Martin Scorsese Film Analysis

Martin Scorsese: A Cinematic Legend

Scorsese's Background and Influences

• Martin Scorsese is a prominent figure in American cinema.

• He has Italian heritage and was raised in New York, influencing his portrayal of ethnicity and Northeastern lifestyles, especially in films like Goodfellas.

• He initially studied for the priesthood for about a year before attending NYU and earning an MA in film in the late 1960s.

• He was part of the first generation of filmmakers who attended film school during the American New Wave movement.

• Collaborated and brainstormed with contemporaries like Spielberg, Lucas, and De Palma.

Early Works and Signature Style

• Mean Streets (early 1970s): Scorsese's first Italian gangster film showcasing his signature filmmaking style.

  • Macho posturing and violence.

  • Catholic guilt.

  • Gritty New York locations.

  • Classic rock soundtracks.

  • Association with Robert De Niro.

Major Films in Organized Crime

• Goodfellas (1990): A major work in organized crime.

• Casino: Featured many of the same cast members as Goodfellas.

• Exploration of early Irish gangs in New York.

• The Departed (2006): Won Scorsese his first Academy Award.

• Wolf of Wall Street: Another significant film.

• The Irishman: Reunited De Niro and Scorsese, depicting an Irish hitman reflecting on a life of crime.

• Upcoming film:

  • Based on a book about the theft of profits and land from Native Americans by oil executives in the 1920s.

  • Involves a large FBI investigation.

  • Stars Leonardo DiCaprio and De Niro.

Versatility and Collaborations

• Scorsese has worked in various genres:

  • Period pieces.

  • Dramatic biopics.

  • Thrillers.

  • Documentaries.

  • Action films.

• Frequent collaborations with the same cast and crew members.

  • Robert De Niro in the first half of his career.

  • Leonardo DiCaprio in the second half.

Scorsese-De Niro and Scorsese-DiCaprio Collaborations

Scorsese & De Niro

• Mean Streets (1973): Marked the beginning of their collaboration.

• Taxi Driver: Depicts the confused antihero Travis Bickle.

• Goodfellas: A sprawling gangster epic with humor and violence.

• Casino: Showcased Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro in a Las Vegas melodrama.

Scorsese & DiCaprio

• Gangs of New York: Beginning of their collaboration.

• The Departed: A cops and gangster drama set in South Boston.

Consistent Crew and Collaborators

Key Collaborators

• Producer Barbara Defina.

• Writer Paul Schrader.

• Actor Robert De Niro.

• Cinematographer Michael Ballhaus.

• Production Designer Dante Ferretti.

• Costume Designer Sandy Powell.

• Composer Howard Shore.

• Music Consultant Robbie Robertson.

• Sound Editor Skip Levesy.

• Film editor Thelma Schoonmaker.

Recognition and Rankings

• Three films in the 100 greatest movies of all time:

  • Raging Bull (#4).

  • Taxi Driver (#47).

  • Goodfellas (#92).

• Total Film ranks Scorsese as the second-greatest director of all time, behind Hitchcock.

Filmography Highlights

• Taxi Driver.

• Mean Streets.

• Raging Bull.

• Casino.

• Gangs of New York.

• The Aviator.

• The Departed.

• Shutter Island.

• Wolf of Wall Street.

Awards and Recognition

• Accumulation of awards:

  • 91 Academy Awards.

  • 94 BAFTAs.

• Scorsese has achieved consistent excellence throughout his career.

Goodfellas: An Overview

• Directed and co-wrote the screenplay with additional refinement.

• Based on the book "Wise Guys".

• Starred Michael (cinematographer) and Thelma (editor).

• Premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

• Runtime of 145 minutes.

• Initial earnings more than doubled its investment.

How are Genres Born?

• Genres are born from trends in popular culture, audience interest, and the repetition of successful themes and story types.

• Early genres often reflect the anxieties or desires of the time (e.g., Prohibition, the Great Depression).

Evolution of the Gangster Genre

What are the 3 early films in the 1930s?

1. Little Caesar (1931)

2. The Public Enemy (1931)

3. Scarface (1932)

What did these early films have in common?

• Protagonists who rise from nothing to the top of the criminal world

• Themes of ambition, power, violence, and downfall

• Often based loosely on real-life mobsters

• Reflected fears of the era: crime, Prohibition, and the American Dream gone wrong

• Anti-heroes were charismatic, which caused concern

The Censorship Backlash

What happened and why did it happen?

• The government and religious groups feared that gangster films were glorifying crime

• Young audiences idolized gangsters instead of condemning them

• There was a demand for morality in storytelling

What were their new rules?

• The Hays Code or Production Code was enforced (1934):
  • Crime must never be portrayed as successful
  • Criminals must always be punished for wrongdoing
  • No excessive violence, sex, or immorality, mandate moral lessons
  • Law and order had to win in the end

Conventions of the Genre

What are the 11 Conventions of the Gangster Film Genre?

