed out which was rather surprising when you take into consideration the extended running time. Still, I thought it was an interesting documentary.

My rating: 07/10

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Cast : Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, Jackie Earle Haley, Elias Koteas

What was it about?
Drama set in 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding nearby.

My two cents:
Since I'm a huge fan of Martin Scorsese's work, I was really eager to check this flick. Even though I tend to think that his movies starrring DiCaprio are a little bit overrated, I still have to admit that I really loved it. Indeed, you have some awesome directing and acting, especially by Leonardo DiCaprio who seems to have a great year considering the fact that 'Inception' was released not so long after. The mood is very well done and the plot was quite spellbinding to watch. I just loved it ... until the end. Indeed, in my opinion, the end was rather unbelievable and didn't work for me really well, preventing a even higher rate. But it remains a very good movie and the whole thing was just completely entertaining from the beginning and until the end.

My rating: 08/10

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Cast : Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ron Wood, Christina Aguilera, Buddy Guy, Jack White, Martin Scorsese

What was it about?
A career-spanning documentary on the Rolling Stones, with concert footage from their "A Bigger Bang" tour.

My two cents:
I'm not a huge fan of the Rolling Stones but I would watch anything directed by Martin Scorese so I thought I should check this one out. First of all, even though I'm not a fan, I have the upmost respect for the Rolling Stones and their legacy and I think they are way more interesting than the (boring) Beattles. Eventually, I thought it was a pretty good concert movie, no more, no less than that. It helps that Scorsese is calling in the shots and thanks to his directing we get a great intimate visual experience of the Stones live. And even though they are sure getting old, the Rolling Stones are not kidding when they are on stage. I especially enjoyed Mick Jagger who is the ultimate stage performer, in my opinion. The guy is constantly in motion, dancing, jumping, shouting to the crowd. Nothing short of amazing.

My rating: 07/10

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Cast : Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga

What was it about?
Two men from opposite sides of the law are undercover within the Massachusetts State Police and the Irish mafia, but violence and bloodshed boil when discoveries are made, and the moles are dispatched to find out their enemy's identities.

My two cents:
I always had some rathex mixed feelings about this flick. Indeed, on one hand, it is absolutely a solid feature and, finally, after being snubbed for so many years by the Academy, Scorsese finally received some recognition. But, on the other hand, honestly, is it his best movie? Even though it was really well made, even though there was a great cast and even though it was absolutely entertaining, in my opinion, it never comes near the level of his real masterpieces such as 'Taxi Driver', 'Raging Bull' or 'Goodfellas'. Furthermore, whereas those movies were truly groundbreaking, this flick was merely a remake and, in my opinion, the original Asian version was actually better. To be honest, it gets on my nerves how much credit this movie gets but, still, compared to the average garbage you get nowadays coming from Hollywood, if you don’t compare it to the rest of Scorsese’s work, if you don’t compare it to the superior original version, it is actually a rather spellbinding thriller.

My rating: 08/10

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Cast : Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly, Alec Baldwin, Alan Alda, Ian Holm, Danny Huston, Gwen Stefani, Jude Law, Frances Conroy

What was it about?
A biopic depicting the early years of legendary director and aviator Howard Hughes' career, from the late 1920s to the mid-1940s.

My two cents:
Even though this flick tends to be overlooked, out of the all movies DiCaprio and Scorsese have made together, it is easily my favorite one. Indeed, I thought that the story was spellbinding, the directing, as expected, was just awesome and there was an impressive cast involved as well. Above all, I thought that Howard Hugues was such a fascinating character. Of course, I have no idea if this portrait was really faithful or not but I just loved this portrait of this tormented genius who was suffering from his obsessions. It was definitely one of the most neurotic figure I have seen in a movie and the fact that he was handsome, rich and brilliant made the whole thing even more spellbinding to watch. My only critic would be that towards the end the whole thing tend to loose some focus and it then drags down a little bit but, a part from that, it was pretty much flawless. Eventually, I think the main reason that it wasn’t a greater success was because the audience was still struggling to take Leonardo DiCaprio seriously. I mean, if they would make this movie today, I have no doubt that it would be a much bigger critical success.

My rating: 09/10

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Cast : Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Jim Broadbent, John C. Reilly, Henry Thomas, Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson,David Hemmings

What was it about?
In 1863, Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher, his father's killer.

