There’s no greater advocate for the future of cinema thanMartin Scorsese. The Oscar-winning director behind classics likeTaxi Driver,Raging Bull,Goodfellas,andThe Departedisn’t just one of the greatest filmmakers who has ever lived but one of cinema’s biggest fans. Scorsese has remained active in his advancing years, becoming a vocal supporter of the theatrical experience and expressing his hopes and fears for cinema’s future.
In addition to making several great films in recent years, Scorsese has also helped spotlight projects from emerging filmmakers as a producer. While his talents behind the camera are well-known, his producing instincts are equally impressive, with Scorsese backing several great films from emerging talents.
10’Pieces of a Woman' (2020)
Pieces of a Womanis one of the greatest movies that are tough to rewatch. The film examines the life of Martha, a married woman (Vanessa Kirby), in the months following her miscarriage, showing the physical, mental, and emotional burdens she deals with in explicit detail.
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Scorsese’s 1974 film won its lead actress a Best Actress Oscar.
Pieces of a Womanfeels like the type of classical 1970s character drama Scorsese would have made earlier in his career, echoingAlice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. It’s a very disturbing story, but Kirby treats the material with the maturity and respect it deserves, earning herself an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
9’Bleed for This' (2016)
There’sno greater boxing movie in historythanRaging Bull, so it makes sense that Scorsese would want to get involved with another film about the sport. The 2016 biopicBleed for ThisfeaturesMiles Teller,giving the performance of his career, as the boxing champion Vinny Pazienza, who suffers a near-fatal injury during a car accident. Although Vinny is told that he might never walk again, he trains his body and refocuses his mind, fighting his way back to the top.
Teller’s physical transformation feels similar to howRobert De Nirotransformed forRaging Bull.Bleed for Thisis raw, powerful, and rewarding, much like Scorsese’s best movies. They might not be easy to watch but they are undoubtedly cathartic viewing experiences.
8’Free Fire' (2016)
Free Firefeels like the best of Scorsese’s classic crime films mixed into one. The film features an ensemble that Scorsese himself would be proud of and follows two rival criminal gangs after a drug deal gone awry forces them to hunt each other down in a confined bunker.
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“The real question is this: was all this legal? Absolutely f**king not.”
The hilarious performances fromBrie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Sharlto Coppley,andSam RileymakeFree Firean unforgettable experience. With a little bit of dark humor, a terrific ensemble of character actors, and a killer soundtrack,Ben Wheatley’s2016 crime comedy pays homage to Scorsese classics likeMean StreetsandAfter Hours.
7’Once Were Brothers' (2019)
In addition to creating some of the greatest drama films of all time,Scorsese has produced many classic documentaries. One of his most famous is 1978’sThe Last Waltz, which spotlighted the last live show byThe Band. The film kicked off a lifelong friendship between Scorsese and the legendary group.
Scorsese reunited with the group and their late great vocalist,Robbie Robertson, for the emotional 2019 documentaryOnce Were Brothers. Scorsese, Robertson, andBob Dylanall share interesting insights about the group’s evolution and howThe Last Waltzchanged their careers for the better.
6’The Souvenir' (2019)
What better way for Scorsese to celebrate the power of cinema than to produce a coming-of-age film about an aspiring filmmaker?Joanna Hogg’s2019 dramaThe Souvenirserves as a semi-autobiographical story about her evolution as an artist.Honor Swinton Byrnestars as a young film student whose directorial debut is thrown off course when she enters a relationship with an abusive drug addict (Tom Burke).
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Martin Shortsese.
The Souveniroffers fascinating insights into the importance of female voices in filmmaking and shows the value of listening to diverse voices behind the scenes. The project directly fits Scorsese’s sensibilities, confirming his place as one of modern cinema’s loudest supporters.
5’Life Itself' (2014)
If there’s anyone who loved cinema more than Scorsese, it wasthe late great film criticRoger Ebert. A vocal advocate for many great films and artists, Ebert had an indelible impact on cinema, arguably becoming the most iconic figure in the ever-changing world of film criticism.
The 2014 documentaryLife Itselfexplores Ebert’s lasting impact on the industry, his relationship with fellow punditGene Siskel, and the last few years of his life as he struggled with cancer. Film fans may enjoy seeing interviews with various subjects of Ebert’s praise, includingLaura Dern, Ramin Bahrani,and Scorsese himself.
4’The Card Counter' (2021)
Oscar Isaacgives the performance of his career as the serial gambler William Tell, a former serviceman who enters a major poker tournament, inPaul Schrader’s2021 crime thrillerThe Card Counter. Tell finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy linked to experimental drug use in the military.
Scorsese has frequently collaborated with screenwriter Paul Schrader, who penned such classics asTaxi Driver, Raging Bull,andThe Last Temptation of Christ. Schrader proved to be a great director in his own right, withThe Card Counterbeing among his best films in recent years. The Scorsese-Schrader pairing has provided several certified classics, and the duo is still unstoppable.
3’Uncut Gems' (2019)
Scorsese makes movies about New York City better than anyone else, butthe Safdie brothersmay have given him a run for his money with their 2019 crime thrillerUncut Gems.Adam Sandlergives a surprisingly compelling dramatic performance as the hustler Howard Ratner, a narcissistic gambler who never knows when to quit. Howard gets in over his head after a series of bad deals in New York’s Diamond District.
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The Safdies capture an aura of perpetual anxiety similar to Scorsese’s classics, as it never feels like Howard is given a chance to breathe.Uncut Gemsis a visceral, brutal, unrelenting experience, with the Safdies proving themselves worthy students of the Scorsese film school.
2’The Grifters' (1990)
InStephen Frears’The Grifters,crime is a family affair.The 1990 crime thrillerstarsJohn Cusackas con artist Roy Dillon, who ends up reuniting with his mother, Lily (Anjelica Huston), after spending several years apart. Their encounter leads to a complicated situation with Roy’s ambitious girlfriend, Myra.
Although con artists have been depicted in more comedic ways in films likeDirty Rotten Scoundrels,The Griftersshows how all-consuming the lifestyle can be. Roy and Lily become so lost in their identities that they lose track of their real personalities. Like most Scorsese movies,The Grifterswas a critical success, earning four Oscar nominations but going home empty-handed.
1’You Can Count On Me' (2000)
Scorsese is most closely associated with films about violence, gangsters, and the mob. Thus, who would have guessed he would have produced something as sweet and sensitive asYou Can Count On Me? The 2000 family dramedy follows small-town bank employee Sammy (Laura Linney) as she tries to raise her young son Rudy (Rory Culkin). Her life is thrust into chaos when her disreputable brother Terry (Mark Ruffalo) makes a surprising reappearance and becomes an unexpected mentor to Rudy.
You Can Count on Mehails from playwrightKenneth Lonerganand features an Oscar-nominated performance from Laura Linney. The film is a beautiful exploration of family and love, showcasing Lonergan’s unique ability to present insightful commentary about everyday situations most people take for granted.
