Facts About Martin Scorsese:
Martin Scorsese has redefined the Crime genre in Hollywood and he has created some of the biggest movies with some of the biggest actors in the industry. His collaborations with Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio prove that he can work perfectly well with actors from any given generation.
#1: He is Barred from entering Tibet
Scorsese directed the movie “Kundun” which tells the story of the early life of the 14th and current Dalai Lama who’s from Tibet and it is a very controversial topic in China, due to some territorial issues. So, in retaliation, China listed Martin Scorsese as one of 50 people barred from entering Tibet. Disney even clashed with Chinese officials over the film.
#2: He’s not a fan of the “Director’s cut”
One of the biggest directors in the industry is himself not in favor of the director’s cut. Scorsese personally spurns the notion of the director’s cut feeling that once a film has been completed, this should not be further altered in any way. So, if it were up to Scorsese, the chances of getting the Snyder Cut would be 0.
#3: The Film that inspired him to be a Filmmaker
Martin Scorsese stated that the movie “The Magic Box” (1951) created the biggest impression on him and made him think he could do filmmaking himself. As a teenager in the Bronx, Scorsese frequently rented Michael Powell’s “The Tales of Hoffman” from a store that had only one copy as it also acted as a very big inspiration in his journey.
#4: Scorsese and De Niro – the legendary duo
The legendary actor Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese were brought up blocks apart in the Greenwich Village area of Manhattan, but never formally met when they were young. They both met each other at a party when they were teenagers. Scorsese has directed De Niro in 10 movies to date and each of them credits their success to the other.
#5: Scorsese is a legend for a reason
Martin Scorsese is one of only four directors who have directed Academy Award-winning performances in all four acting categories. The other directors are William Wyler, Elia Kazan, and Hal Ashby. Scorsese can extract the best out of any actor and that is what makes him one of the greatest directors.
#6: His one and only Regret
Martin Scorsese has seen a lot of failures in his life but he only regrets one thing. It was his dream to make the movie “The Last Temptation of the Christ” and he had a stellar cast in mind with a grand budget. But that did not pan out in his favor. Scorsese stated that the only thing he regrets in his career is that he was only able to make The Last Temptation of Christ on a small budget although he imagined it to be a grand version.
#7: His movie enraged the Fundamentalist Christians
In the movie, The Last Temptation of Christ, it was implied that Jesus Christ had an explicit relationship with Mary Magdalene. This did not go down well with Fundamentalist Christians as they opposed it with all their might. They even burned down some French theatres. The film is still banned from television broadcasts in Bulgaria.
#8: He is glad that he won the Best Director Oscar late
Martin Scorsese is pretty content with the fact that he did not win the Oscar for the Best Director early in his career as it would have completely affected his directing and films. He was happy with the fact that it took him so long to win the Best Director Oscar.
#9: Scorsese suffered from Depression and addiction
In the 1970s, Scorsese faced a lot of failures, and he suffered the ultimate blow when his movie, “New York, New York” failed miserably. He could not cope up with this and turned to cocaine and became addicted. It was Robert De Niro, who helped Scorsese during this time and convinced him to give up drugs. The two of them then made “Raging Bulls” and we all know how that movie turned out.
#10: Spielberg wanted him to direct Schindler’s list
Steven Spielberg offered 3 directors the opportunity to direct the Schindler’s list. He offered the movie to Scorsese, but he refused it by stating that only a Jewish filmmaker should direct this movie. So, Spielberg turned to Roman Polanski and Billy Wilder, but both of them refused as they both lost family members in the Holocaust and the subject was too emotional for them.
