In many Martin Scorsese movies, there seems to be an overall shared theme of violence, mobs or gangs, money, and deception. His films are full of action, drama, and suspense and are tough enough for guys, but inspiring and thought provoking enough for women to enjoy as well. Plus, most Martin Scorsese movies star incredible actors like Leonardo DiCaprio or Robert De Niro, so what’s not to love...
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When you combine a cast that includes Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, and Lorraine Bracco with Martin Scorsese as the director, you just know you have a hit on your hands. Having already worked with De Niro on a few other films that were nominated for big awards like the Oscars, by 1990 when "GoodFellas" hit the screen, Scorsese was a well known name in Hollywood. When people talk about great mob movies like "The Godfather" and "Scarface," this Martin Scorsese movie is at the top of the list among them.
Yet another Martin Scorsese movie with Robert De Niro; I think someone found his favorite leading man! Taxi Driver actually came out in theaters in 1976, 14 years before Goodfellas, and was considered to be a very violent film during the time of its release. De Niro plays an honorably discharged Marine who takes a job as a New York City taxi driver. Over time he just can’t seem to deal with all of the crime and prostitution any more, especially when he meets 12 year old prostitute Iris, who is played by 14 year old Jodie Foster! This is one movie you just have to watch to find out what happens in the end, you’ll never believe it!
A few years before The Departed, Martin Scorsese movies took on a new leading man, Leonardo DiCaprio. Whether it was the luck of his new man or that Hollywood finally took the time to recognize how great Scorsese is, in 2007 he finally took home his first Oscar for Best Director! The Departed also won 3 other Oscars that night: Best Motion Picture; Best Writing; and Best Film Editing. This is yet another great Scorsese mob movie, however this one deals with an undercover cop who is trying to find the mole in the department and the mob who is trying to find the mole among them...hmm, who is the real cop and who is the real mobster?!
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I’m starting to see a trend here in what it takes to make a great Martin Scorsese movie; you either have to have Robert De Niro or Leonardo DiCaprio as your leading man! Funny, though, how they haven’t been in a Scorsese movie together! Perhaps there is something in the works for the future, we can only hope! Enough about them and more about "Shutter Island," which is a creepy, psychological film that will play with your mind. What you believe to be true may not be. DiCaprio plays a detective in the 1950s who is looking for a convicted woman who has gone missing on the Island of a hospital for the mentally unstable. The question is, did she really disappear? You’ll have to watch and pay close attention to discover the truth for yourself!
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Many Martin Scorsese movies are set in the city where he was born...New York City. So it’s obvious that he would be inspired to make a film about the historic New York City, where gangs ruled the streets in the mid-19th century and caused a big riot between the natives and the immigrants. Scorsese discovered a book about the gangs of New York and for 20 years he set out to make a movie on this very topic. It’s ironic that Daniel Day-Lewis played the part of the crime boss in “Gangs of New York,” set during the time Abraham Lincoln was drafting for the Civil War, only to later play the President! It’s a great movie with a dramatic plot of revenge that plays out while history and war continues on around them.
Oh what’s that, yet another Martin Scorsese movie featuring none other than one of his favorite men, Leonardo DiCaprio! When you find something that works, why change it, right! In “The Aviator,” DiCaprio portrayed film producer, director, and aviator Howard Hughes Hughes built and flew his own planes, produced and directed controversial films, and dated leading ladies of Hollywood that included Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, and Ava Gardner. The film is an interesting look behind the life of a man who worked in Hollywood, but tried to keep out of the public eye and didn’t want anyone knowing his deepest and darkest secrets. If you are interested in watching this 5 time Oscar winning Scorsese movie, be sure to set aside 3 hours; it’s long but enjoyable.
This may be the only Martin Scorsese movie that can be considered for the whole family to enjoy watching. This is also one of my favorites, I love the mixture of old and new. It feels like a futuristic film, but is actually set in the 1930s. An Orphan named Hugo lives inside the walls of a train station and is learning how to survive by sneaking food from restaurant tables, grabbing other things from various locations in the station, and staying away from the guard and his dog! Along the way, Hugo works on the station’s clocks, and goes on an adventure unlocking mysteries of his father with a young girl who lives with her grandparents. Hugo is played by Asa Butterfield, while the girl is played by one of my favorite up and coming actresses, Chloe Grace Moretz. This is an action adventure that will be enjoyed by adults as well as kids for generations to come.
So, have you watched many of these Martin Scorsese movies? Have I left out any of your favorites?
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