I’m really looking forward to the day I see ‘‘Who’s that knocking at my door’’! I’ve only seen bits downloaded from the web, including the scene you mention Kentucky-Fried, fantastic!
The list Scarface is nice, not what I voted, but pretty representative. I’m happy that Bringing out the dead made the first 10 tho!
Am I the only one that thought Bringing Out the Dead was funnier than King of Comedy? The way Nicholas Cage just kinda stumbles from situation to situation is incredibly amusing to me, and the ways in which he deals with it as well.
"You’ll be going to the man who needs no introduction. Chronic caller of the year three straight and shooting for number four. The duke of drunk, the king of stink, our most frequent flier, Mr. Oh. "
[quote]Am I the only one that thought Bringing Out the Dead was funnier than King of Comedy? [/quote]
King of Comedy is way better than BOTD imo. It was ok, but King of Comedy is the kind of film I could watch a million times and still enjoy the hell out of it. BOTD isnt even close to that for me.
I hate to say this being a long time HUGE Scorsese fan, but I think Scorsese is starting to lose his spark, his last few films have been pretty dull. GONY was really a mess. I just dont know if he’ll ever make another GREAT film again. I hope so, but I dont know…
Loosing his touch? I think the opposite! People say that cause they didn’t like Kundun, Bringing out the Dead and Gangs of New York! Well I think all three of them were masterpieces, each one with his own way!
(In the 80’s when he made movies that were commercial failures like Raging Bull or King of Comedy (big time box office flop) After Hours etc etc many critics said that Scorsese was ‘‘done’’ he isn’t the same ecstatic director that he was in the 70’s! And look now, how the movies he made in that decade, are remembered now!)
Kundun was a magic mastepiece, one of the most beautifull films he has made, with the balls that only Marty has, using amateur actors like the great Italian directors did at the ‘‘realism-golden age’’ of the Italian cinema, who Marty is a huge fan! You can see his passion for the religion described in all his previous films in his colorfull images, but this time for Dalai-Lama (The last emperor is a crap comparing to Kundun!)
Bringing out the Dead, was a low-profile Scorsese-Schrader movie with awesome performances, magnifecent cinematography and a lot of meanings that people don’t get with 1 or 2 viewings (this fact exist for most of Marty’s movies) I think with BOTD Scorsese and Schrader are analysing their obsessions with even a better way than in Taxi Driver! By the way, everyone who says that BOTD is Taxi Driver in ana ambulance is a freaking stupido!
About Gangs Of New York (a mess?) I’ve already said that it is simply a masterpiece who will be more accepted, as time goes goes by! It’ll surely remembered as the greatest cinematic achievements of this decade.(imo) One critic (forgot his name) said that Gangs is the WIld Bunch and Battleship Pottemkin in the same movie! He is BIG TIME right!
I don’t know about others but I prefer Marty when he is low-profile in his movies and not that much when he is exploring mafia! For example I prefer Kundun, After Hours or BOTD to Casino. And people say that he always make mafia movies! Jesus! He has only made Goodfellas and Casino! The other movies like Mean Streets or Raging Bull or GONY are not mafia or gangster movies! They have some elements of mafia but they are not in that genre at all! Each movie of them is far from the mob genre as that genre is described these days! People must consider that Scorsese isn’t just about mobs!
I’m dieing to see his next movie, the Howard Hughes biopic ‘‘The Aviator’’ It’s gonna be big alright 
!
’‘Forgive my extended use of the word ‘‘masterpiece’’ but hey, we’re talking about Marty here!’’ 8)
[quote]
King of Comedy is way better than BOTD imo. It was ok, but King of Comedy is the kind of film I could watch a million times and still enjoy the hell out of it. BOTD isnt even close to that for me.
