Introduction
Over the years, the movie scenes have experienced greats, and Martin Scorsese stands out among them. He is known for cinematic intelligence and visionary directing for over six decades. Martin Scorsese has made a name for himself in different ages, genres and across cultures.
Martin Charles Scorsese is regarded as one of the prominent auteurs in film history. The American film director ensures his films give a psychological base that explores human dark corners and technical expressions. These films are examples of storytelling masterclasses. Examples of his films are “The Departed” (2006), “Epic of Goodfellas” (1990) and many more.
Martin Scorsese’s global audience comes from those who have an emotional resonance to his method of balancing visceral intensity with it. Also, he has earned critics, which makes his films box-office greats and culturally illuminating.
The great auteur is known to be a pioneer of filming using editing, music, and cinematography. He has several awards to his name, among which is (Academy Award for Best Director for the film “The Departed.”
In this article, we shall explore the greatest films that show the genius of Martin Scorsese.
The Greatest Films By Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese takes human emotion into consideration for his films. He ensures the audience is entertained and thrilled with each film masterclass. This is the same feeling that players at Bally Casino experience. He crafts films in existential despair, ambiguity, and more. All these separate his works from others, showing his psychological and storytelling depth.
Taxi Driver
The 1976 film is an ingenious work of art from Martin Scorsese. With themes like Urban alienation, the dive into madness, and masculine disorder, among many, Martin told a compelling story. There is a Taxi Driver, featuring Robert De Niro, who embodied the character of a lonely person.
This driver was a Vietnam veteran. After fighting and leaving Vietnam, he turned to a night cabbie and found a path in becoming a Vigilante. As Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) is devoted to vigilantism in the film, it shows the theme of isolation.
It mirrors Scorsese’s view of New York as a place drenched in moral decay and glorifying violence. This can be realised in the controversial ending of Paul Schrader’s script, where Travis displayed rage,” You talking to me”? To date, the Film stands as a landmark for audience clamouring for a just society.
Raging Bull
Martin Scorsese used this 1980 film to unravel the society in the 80’s. It features themes like redemption, self-destruction, anger, identity displacement and discovery. This film was shot in black and white, chronicling (De Niro) Jake LaMotta’s career as a boxer.
Martin’s brilliance can be seen in his interpretation of boxing to be like a ballet, adding a slow-motion sprinkle of blood. He also created a hellish ambience with flashbulbs. All to the awe of the audience.
Also, the film displayed how De Niro shifted physically from an athlete to a bloated person. This is to express internal destruction and a faint expression of love for life, being materialistic. The film ended with Jake reciting “On the Waterfront” to reflect a wasted person, as it was in front of a mirror. Raging Bull, till the 21st century raises the question, can athletes suffering ever be noble?
Goodfellas
This is a 1990 film that illustrates the inevitability of betrayal, the seduction of power, and other powerful themes. Martin Scorsese showed his majestic cinematic experience in the dissection of mob life and the illusion of the American Dream. This can be seen in Henry Hill’s (Ray Liotta) novel movement from great height to the Lucchedr crime family. It embodies the duality of being ruthless and loyal.
Also, Martin Scorsese used shots from tracking and needle-drop soundtrack to capture the fast-paced nature of criminals. This, alongside their volatile nature. The film displays the core of the Mafia, their wealth, and the looming doom that awaits life. Goodfellas found its way to the audience with the reality of the life that mobsters live. Martin captured this using dark humour without neglecting the cultural implications.
The Wolf Of Wall Street
Martin Scorsese created an award-winning film for ages to come with this 2013 film. The themes include the excesses of capitalism, moral bankruptcy, and more. It is regarded as one of Martin Scorsese’s most audacious uses of dark comedy. It features Leonardo DiCaprio (Jordan Belfort), allured by fraud.
The film mirrors the excesses of addiction and the life of someone with unchecked ambition. Compared to Goodfellas, Scorsese ensured there was no sugar coating of the consequences. The Academy Award for Best Director also underscored the American system of appreciating greed. The Wolf of Wall Street to date remains one of the best films that gives a skeletal structure of American society unapologetically.
Conclusion
Martin Scorsese cannot be referred to as a great auteur alone; his works place him in the books of the great. With his films, he has made it easy for cinematic craftsmen to do less in finding templates of excellence. His 18+ films are not just about violence but the human condition in its rawest form.
Sources
https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/all-martin-scorsese-movies-ranked-by-tomatometer/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls068200254/
https://variety.com/lists/best-martin-scorsese-movies-ranked/
