Critics Club 01: Scorsese

[Neon Ignition]

Like a methodical process of elimination to find which well known director made Bordersdown most well regarded film, we'll move from big name director to big name director selecting the films we feel are each of their best work.

First up is veteran film maker Martin Scorsese, who at over 70yrs old has an illustrious line up.

What are your thoughts on the director, the films he's made and which is your favourite Scorsese movie?

[Guts]

Goodfellas for me, although it could also be Casino, has been too long since I saw it and should watch it again. Taxi Driver, Mean Streets and Raging Bull are of course stone-cold classics and great films and I quite enjoyed Gangs of New York and Departed too. So many films from him still to watch.

[Neon Ignition]

I haven't really seen many of his films, he has a definite style and theme to many of them that doesn't appeal to me. I don't doubt he's made better qualified films but I got most entertainment from Shutter Island though I did enjoy Casino if mostly because of the history and setting of the films events

[QualityChimp]

This is a great idea, Crazy Superman Taxi Falls Next!
I'm not a mahoosive Scorsese fan, but he's knocked some serious hits out, hasn't he?

Crazy Taxi Driver for me. Travis Bickle is such a complex character and I love the way Scorsese depicts his slowly increasing isolation and descent into misguided vigilantism.
A few times, the camera keeps moving and leaves Bickle behind, suggesting he's not moving where to where he should be in life.

For example, when he's on the telephone to Betsy, trying to make amends for the awful date they had, the camera keeps panning away from him and moves on to a long empty corridor. This emphasises how isolated he's become and the camera almost becomes a character istelf, hinting he should move on from the futile conversation and go out the door at the end of the corridor.



Little things like this moulds how we feel about Travis, rather than focus on him. The camera "disrespects" the protagonist several times by choosing not to follow him. Top stuff.

[Geoff D]

Taxi Driver - it's a sprawling, harrowing walk through Travis' head. Utterly hypnotic & incredibly acted.

[stevie vip 99]

Goodfellas too for me, a film I watched over and over when it first came out, still could.
Raging bull a very close second. Also rather enjoyed bringing out the dead.

[Atticus]

Tough choice but Taxi Driver comes top for me, just ahead of Goodfellas and Casino. Just the thought of the cab coming through the steam in the streets in slo-mo, while Bernard Herrmann's score kicks in. Legendary.

Special mention must go to After Hours too. I love that film.

[Colin]

When you look at the best films he's made, then ask people to choose just one, you might as well be asking which one of their kids they don't mind if you shoot.



Oh, and no "The last waltz" in the list? One of the greatest music documentary films ever made.

[ShadowDancer]

I was about to say the last waltz (as Colin did)
I've seen every Scorsese picture and owned just about everything VHS! In my 20's.
I can't vote one....no...I can't.

[ShadowDancer]

I guess the film that had the most impact on me was taxi driver. More modern, Casino. Certain scenes will live on in my head regardless as if I like them or not, just a dramatic impact.

The film I've watched the most is Goodfellas. If you're going to make me choose, It would have to be goodfellas.

[PaTaito]

As much as i think raging bull is technically his best work(as well as deniro's), and undoubtedly a masterpiece....i fell in love with casino from the opening credits.

Wolf of wall street is an absolute riot though, and deserves much credit...what an outstanding modern cast.

[Neon Ignition]

Ibused IMDB as a checklist so anything that was listed as anything other than a movie was exempt, to give Scorsese credit, he isn't shy about varying up from film. Saw one of his upcoming films is about Sinatra too, that could tempt me.

[CMcK]

King of Comedy is just brilliant. As is Taxi Driver. The hard thing about Scorsese films is that they often feature a central character that is pretty unlikeable and it can spoil them. Especially with stuff like Gangs.

[bash]

No love for Ragin Bull?

Goodfellas is just one of those films that no matter what time it is and what bit I've flicked onto I have to keep watching. Its just jam packed with performances and moments. Taxi driver is not great like that but more of an intimate portrayl. Its not a film I'd watch with anyone else, its more enjoyable as a solitary experience. both great but GF tips it for me.