My two cents:
I remember very well when this movie was released. Indeed, there was a huge buzz about it as it was a dream project for Martin Scorsese which he had dreamed to make for about 3 decades, it was definitely his most ambitious production so far and the expectations were huge. With this in mind, I was obviously really eager to watch the damned thing and I even saw it in the movie theater when it was released. Eventually, it turned out to be a decent watch, that’s for sure, but it was definitely not the masterpiece that many, including me, hoped to get. Eventually, one of the biggest complains was, even though he did try really hard, Leonardo DiCaprio was never really convincing as he was still struggling with his heartthrob status following ‘Titanic’. Indeed, it is rather funny to think that, nowadays, everybody seems to be a fan of those Scorsese-DiCaprio movies while, 10 years ago, it was really a different story that most of us forgot. Still, it was a pretty good flick though, it looked awesome, Daniel Day-Lewis was terrific (as usual) but DiCaprio didn't feel like the right choice and you could say the same about Cameron Diaz who was actually chosen by the studio.

My rating: 07/10

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Cast : Nicolas Cage, Patricia Arquette, John Goodman, Ving Rhames, Tom Sizemore, Marc Anthony, Cliff Curtis

What was it about?
A Manhattan ambulance paramedic, overworked and haunted by visions of his failures, fights to keep a tenuous grip on his clarity.

My two cents:
In my opinion, it is easily the most underrated movie directed by Martin Scorsese. Indeed, when it was released, it was barely noticed and didn't get much love and even nowadays it is usually considered as one of Scorsese's minor efforts. Personally, I do think it is actually a very good flick and it featured one of those great weird performances by Nicolas Cage. You know the Cage rule, right? For every 10 movies, he will make 9 terribly bad flicks and the last one will be great, fortunately this movie was one of the few great ones. Furthermore, I thought that there was a great dark mood and it made the whole thing rather spelbinding to watch. Finally, I really loved the idea of a paramedic who just starts to losing it because he has some personal issues but also because his work is just terribly depressing. I mean, paramedics are always shown as some kind of perfect righteous heroes (I'm sure many paramedics fit this description though) and I thought it was really refreshing to see one who was a real basket case.

My rating: 08/10

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Cast : Martin Scorsese

What was it about?
World renowned director Martin Scorsese narrates this journey through his favorites in Italian cinema.

My two cents:
Even though Martin Scorsese is mostly known for his fictional work, he has also directed many documentaries and this one is one of the most intriguing. Indeed, Scorsese is also a massive movie buff with an incredible knowledge about movie history and, this time, he had decided to share his love of classic Italian movies. To be honest, even though it was absolutely an interesting watch, I actually had some rather mixed feelings concerning this flick. Like I said before, it was indeed very interesting to learn some trivia about those great classics but, on the other hand, I found it also rather frustrating to watch. I mean, Scorsese goes so much into details when talking about theses flicks that as a result, when it was dealing with movies that I saw, I found it completely fascinating but when it was dealing with movies I haven't seen, I found it actually rather annoying and I really wanted to turn the damned thing off and watch the real thing instead.

My rating: 07/10

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Cast : only non-professional actors

What was it about?
From childhood to adulthood, Tibet's fourteenth Dalai Lama deals with Chinese oppression and other problems.

My two cents:
It is probably the most obscure movie directed by Martin Scorsese. I mean, who would have expected this catholic guy who almost became a priest to make a biopic about the Dalai Lama?!? Anyway, for Scorsese, it was probably his most experimental feature and, eventually, it turned out to be a flop at the box-office. Still, I was quite eager to check it out. Basically, even though the directing was solid as usual (I wouldn’t expect less from this director), I thought that it was still rather bland. Furthermore, after the similar and superior 'The Last Emperor', I had a rather hard time to really care about the whole thing. Still, the Dalai Lama is quite an intriguing figure and I have to admit that it was really interesting to have such a movie dealing with his life in details.

My rating: 06/10

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Cast : Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods, Kevin Pollak

What was it about?
Greed, deception, money, power, and murder occur between two mobster best friends and a trophy wife over a gambling empire.