I hate to say this being a long time HUGE Scorsese fan, but I think Scorsese is starting to lose his spark, his last few films have been pretty dull. GONY was really a mess. I just dont know if he’ll ever make another GREAT film again. I hope so, but I dont know…
[/quote]
I'll be honest. I haven't seen King of Comedy all the way through yet. Its been coming on IFC non stop for the past several weeks now, but every time I watch it, I just end up getting depressed for some reason, and have to turn the channel. There's something about Robert Deniro's failure to cope with reality in that movie that just turns the whole thing into a tragedy for me. Unless, of course, there's some major twist in the plot, and I just haven't seen it yet.
I preferred Bringing Out the Dead, simply because of the John Goodman/ Nick Cage match up at the begining and the Tom Sizemore/ Nicke Cage match up at the end. There's something about those combinations and the dialogue spoken between the characters that just makes me laugh out loud.
Anyway, I'll agree that Gangs of New York was a mess. The scenes with Daniel Day Lewis were just plain awesome, but what was he thinking when he casted Leonardo Dicaprio and Cameron Diaz in the movie? They worked well in scenes where a superior actor was present, but everytime they were alone together (which was a pretty big chunk of that long ass movie) I just tuned out.
[quote]
I’ll be honest.  I haven’t seen King of Comedy all the way through yet.  Its been coming on IFC non stop for the past several weeks now, but every time I watch it, I just end up getting depressed for some reason, and have to turn the channel.  There’s something about Robert Deniro’s failure to cope with reality in that movie that just turns the whole thing into a tragedy for me.  Unless, of course, there’s some major twist in the plot, and I just haven’t seen it yet. [/quote]
Ive never heard that from someone before. King of Comedy is DEPRESSING? I think its totally UPLIFTING!! Rupert Pupkin represents someone that shows that persistance and believing in yourself can help you accomplish anything you want. Of course Rupert goes over the line to do it, but its such a positive film and funny as well. GREAT performances by DeNiro, Sandra Bernhard and Jerry Lewis!! Its one of Scorsese’s best films and its not even one of his violent crime films!
BOTD seems more like a film that would be depressing imo.
Oif: If Gangs is such a masterpiece why do I not wanna watch it again after I just bought it on DVD? (I have most of Scorseses films in my collection) I watched it ONCE and I really thought it sucked. There were a few good scenes, but overall it is a complete epic mess. Ive seen plenty of films, so I can distinguish that I think.
Mean Streets is a more personal Scorsese Mafia film to me. Charlie is basically Marty’s alter ego (like Clarence was in True Romance for QT)
Kundun was a good film, but its no masterpiece imo. You gotta be careful how you throw that word around.
The Aviator: I hope its alot better than GONY, thats for sure.
[quote]If Gangs is such a masterpiece why do I not wanna watch it again after I just bought it on DVD?  (I have most of Scorseses films in my collection) I watched it ONCE and I really thought it sucked. There were a few good scenes, but overall it is a complete epic mess. Ive seen plenty of films, so I can distinguish that I think.
Mean Streets is a more personal Scorsese Mafia film to me. Charlie is basically Marty’s alter ego (like Clarence was in True Romance for QT)
Kundun was a good film, but its no masterpiece imo. You gotta be careful how you throw that word around.
The Aviator: I hope its alot better than GONY, thats for sure. [/quote]Well I don’t know! You think that it sucks. Try watching it again, with a different mood, maybe you’ll change your opinion, about it! (I felt the same way when I first saw Jackie Brown or True Romance for example but I gave one or two more chances and I completely and 100% change my mind) I think you’re being very harsh saying that it sucked! But I agree that he has made better movies than GONY! (a lot!) The word ‘‘masterpiece’’ was used over the line alright, but I strongly believe that all his three latest films were ‘‘that word’’ Especially Kundun!
Mean Streets is big time his most personal film! All his elements are there (religion belief, redemtion, women, difficulty in communication between man and woman, life in the streets, hoods, money etc)
For Di Caprio in GONY, I think that was the character that it is described in the book and Leo did what Marty wanted from him in the correct way! I expected him a lot worse that he was! I think that the Aviator will be a perfect role for him as he is better in these roles (catch me if you can for example) There must be a reason why he is a close friend to de Niro and to Marty and the fact that Marty does two movies in a row with him and de Niro’s second directing attempt will be with Leo starring tells a lot of things!
