Scorsese on Scorsese (2004) (TV)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Richard Schickel

Writer:

Richard Schickel (writer)

Release Date:

14 December 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography

Plot:

Director Martin Scorsese discusses his life growing up in Manhattan and his filmmaking career.

Plot Keywords:

Film Director | Filmmaker | Character Name In Title

Cast

Martin Scorsese	...	Himself - interviewee
Charles Scorsese	...	Himself (archive footage)
Catherine Scorsese	...	Herself (archive footage)

Runtime:

86 min | 85 min | Finland:57 min (2007)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

USA:TV-MA

Company:

Turner Classic Movies (TCM)

Trivia:

This documentary is featured on the Two-Disc Special Edition DVD for The Departed (2006).

Movie Connections:

References Ossessione (1943)

Interesting once it gets past all of his gangster films...

I found myself interested only in the first part of SCORSESE ON SCORSESE where he talks about his early environment, beginning in Corona, Queens and then moving to the East Side of New York City where the tough survival of street hoodlums was a way of life.

He talks fondly of his Italian parents, their sense of humor, the fact that his father introduced him to the movies, taking him into the city all the time to see the movies of the '40s and '50s. By the time we get to Scorsese's run of gangster films (everything from MEAN STREETS, TAXI DRIVER, RAGING BULL, GOODFELLAS and THE GANGS OF NEW YORK), we see clip upon clip of the aimless violence that had their grip on most of his most famous films. The bloodbath is almost too much at times. It's almost a relief that THE DEPARTED is not included since the documentary was filmed in '04.

Then, finally, we get a respite with THE AGE OF INNOCENCE and THE AVIATOR, and some generous clips from both. After all the gangster stuff, it comes as a breath of fresh air to conclude the Scorsese story with films outside of his own genre.

Scorsese's most die-hard fans will certainly enjoy this look down memory lane, but others beware. As for the man's own perception of his film-making chores, don't expect too much illumination.