Martin Scorsese: A New Documentary Explores the Divine and the Destructive
Apple TV+ is set to release a five-part documentary series, “Mr. Scorsese,” offering an intimate and revealing portrait of one of cinema’s most influential figures. The series, directed by Rebecca Miller, delves into the life and career of Martin Scorsese, from his childhood in New York City to his groundbreaking films and the personal struggles that fueled his artistic vision.
the second episode of the series focuses on the making of Scorsese’s 1976 masterpiece, “taxi Driver.” Jodie Foster, reflecting on her experience working with the director nearly five decades ago, described Scorsese as “gleeful” during the film’s production. “he was excited about how the blood got made,” Foster recounted, vividly illustrating his passion for the technical aspects of filmmaking. “And,when he was gonna blow the guy’s head off,how they put little pieces of Styrofoam in the blood so it would attach to the wall and stick there.”
Though, the creative joy was frequently enough met with resistance. Scorsese recalls the studio’s anger over the film’s violence, language, and depiction of New York City’s underbelly. When the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) initially gave “Taxi Driver” an X-rating, Columbia Pictures demanded edits to secure an R-rating. “That’s when I lost it,” Scorsese admitted, recounting a moment of intense frustration that nearly led to him physically destroying the film.He explained his rationale: “They were gonna destroy the film anyway, you know? so let me destroy it.”
Thankfully, a more destructive outcome was averted, but the incident highlights the central tension explored throughout the documentary: the exhilarating highs of creation juxtaposed with the potential for artistic ruin. The series, featuring interviews with collaborators like Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as Scorsese’s family and friends, examines the “angels and demons” that have shaped his work.
“Mr. Scorsese” doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of the director’s life, addressing themes such as the influence of “Travis Bickles” on modern America, the rise of the religious right in relation to “The Last Temptation of christ,” and Scorsese’s personal battles with depression, divorce, and a near-death experience.Despite the heavy subject matter, the documentary is frequently enough surprisingly funny, offering glimpses into Scorsese’s self-deprecating humor and the camaraderie he shares with his longtime collaborators.
Despite these minor shortcomings, “Mr. Scorsese” promises a compelling and insightful exploration of a cinematic icon. The series offers captivating anecdotes, such as Scorsese throwing a desk out a window during a dispute with Harvey Weinstein on the set of “Gangs of New York,” and Schoonmaker’s recollection of directing Scorsese’s own mother in his films. A especially memorable moment involves Leonardo DiCaprio’s visibly uncomfortable discussion of “woman’s buttocks” while analyzing a scene from “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
Miller’s analysis underscores the recurring dichotomies in Scorsese’s work, from the interplay of faith and violence to the exploration of morality and redemption. The documentary concludes with a powerful message: Scorsese lives for filmmaking, even if it comes at a personal cost. As one interviewee put it, Scorsese embodies the duality of being “a gangster and a priest,” a sentiment echoed by Gore Vidal, who observed that Scorsese had become both.
to paraphrase Spike Lee, thank God he did. Thank God he could. And thank God he found so many ways to share himself with the world.
Grade: A-
“Mr. Scorsese” premiered Saturday,October 4 at the New York film Festival. Apple will release all five episodes on friday, October 17.