If that pig Harvey Weinstein let Marty release the 3 and a half cut of GONY the movie would be a lot better that it was. (and it was great alright) That reminds me the Once Upon a Time in America incident in the 80’s about the movies’ cut, with the difference that GONY is still great, even if it’s cutted!
[quote] Well I don’t know! You think that it sucks. Try watching it again, with a different mood, maybe you’ll change your opinion, about it! (I felt the same way when I first saw Jackie Brown or True Romance for example but I gave one or two more chances and I completely and 100% change my mind) I think you’re being very harsh saying that it sucked!
If that pig Harvey Weinstein let Marty release the 3 and a half cut of GONY the movie would be a lot better that it was. (and it was great alright)[/quote]
I actually tried watching GONY more than once, but it just completely turns me off. Theres NOTHING in the film I want to rewatch. Especially that crappy opening sequence with the hyper-fast motion SHIT and then the ending of the film was a total pricktease! (Not to mention that stupid graveyard shot and the crappy looking GANGS OF NEW YORK end title, YUCK! The only good thing in that film was Daniel Day Lewis. Everyone else were just extras filling the scenes with their presence. If everyone had given what Day Lewis did to the film, it mightve been okay.
Scorsese said there is only one cut of GONY, there will be no DIRECTORS CUT ever released. Whats on the DVD is the final product.
Personally I dont think Scorsese’s specific period films (Age of Innocence, Kundun, NY NY) are very good. GONY just reinforces that opinion. Thats why The Aviator is kinda buggin me, I dont want another GONY or Age of Innocence type film.
[quote]I actually tried watching GONY more than once, but it just completely turns me off. Theres NOTHING in the film I want to rewatch. Especially that crappy opening sequence with the hyper-fast motion SHIT and then the ending of the film was a total pricktease!  (Not to mention that stupid graveyard shot and the crappy looking GANGS OF NEW YORK end title, YUCK!  The only good thing in that film was Daniel Day Lewis. Everyone else were just extras filling the scenes with their presence.  If everyone had given what Day Lewis did to the film, it mightve been okay.
Scorsese said there is only one cut of GONY, there will be no DIRECTORS CUT ever released. Whats on the DVD is the final product.
Personally I dont think Scorsese’s specific period films (Age of Innocence, Kundun, NY NY) are very good. GONY just reinforces that opinion.  Thats why The Aviator is kinda buggin me, I dont want another GONY or Age of Innocence type film. [/quote]Well I just strongly disagree! All those scenes you mentioned were masterfully directed with lots of symbolisms as Marty always showes in his films! Saying that all of those scenes were crappy -the ending with the tombs (symbolises eternity), the cool (spaghetti-western type) fonted logo of GONY and especially the slowmotion scenes in the opening battle (Scorsese=slow motion shots!) which is the most fantastic and realistic battle I’ve ever seen on the big screen, they’re all incredible shoted I’m sorry but I have to say,- is completely disrespect for Marty’s vision and directing methods that is the same grand and fresh for other 30 years now!!
By the way, Age of Innocence is one of my very-very favorite-best movies from Marty and of all time. And NY-NY is one of QT’s favorites from Scorsese (mine also) and also Jean-Luc Godard’s favorite by Marty in his 70’s period!
[quote]
Well I just strongly disagree! All those scenes you mentioned were masterfully directed with lots of symbolisms as Marty always showes in his films! Saying that all of those scenes were crappy -the ending with the tombs (symbolises eternity), the cool (spaghetti-western type) fonted logo of GONY and especially the slowmotion scenes in the opening battle (Scorsese=slow motion shots!) which is the most fantastic and realistic battle I’ve ever seen on the big screen, they’re all incredible shoted I’m sorry but I have to say,- is completely disrespect for Marty’s vision and directing methods that is the same grand and fresh for other 30 years now!!