My two cents:
I rewatched it again not so long ago and, this time, it really hit me. This time, I thought it was really awesome. I guess the only flaw it has is that he came out after 'The Godfather' and, above all, 'Goodfellas'. Indeed, I guess many people dismiss it as yet another gangster flick directed by Scorsese, starring again Robert de Niro and Joe Pesci. Actually, it is something rather different. First of all, this time around, De Niro has the lead and delivers an impressive performance, as usual. I was also impressed by Sharon Stone who also gave a solid performance but, unfortunately, it is probably the only movie she made during her whole career that I really appreciated. What a shame that Scorsese and De Niro don't make anymore movies together... Anyway, there is here some great directing, great acting and a fascinating story.

My rating: 09/10

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Cast : Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder, Geraldine Chaplin, Jonathan Pryce, Robert Sean Leonard

What was it about?
Tale of 19th century New York high society in which a young lawyer falls in love with a woman separated from her husband, while he is engaged to the woman's cousin.

My two cents:
I thought it was a very good movie and it is definitely one of the best costume dramas I have ever seen. Unfortunately , it has become one of the most underrated movies directed by Scorsese. Indeed, after making some of the best gangster movies ever, Scorsese decided to completely shift gear and directed a costume drama. And you know what? It worked. In my opinion, it is a gorgeous and really fascinating picture. Usually, I really have a hard time to relate with such characters but, here, they managed to make me care about them and what they were going through. Of course, it helps when you have Daniel Day-Lewis in your cast... Day-Lewis was, as usual, terrific but Michelle Pfeiffer and Winona Ryder should also be credited for their performances. Eventually, I thought it was a very good movie and I even believe it is one of the best in this genre.

My rating: 08/10

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Cast : Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, Juliette Lewis, Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck

What was it about?
A convicted rapist, released from prison after serving a 14 year sentence, stalks the family of the lawyer who originally defended him.

My two cents:
There are various ways to judge this movie. Compared to all the garbage Robert De Niro has made in the 2000's or any average thriller coming from Hollywood, it is really good but compared to the great masterpieces involving Scorsese and De Niro, it is definitely a minor effort. I mean, the directing is great and De Niro gives one of his typical intense performances but even though the story is entertaining, it is nothing mind-blowing or original. Still, it remains a decent thriller and it is definitely worth a look.

My rating: 07/10

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Cast : Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino, Debi Mazar, Michael Imperioli, Samuel L. Jackson

What was it about?
Henry Hill and his friends work their way up through the mob hierarchy.

My two cents:
For many people, it remains the best movie made by Scorsese and for some, it is even the best movie ever made. Personally, I think it is probably the first flick directed by Scorsese that I saw. Back then, I was 15-16 years old and, indeed, I thought it was just awesome. Indeed, the whole thing was just full of energy and adrenaline, filled with conflicted and fascinating characters. Basically, it is a great movie and of course one of the best movies directed by Martin Scorsese. Unfortunately, once again, Martin Scorsese was ignored by the academy and, instead, the decent but not really great 'Dances with the wolves' ended up with the big prize... Anyway, to conclude, it is a classic, one of the best movies in this genre and a must see for any decent movie lover.

My rating: 09/10

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Cast : Nick Nolte, Patrick O'Neal, Rosanna Arquette, Steve Buscemi, Peter Gabriel, Deborah Harry

What was it about?
Martin Scorsese's bit is about a middle-aged artist obsessed with his pretty young assistant.

My two cents:
Actually, it is a rather disappointing anthology which goes from the average (Woody Allen) to the really tedious (Francis Ford Coppola). Fortunately, the part directed by Scorsese was actually really good. Indeed, the directing was really solid, the story was quite spellbinding and there was an awesome performance by Nick Nolte. So, even though the rest is barely worth a look, you should check this movie just for this part only.

My rating: 06/10 (for the whole movie), 08/10 (for Scorsese's short film)

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Cast : Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel, Barbara Hershey

What was it about?
The life of Jesus Christ, his journey through life as he faces the temptations that all humans face during their lives, and his final temptation upon the cross.

