Wherever Martin Scorsese is involved, success usually follows. So even if he takes up an advisory role on a TV show like Boardwalk Empire, it scoops up awards. As a result, the legendary Italian-American film director is part of an elite bracket of the greatest filmmakers ever. Alongside Stanley Kubrick, Francis Ford Coppola, and Quentin Tarantino, Scorsese is revered as one of the Godfathers of the movie industry.
If you were to look at a list of the greatest films of all time, several Scorsese films would be in the top 20. Although he has entered his 80th year, he has shown no signs of slowing down. His latest ambitious project, Killers of The Flower Moon, has already started to generate significant interest, although it is not set for release until much later in 2023.
Early Years
The respect and admiration Martin commands amongst his peers is something that many actors and directors could only dream of. Although his output has slowed recently, the quality has stayed the same. His humble beginnings in the rough streets of New York have shaped who he is as a person and director. Mean Streets in 1973 is his first project that stoked interest in the movie and entertainment business. However, Taxi Driver in 1976 is considered one of his finest works, and it is said to have influenced a range of new directors who came after, including Quentin Tarantino.
Not one to rest on his laurels, some critics believed he somehow managed to go one better in 1980. Robert De Niro, a man Scorsese knows better than most, had already collaborated with him on several projects and starred in the melancholic beauty of the Oscar-winning Raging Bull. A film about the life and times of New York boxer Jake LaMotta.
The 1990s
His magnum opus, Goodfellas, hit the cinemas in 1990. Starring De Niro, Joe Pesci, and the legendary, late great Ray Liotta, which is widely considered one of the greatest films in cinema history. Just a few years later, De Niro and Pesci were back in the studio filming Casino 5 years later, another huge hit. Although the idea of a casino has changed a lot since this period, and casino slots are a much more popular venture online, this stylish classic revealed the mob’s influence in the casino industry during the early 1970s. Still, many casino companies will be thankful this influence has now dissipated.
The 21st Century
Martin Scorsese is an unforgiving director who demands the best from the incredibly gifted actors he often handpicks for his projects. As the 2000s unfolded, his collaboration with Leonardo Di Caprio grew, and he has featured in multiple films, including the likes of Wolf Of Wall Street – which turned out to be Scorsese’s highest-grossing film.
Scorsese reverted to the old crew of De Niro and Pesci for The Irishman in 2019, another critically acclaimed chapter to add to the Scorsese dynasty, and that was his last film release. Given that it has been four years, movie buffs and critics are chomping at the bit to see what Killers of The Flower Moon will bring to the table.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Scorsese is combining the colossal acting powerhouses of Robert De Niro and Leonardo Di Caprio for this feature film. Although it is not set for release for another six months, there is a screening of the film due to take place in May.
The film itself deviates away from Scorsese’s usual angle. While it does bare some similarities, given it is a crime drama, the 1920s Western setting is something that he hasn’t explored before; it is a serious crime drama about the murders of the Osage tribe in Oklahoma in the 1920s following the discovery of oil on their land.
With a reported budget of $200 million, expect the highest caliber production, setting, and effects. Not that you would expect anything less from Scorsese, that is. Nevertheless, it has filled the movie world with intrigue, and it will be interesting to hear the reviews from the people who are lucky enough to be treated to the premiere at the Cannes film festival next month.
With the film clocking in at 206 minutes, it is a lengthy spectacle and something that Scorsese has opted for more often in his last few releases. Having been given more artistic freedom for The Irishman, Scorsese clocked that one at 209 minutes, with some critics and fans voicing negative views on the length of the epic film.
The Irishman was a great film, and critics mostly agreed. It would be a different story if it were a three-and-a-half-hour film full of filler and not much action – but it was the opposite. Only time will tell whether we will see the same complaints about this film. However, the subject matter, budget, and cast could mean that Scorsese is giving us another big hit to add to his flawless catalog.
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