By the way, Age of Innocence is one of my very-very favorite-best movies from Marty and of all time. And NY-NY is one of QT’s favorites from Scorsese (mine also) and also Jean-Luc Godard’s favorite by Marty in his 70’s period![/quote]
Dude, those werent SLO MO Shots!! They were hyper fast shots because Scorsese didnt want to show EXACTLY what QT will show in Kill Bill (the real time fighting) Fuck that quick speed shit!! Thats a big reason why I didnt like the film to begin with.
There might be some symbolism in GONY, but so what? What does the audience care? We want a GREAT film first, then we’ll worry about the other stuff!
Theres NO WAY I will say GONY is a great film. If it was that great, believe me, I’d say it, but its not. There is such an emptiness to GONY, its really sad because I am a big Scorsese fan, but GONY just disspointed me all the way across the board. Theres nothing in the film that made me feel Scorsese was expanding his craft, it was just one set piece after another with some mediocre acting in between. I mean really, take away the big sets and the clothes and you got really lame film.
If you want to see a real epic film watch Once Upon a Time in America. Thats a true masterpiece.
Age of Innocence and period films like that are the films that I like the least out of any genre. You can have those, not my taste at all.
NY NY isnt a bad film, but its not that great either. Thats cool if QT and Godard love it, but I dont.
Well it’s just a matter of taste! I didn’t like those period films either, till I saw Barry Lyndon. (I’m sure you’re a great fan of this one also!)
Anyway I really love symbolisms in films generally, I agree that he has made many films, better than GONY, but I loved this one also, I found this ‘‘slo-mo’’ thing pretty effective to give you the feeling and the thrilling of the fight-along with Peter Gabriel’s magic music. I agree tho, despite many idiots say, about the movies’ violence, the violence was 90% offscreen, (we’ll see about it in Kill Bill) I found it as the best film of year!
Looking forward to ‘‘The Aviator’’
[quote] I found it as the better film of year! '[/quote]
I gotta be totally honest, Chicago is a better film than GONY and it deserved Best Picture 100%. I just got Chicago on dvd and I’m not even into musicals per se, but this one was just excellent. Great acting, great singing and great dancing!! Renee Zellwegger, Catherine Zeta Jones, Queen Latifah John C Reilly and Richard Gere were outstanding. I never knew how multi talented these people were! Rob Marshall deserved the Oscar, he made a really wonderful film.
Watch this movie, I guarantee you will be humming the music from it for days afterwards. 
I like musicals but I haven’t seen Chicago yet, I will tho when it comes out, on DVD here!
I don’t want Marty take the academy award for directing, not at all! I want him to be in the bunch with Kubrick,Hitchcock, Leone, Welles and others greats without a director’s oscar!
Well, since you’re talking about this year’s best pictures; I wanna say that my personal vote goes to “Adaptation”. If you haven’t seen it yet, watch it. Awesome movie!
[quote]I wanna say that my personal vote goes to “Adaptation”. If you haven’t seen it yet, watch it. Awesome movie![/quote]Adaptation was great, one of my favorites of the year, as long with (random order), Femme Fatale, 25th Hour, Auto Focus, Hable con Ella, Irreversible, Cidade de Deus, The Magdalene Sisters, Insomnia, Far from Heaven, Minority Report, Solaris, Spider, City by the Sea, Panic Room, Signs, Bowling for Columbine, Ice Age, etc etc. There are a lot more that I forget right now and a lot more that i still haven’t seen, like Punch-Drunk Love…
As for GONY, I recommend to all, who have the DVD, to watch the extras, and the history of the Five Points, and the other stuff! They will make you appreciate more the movie and it’s content!
some weeks ago I watched GoodFellas and I thought it was pretty good.
But it was too typical of Scrosese. Rise and fall of a mafia person.
Yesterday, I watched a deNiro movie that I liked much better: A BRONX TALE. It’s directed by deNiro and is about how a little boy gets influenced by mob guys and how the father doesn’t like that and all… very entertaining movie and also deals with racism and so on. I though GoodFellas kinda lacked the seriousity. It was too much “lets make another mafia film”, I think GoodFellas can’t compete with Casino or even Mean Streets, although it looks a little like a remake of Mean Streets.