My two cents:
Apparently, with 'Gangs of New York', it was another pet-project that Martin Scorsese struggled to make since the 70's. Anyway, even though I'm an atheist, I always thought that religion was and still is a fascinating subject so I was really eager to check this movie, despite its rather controversial reputation. Eventually, I thought it was a really interesting movie and I especially enjoyed the fact that Jesus was portrayed as a human-being for once. At the end of the day, in spite of a few controversial things, it remains actually pretty faithful and, if you are rather open-minded about christianity and religion in general, there won’t be anything really shocking about this flick for you. More than 15 years later, Mel Gibson would come up with his own controversial take on Jesus with ‘The Passion of the Christ’ and even though it was a huge commercial success, it didn't really convince me and I actually prefer this version.

My rating: 07/10

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Cast : Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, John Turturro, Forest Whitaker

What was it about?
Fast Eddie Felson teaches a cocky but immensely talented protégé the ropes of pool hustling, which in turn inspires him to make an unlikely comeback.

My two cents:
Even though it was indeed nothing really amazing, I still think it holds up pretty good. I mean, I know, it is a rather minor effort coming from Martin Scorsese and it is a pity that Paul Newman finally got an Academy award for this when he had done actually much better and everyone pretty much agree that they finally gave him the award most of all because they felt guilty that he didn’t get anything before. Still, I think it was quite entertaining and Paul Newman and Tom Cruise made a pretty cool duo. The main issue, in my opinion, is that, while Fast Eddie Nelson remains a very fascinating character even after 25 years, Vincent Lauria, played by Tom Cruise, was really annoying and it took him forever to understand how to hustle. As a viewer, it was rather obvious that it was not about playing pool, it was actually about playing the man (or woman) facing you but Vincent only finally got it during the last 30 minutes. Eventually, compared to 'The Hustler' which was really awesome, it was nothing really mind-blowing but I definitely have a weak spot for this sequel.

My rating: 07/10

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Cast : Griffin Dunne, Rosanna Arquette, Linda Fiorentino

What was it about?
An ordinary word processor has the worst night of his life after he agrees to visit a girl in Soho whom he met that evening at a coffee shop.

My two cents:
Apparently, since it has been released, it has actually reached a cult status but even though I did like it, I still consider it a minor piece in his illustrous career. I mean, sure, it was interesting and entertaining enough but that's about it, I’m afraid. For example, Griffin Dunne seems to be a nice guy and he did provide a decent performance but can you compare him with Robert de Niro at the top of his game?!? I don't think so. Concerning Rosanna Arquette and Linda Fiorentino, I thought that they were actually more interesting, especially Fiorentino, but, unfortunately, the story didn't focus on them. Basically, it reminded me of all those countless quirky indie movies during which a straight/average guy meets all kinds of excentric characters and I have never been a fan of this genre. I still enjoyed the whole thing though, thanks to Scorsese's solid directing.

My rating: 07/10

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Cast : Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, Sandra Bernhard

What was it about?
Aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin wants to achieve success in showbiz, by resorting to stalking his idol, a late night talk show host who craves his own privacy.

My two cents:
Among all the masterpieces De Niro and Scorsese made together, it is one of the least appreciated ones and it was a flop when it came out which is not really surprising. Indeed, it is a comedy but the whole thing is just so dark, so sardonic, it can't be compared to your average commercial comedic feature. That's probably why I enjoyed it whereas I usually don't care much about comedies. Once again, the directing is really awesome with here and there some pacing issues but nothing major and some amazing performances. It is also gives a grim and, I'm afraid, realistic view on the whole fandom/stalker concept. The great thing about this movie is that you never know if you should laugh or be afraid by the whole thing which is probably why the average audience dimissed it and it is exactly why I actually enjoyed it so much.

My rating: 08/10

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Cast : Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci

What was it about?
An emotionally self-destructive boxer's journey through life, as the violence and temper that leads him to the top in the ring, destroys his life outside it.

My two cents:
When I was younger 'Goodfellas' was definitely my favorite Scorsese feature but, nowadays, it is a toss up between this flick and 'Taxi Driver' and it is easily one of the best movies produced by De Niro and Scorsese. Basically, it is just really a really spellbinding story and easily the best sport movie ever made. I mean, even though 'Ordinary People' was a very good flick, absolutely, this masterpiece was just from another level and should have won the best picture academy award back in those days. In my opinion, if there is a time when Scoresese should have won the big prize, it was at that moment and not with 'The Departed' which was the only way the Academy could possibly apologize to this great master. Anyway, this movie is the stuff of legends. Indeed, In 1978, when Martin Scorsese was at an all-time low resulting from an addiction to cocaine, Robert De Niro visited him and told him that he had to clean himself up and make this movie. Thanks to De Niro, Scorsese was back in the game and directed one of the best movies ever made and continued to make incredible movies for the next 3 decades. Of course, we shouldn't forget De Niro who gave one of the best performances which has been a reference for many actors afterwards.