1. Rise-and-fall narrative arc

2. Urban settings (often New York, Chicago)

3. Emphasis on money, power, and respect

4. Organized crime and the crime family hierarchy

5. Loyalty vs. betrayal

6. Violence as a means to power

7. Corruption of the American Dream

8. Fast cars, flashy clothes, and nightclubs

9. Police and FBI pressure (law enforcement conflict)

10. Voice-over narration (often reflective)

11. Inevitability of downfall – death, jail, or betrayal

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Here’s a breakdown of Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas using the 11 conventions of the gangster film genre:

Goodfellas & the Gangster Genre

1. Rise-and-Fall Narrative Arc

• Follows Henry Hill from his childhood fascination with gangsters to his rise through the mob, and finally to his fall (betrayal, drug addiction, and life in witness protection).

• Classic arc of "success, excess, and collapse."

2. Urban Settings

• Takes place primarily in Brooklyn and Queens, New York.

• Features gritty streets, Italian-American neighborhoods, and the shadowy corners of the city’s underworld.

3. Money, Power, and Respect

• Henry narrates: “As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.”

• Gangsters live lavishly: cash, suits, cars, and influence.

• Power is earned through fear, violence, and connections.

4. Organized Crime & Hierarchy

• Shows the Lufthansa heist, the structure of the Lucchese crime family, and roles like associates, made men, and captains.

• Emphasizes loyalty to the mob family over blood family.

5. Loyalty vs. Betrayal

• Loyalty is everything—until it’s not.

• Henry betrays Jimmy and Paulie to save himself.

• Jimmy has people killed after the heist to cover his tracks.

• The fall happens when loyalty collapses.

6. Violence as a Means to Power

• Brutal scenes: Billy Batts murder, Spider getting shot, and the famous “Funny how?” tension.

• Violence is frequent, shocking, and used for control and fear.

7. Corruption of the American Dream

• Instead of working hard, Henry takes a shortcut to success through crime.

• He achieves the dream (house, money, respect) but at a huge cost: addiction, paranoia, betrayal.

• Ultimately, it all crumbles.

8. Fast Cars, Flashy Clothes, Nightclubs

• The film glamorizes the lifestyle early on: silk suits, front-row club tables, stacks of cash.

• Long tracking shot into the Copacabana = seductive pull of gangster life.

9. Law Enforcement Conflict

• FBI constantly watches them; Henry is eventually caught and flips.

• Shows how the mob operates under constant surveillance and legal pressure.

10. Voice-over Narration

• Henry Hill narrates throughout—adds insight, charm, and a confessional tone.

• Karen Hill (his wife) also narrates—giving a unique female perspective into the mob life.

11. Inevitable Downfall

• By the end, Henry is in witness protection, living a bland suburban life.

• “I get to live the rest of my life like a schnook.”

• A life of betrayal, regret, and emptiness replaces the glamorous gangster dream.

Genres in film evolve through a combination of cultural, social, and economic factors. Early films often set a foundation that influences later works, combining themes, styles, and narratives that resonate with audiences. The gangster genre, in particular, emerged as a response to societal changes and the public's fascination with crime and morality.

Evolution of the Gangster Genre

The gangster genre began gaining traction in the early 1930s. Notable films from this distinct period include:

1. Little Caesar (1931)

2. The Public Enemy (1931)

3. Scarface (1932)

These early films shared several key characteristics:

• Depicted the rise and fall of criminals in a dramatized manner.

• Featured themes of ambition, power, and betrayal.

• Often showcased the struggles between gangsters and law enforcement.

Censorship Backlash

As the popularity of gangster films grew, they faced significant censorship backlash due to concerns of glorifying crime and violence. This backlash led to the implementation of the Production Code in 1934, which enforced new rules for filmmakers. Key rules included:

• Prohibiting the portrayal of criminals in a sympathetic light.

• Requiring the punishment of wrongdoing so as to discourage the acceptance of criminal behavior.

• Mandating the depiction of moral lessons in narratives, focusing on the consequences of crime.

Conventions of the Genre

The gangster film genre has various conventions that define its style and narrative approach. These conventions include:

1. Anti-Hero Protagonists: Central characters often operate outside the law.

2. Violence and Crime: Films typically depict graphic violence and criminal activities.

3. Ethnicity: Many films focus on characters from immigrant backgrounds.

4. Moral Ambivalence: Complicated moral landscapes where good and evil are blurred.

5. Love Interests: Romantic subplots often intertwined with the main crime narrative.

6. Gangster Hierarchy: Representation of organized crime structures.

7. Urban Settings: Typically set in cities, emphasizing gritty environments.

8. Femme Fatales: Strong female characters who challenge or assist gangsters.

9. Betrayal: Frequent occurrences of treachery among characters.

10. Law Enforcement Conflicts: Tension between gangsters and law enforcement.

11. Tragic Endings: Many stories conclude with downfall or death of characters involved in crime.