I think Seb you must watch more of Marty’s, Goodfellas is the most realistic, representative, Mafia movie ever made and will ever made! Not even close to an ordinary mob movie, what Marty was trying to say in Goodfellas, is to show what mob life is about (money, having fun all the time, women, money, respect etc) Shows the real life of wiseguys contrary to The Godfathers that show the life of the big mafia bosses and not the guys in the streets!
Rise and fall is not in the Scorsese universe. The rise that scorsesian characters are living , is a delusion which they don’t see, is like living a hell to reach a false paradise (redemption) as for example in Raging Bull or in The King of Comedy!
I think that everytime I saw for the first time a Scorsese movie, I didn’t understand what really the meaning of the movie was, I dug it after multiple viewings!
Goodfellas is not the definite ‘‘Scorsese’’ movie. That definition goes mainly to Mean Streets and then to Raging Bull and to The Last Temptation of Christ! And Goodfellas is not definently a Mean Streets remake! Not even close to it’s theme at all!
A Bronx Tale was a good film, kinda corny in parts, but a decent film by DeNiro. Better than GoodFellas: NO WAY!! GoodFellas is a masterpiece across the board. Its not a remake of Mean Streets, the story is much different. GoodFellas is probably the most realistic mafia film of them all (about a real guys life). Casino is more close to GoodFellas in theme (also about a real guys life). But not Mean Streets. Ya gotta watch those movies again I think. You’ll see the differences.
A Bronx Tale Trivia: Did you know Cologero © is Chaz Palminteri’s real name? and A Bronx Tale was actually a one man stage play Chaz did himself.
“typical Scorsese”: There is no typical Scorsese IMO. Hes only done a few Mafia related movies. The rest are all in different genres of film. Hes done: musicals, thrillers, crime, drama, religious, black comedy, historical period films, documentaries…He may have similar details and/or themes in some films (religion being a big part), but they are all different.
Oif: You say Scorsese only has a few personal films, I think almost ALL his films are personal in one way or another.
[quote]A Bronx Tale was a good film, kinda corny in parts, but a decent film by DeNiro. Better than GoodFellas: NO WAY!! GoodFellas is a masterpiece across the board. Its not a remake of Mean Streets, the story is much different. GoodFellas is probably the most realistic mafia film of them all (about a real guys life).  Casino is more close to GoodFellas in theme (also about a real guys life). But not Mean Streets. Ya gotta watch those movies again I think. You’ll see the differences.
A Bronx Tale Trivia: Did you know Cologero © is Chaz Palminteri’s real name? and A Bronx Tale was actually a one man stage play Chaz did himself.
“typical Scorsese”: There is no typical Scorsese IMO. Hes only done a few Mafia related movies. The rest are all in different genres of film. Hes done:  musicals, thrillers, crime, drama, religious, black comedy, historical period films, documentaries…He may have similar details and/or  themes in some films (religion being a big part), but they are all different.
Oif: You say Scorsese only has a few personal films, I think almost ALL his films are personal in one way or another.[/quote]I very much agree with you. Bronx Tale was very good, corny at times, but very personal movie to Bob as he has said! (he deticated it to his father, who shares the same name, Robert de Niro) but comparing it to Goodfellas is kinda ‘‘sacrilege’’ (A Bronx Tale tho, is to Bob what Mean Streets is to Marty, very personal movie)
There a couple of specific things, that bother Scorsese in every movie, and religion is the biggest of them all, big time! Even in Taxi Driver or King of Comedy or even in The Color of Money, there’s some religious stuff!
I didn’t know that about Palminterri’s real name, I knew tho that, this was a stage play by him. (by the way, Palminteri is hilarious everytime I see him in a movie!)
All his movies from Who’s that… to Mean Streets to Kundun and to Gangs are very personal pieces of work, but I mentioned what I find as his most personal movies (movies that have all his obsessions and stuff we already talked)
’‘My whole life was movies and religion, nothing else!’’ Martin Scorsese
Happy birthday to the king himself, who has just turned 61 today. Have a good one Marty!