My rating: 09/10

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Cast : The Band, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Ringo Starr, Paul Butterfield, Dr. John, Van Morrison, Ronnie Hawkins, Muddy Waters, Ron Wood, Michael McClure, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Martin Scorsese

What was it about?
A film account and presentation of the final concert of The Band.

My two cents:
Honestly, before watching this movie, I didn't even know who was 'The Band'. For years, I had heard that this was the best concert movie ever made and after watching it, I must say indeed that he does deserve its reputation (I think 'Woodstock' is even better but it is more a festival than an actual concert). Indeed, back then, music was really about actually playing some music with some real instruments. Nowadays, most of the work is done by the producers in the control room and you can never be sure that what you hear is the real thing or someting coming out from some computer. The other thing that stroke me is that even though those guys were separating, you could feel that they still enjoyed to play together. To conclude, I thought it was pretty awesome, I really loved it and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like this kind of music.

My rating: 08/10

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Cast : Liza Minnelli, Robert De Niro

What was it about?
An egotistical saxophone player and a young singer meet on V-J Day and embark upon a strained and rocky romance, even as their careers begin a long uphill climb.

My two cents:
Unfortunately, it is one of the few disappointing flicks directed by Martin Scorsese. Indeed, following his massive success with ‘Taxi Driver’, Scorsese decided to do something completely different. Indeed, this time, he had a much larger budget and he got ridd of his trademark gritty realism to make a rather fluffly musical. I mean, to be fair, I still think it was a decent musical but I’m not sure if Scorsese really knew what he was doing here. Apparently, most of the dialogues were improvised which was a rather odd choice for this genre and it didn’t pay off as the whole thing felt even more messy than it already was. Still, I think it was pretty cool to see such a great director tackling something so different than his usual work. Eventually, this movie would be mostly remembered for its title song which must be one of the best-remembered songs about New York City and one of Frank Sinatra’s greatest hits.

My rating: 06/10

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Cast : Robert De Niro, Cybill Shepherd, Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, Albert Brooks

What was it about?
A mentally unstable Vietnam war veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City where the perceived decadence and sleaze feeds his urge to violently lash out, attempting to save a teenage prostitute in the process.

My two cents:
In my opinion, it was definitely the first masterpiece produced by Martin Scorsese and Robert de Niro. I mean, 3 years before, they had already made 'Mean Streets' together and it was already a real breakthrough for both of them but it is with this movie that they really started to change cinema as an Art and they will keep doing it, at least twice again with 'Raging Bull' and 'Goodfellas'. Even if nowadays De Niro has lost his edge, he will still be remembered forever for this unforgettable piece of art. Indeed, he gave one of the best perfomances of his prestigious career and, plain and simply, one of the best performances ever given on a motion picture. For Scorsese, its status changed forever from promising young director to bonafide master. I mean, the whole thing was made with so much skills, every detail was closed to perfection and the story is just completely fascinating, a profound and dark study of the human soul.

My rating: 09/10

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Cast : Ellen Burstyn, Harvey Keitel, Diane Ladd, Kris Kristofferson, Jodie Foster

What was it about?
A recently widowed woman on the road with her precocious young son, determined to make a new life for herself as a singer.

My two cents:
Following his breakthrough with 'Mean Streets', Martin Scorsese directed this feature. In fact, Ellen Burstyn was the one coming up with this project. Indeed, following her success in 'The Exorcist', the studio granted Burstyn total creative control over this project. She had two goals: to make a film about a woman with real-life problems, and to secure an up-and-coming film maker as the director. While impressed with Scorsese's talent after viewing 'Mean Streets', Burstyn still hesitated to hire the director, fearing he could only direct men. When she asked Scorsese what he knew about women, Scorsese replied 'Nothing, but I'd like to learn.' Satisfied with his enthusiasm, Burstyn immediately hired Scorsese. With 'Boxcar Bertha', it was Scorsese's 2nd feature with a woman as a leading character something that he will never do anymore. Anyway, he was already a very good director and I thought that the whole thing was just very well made. Furthermore, Ellen Burstyn is a hell of an actress, criminally underrated, and she gave here one of her best performances. Still, even though Roger Ebert is a huge fan of this movie, I can't say I was really blown away. Indeed, even though the characters were rather interesting, I didn't care much about the story though.

