There is no doubt that Mr Scorsese is one of the greatest film makers of all time. He has managed to create many diverse films throughout his 50+ year career, from his first feature Who’s That Knocking at My Door and into music documentaries like Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese.
With a vast collection of film in his portfolio, criticism and controversy have also followed some of his films, The Wolf of Wallstreet was both critically acclaimed and accused of glorifying drugs. The Last Temptation of Christ received several bans from countries for its portrayal of Jesus Christ.
Here we share with you the best five films that Scorsese has made and give you a brief description about the film without the spoilers. So, let us begin with number one…
Taxi Driver
Filmed in 1976, Taxi Driver was Scorsese social mirror film, detailing New York, politics and violence. Starring a young Robert DeNiro as the cab driver Travis Bickle that suffers from insomnia, the character takes us on a cruise of the city that is so far off the tourist trail you’d think that living there was nuts.
With this being Travis’s life, we get to see that the streets need cleaning up and if the politician aren’t going to do it, then he will. The move is rich with great memorable scenes, Travis and the movie are cultural icons of the industry. It bravely covers the topics of child prostitution, assassination, and clear mental instability.
This is the most complete film Scorsese has made, no flaws, no off-acting, immaculate script and sublimely directed.
Raging Bull
In 1980, Scorsese teamed up with DeNiro again to bring us one of the best films of that decade. Raging Bull told the story of boxer Jake LaMotta who was prone to bad temper and violence with came both inside and outside of the ring.
Filmed in black and white, Raging Bull is both poetic and beautiful, yet bloody and gritty. This is a film based on a real boxer and as biographies go, this is perhaps the best biopic ever made to this day. Scorsese held no punches in the making of this movie and is still considered the best boxing movie of all time.
The Wolf of Wall Street
Another biopic and the more recent of movies on this list being made in 2013 The Wolf of Wall Street tells of the true story surrounding the life, success and downfall of Jordan Belfort and wealthy stock-broker with a passion for money, women and ludes.
The film was both a commercial and critical success and would also be the fifth team up between actor Leonardo DiCaprio and the director. Previously working on films like Gangs and New York and The Departed, which would have made it on the list as 6th spot.
Wolf of Wall Street is loud, shamefully hilarious, a living car crash and gloriously filmed. Did it glorify drugs? Yes, and it had to because it all really happened. From corruption and feds to pulling deceit with clients to make himself wealthy and having power over America’s economy.
Casino
The year is 1995 and Scorsese drops one of the most violent films you will ever see. Casino is, as you would expect, a take of deception, money, greed, power and plenty of murder brought on by the controlling mafia.
This is the movie that shone the spotlight on the real Las Vegas back in the 70’s and 80’s. Ruled by the mob with no winners but themselves, but as the tagline suggests: “You don’t stay at the top forever!”
It is the most defining of movies made about the gambling industry, with all the glitz and glam of the craps tables, comes the images of torture and backstabbing.
This film was done at the peak of Scorsese’s filming maturity, by now he had 30-years’ experience under his belt and had built the reliable reputation of America’s greatest film director.
Goodfellas
In 1990, the most definitive gangster movie was made, the biopic of Henry Hill and what went on with him inside of the mob.
This stunning crime drama covers the years of Henry’s life from child to snitch. It was perfectly cast with Ray Liotta flanked by DeNiro and long-time collaborator of Scorsese, Joe Pesci.
The film meticulously blends violence, humour and story together so well, that no other gangster film was made like this before. Goodfellas set the benchmark for the genre and for the king of gangsters, this would forever be the bench mark for Scorsese himself.