My rating: 07/10

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Cast : Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel

What was it about?
A small-time hood struggles to succeed on the "mean streets" of Little Italy.

My two cents:
Basically, after struggling for many years, Martin Scorsese finally managed to get his breakthrough. Of course, Robert De Niro was involved and he would also get his breakthrough thanks to this movie. Honestly, it has been years since I saw this one and it definitely needs a re-watch. I don't think it is one of Scorsese's best movies. Eventually, he would make ‘Taxi Driver’, ‘Raging Bull’, ‘Goodfellas’ and ‘Casino’ and those are only some of the movies he would direct by De Niro so that’s rather unfair to compare this movie to such impressive classics but it was still really solid. Above all, with this movie, you were able to witness the birth of one of the greatest American directors that ever lived. The most interesting aspect, in my opinion, was how gritty the whole thing was and how genuine it felt. Indeed, so far, most gangsters have been rather glamorized but, here, they were displayed as human beings, albeit twisted but still human which was really refreshing. This attention in constructing some fully-fledged characters would become a trademark in Scorsese's work.

My rating: 08/10

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Cast : Barbara Hershey, David Carradine

What was it about?
During the depression, a union leader and a young woman become criminals to exact revenge on the management of a railroad.

My two cents:
After making his directing debut, 'I call first', Scorsese did struggle to make something else and, after 5 years, he finally manage to make this flick. Basically, it was a typical exploitation feature from the 70's produced by Roger Corman, and as a result, the story was pretty weak but it was really inherent to the genre, I'm afraid. I mean, it is not that it was really bad but you could feel that Scorsese was still searching himself. Still, there were here and there some very nice scenes and Barbara Hershey gave a very refreshing performance with her contagious smile. It is said that after watching this, John Cassavetes told Scorsese that he was way too talented to waste his talent with this kind of movies. Well, a year later, Scorsese would direct 'Mean Streets' and the rest is just history.

My rating: 06/10

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What was it about?
In the process of shaving, a young man cuts himself. A lot.

My two cents:
I came across this short on an amazing list here on listal. At first, it looked like a very long and rather boring commercial for Gillette but then, in the second half, it became something rather unsettling and gory, more reminiscent of the ‘Saw’ franchise. Beforehand, I didn’t check what it was about and I think it is the best way to watch this movie. Eventually, it was an interesting watch but, honestly, it is nothing really mind-blowing and it was obviously just a technical exercise for Scorsese.

My rating: 06/10

Cast : Harvey Keitel

What was it about?
J.R. is a typical Italian-American on the streets of New York. When he gets involved with a local girl, he decides to get married and settle down, but when he learns that she was once raped, he cannot handle it. More explicitly linked with Catholic guilt that Scorsese's later work, we see what happens to J.R. when his religious guilt catches up with him.

My two cents:
Martin Scorsese started his illustrious career with this flick which was made already more than 40 years ago. Honestly, even though I really enjoyed it, I don't think it is really a masterpiece, especially if you compare it to his numerous classics ('Raging Bull', 'Taxi driver', ''Goodfellas',...). Eventually, I must admit I thought it was a little bit boring at times and it is pretty obvious that Scorsese was still learning. Still, you can already recognize his touch and the whole thing definitely had some mesmerizing qualities.

My rating: 07/10

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What was it about?
A writer named Algernon (but called Harry by his friends) buys a picture of a boat on a lake, and his obsession with it renders normal life impossible. He attempts to function again by consulting an analyst and becoming married, but eventually succumbs to his strange anxiety by disappearing into the picture.

My two cents:
Once again, I came across this short on an amazing list here on listal. Scorsese made this when he was still a student at New York University's film school. Honestly, I didn't like it. I mean, there were a couple of interesting scenes but the whole thing was way too random for my taste. Basically, Scorsese was back then still playing around but the end result was not really interesting.

My rating: 05/10