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Martin Scorsese: The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work
For over fifty years, Martin Scorsese – that's Scorsezzee to those in the know – has been one of the most revered directors alive, celebrated by peers, critics, and fans alike. From a humble beginning as a Catholic kid from Lower Manhattan who dreamt of making films, Scorsese has become synonymous with cinematic excellence.
But what does it mean to be "the best"? Scorsese’s storied career includes masterpieces like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and The Irishman. His filmography, diverse yet distinctly his own, reflects his dedication to filmmaking as an art form. Scorsese has combined personal vision with commercial success, creating a unique “A Martin Scorsese Picture.”
While Spielberg’s work often explores emotional landscapes, Scorsese delves into the nature of humanity, blending intellectual and primal elements to create powerful and personal narratives. His films, from Mean Streets to The Irishman, offer a journal of American history and the Italian-American experience.
This book explores all twenty-six of Scorsese’s films, examining the themes and techniques that define his work. It delves into the codes of society depicted in his films, the exploration of characters on the edge, and the spiritual struggles portrayed. It also reflects on how these films impact us and elevate cinema beyond mere entertainment.
Scorsese, a true Movie Brat, remains deeply influenced by the past, a passionate film fanatic and preservationist. He has continually reinvented genres, from neo-noir to musicals, and remains critical of Hollywood’s conformity while thriving within it. As he enters his ninth decade, his ambitious projects continue to push boundaries.
The book will also highlight his key collaborations, including those with Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and editor Thelma Schoonmaker, along with other significant figures like Paul Schrader and Nicholas Pilegg
But what does it mean to be "the best"? Scorsese’s storied career includes masterpieces like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and The Irishman. His filmography, diverse yet distinctly his own, reflects his dedication to filmmaking as an art form. Scorsese has combined personal vision with commercial success, creating a unique “A Martin Scorsese Picture.”
While Spielberg’s work often explores emotional landscapes, Scorsese delves into the nature of humanity, blending intellectual and primal elements to create powerful and personal narratives. His films, from Mean Streets to The Irishman, offer a journal of American history and the Italian-American experience.
This book explores all twenty-six of Scorsese’s films, examining the themes and techniques that define his work. It delves into the codes of society depicted in his films, the exploration of characters on the edge, and the spiritual struggles portrayed. It also reflects on how these films impact us and elevate cinema beyond mere entertainment.
Scorsese, a true Movie Brat, remains deeply influenced by the past, a passionate film fanatic and preservationist. He has continually reinvented genres, from neo-noir to musicals, and remains critical of Hollywood’s conformity while thriving within it. As he enters his ninth decade, his ambitious projects continue to push boundaries.
The book will also highlight his key collaborations, including those with Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and editor Thelma Schoonmaker, along with other significant figures like Paul Schrader and Nicholas Pilegg
- GenresFilm
176 pages, Hardcover
Published November 4, 2025
4 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Ian Nathan
27 books110 followersIan Nathan is the popular, London-based author of Anything You Can Imagine: Peter Jackson and the Making of Middle-earth, The Coen Brothers: The Filmmakers and their Films, Alien Vault, Terminator Vault, and many other books, many of which have really long titles.
He is the former editor of Empire Magazine.
If you live in the UK, you may also know from from the Discovering Film series on Sky Arts television extolling the virtues of classic film stars and directors, and he can also be heard on Talk Radio every Friday afternoon, mostly berating the state of current movies. He is just about younger than this makes him sound.
He is the former editor of Empire Magazine.
If you live in the UK, you may also know from from the Discovering Film series on Sky Arts television extolling the virtues of classic film stars and directors, and he can also be heard on Talk Radio every Friday afternoon, mostly berating the state of current movies. He is just about younger than this makes him sound.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 26, 2025
Now this is the second in this series that I’ve read from author Ian Nathan. What intrigued me was that Scorsese is a director that I first associate with gangster films, i.e. Goodfellas, Casino and The Departed. It took me reading this that it clicked he also did a period piece version of these with Gangs of New York. It was also during reading that I figured out there are major blind spots for me with this director.
What I’m a big fan of with how Nathan constructs this book is breaking Scorsese’s career into interesting sections. Born in the late 1980s, I've always known Scorsese as a cinema icon. It's fascinating to learn about his early struggles to avoid being typecast and make the films he desired. Reading about his challenges, projects, and seeing accompanying images of how young these figures were is highly engaging.
Something I’ll also credit here is that this is an easy read. Nathan’s writing style just flows and time would fly by as I get lost in what he’s saying. That is something I wanted to make sure that I gave credit to him for. Now if I do have a gripe, the version I read is only 176 pages. I do see there is a longer version out there. This doesn’t go as deep into the productions and it just seems to gloss over each film. The longer version makes me think it has more of what I was looking for.
I’ll just end by thanking the team that sent me over the critic’s copy. This is a beautiful edition that comes with a dust cover. It is something that I will gladly display amongst my collection for sure.
In conclusion, this offers a highly engaging and easy-to-read overview of Scorsese's career, successfully highlighting his genius beyond the crime genre and exploring his pivotal collaborations. While this 176-page edition provides a beautiful tribute to the director's place in film history and is an attractive addition to any collection, the brevity means it often glosses over the deeper production details. For fans seeking a concise celebration of Scorsese's filmography and evolution, this book is a compelling read; however, those desiring more in-depth analysis of his 26 films may prefer the longer version.
My Rating: 8 out of 10
What I’m a big fan of with how Nathan constructs this book is breaking Scorsese’s career into interesting sections. Born in the late 1980s, I've always known Scorsese as a cinema icon. It's fascinating to learn about his early struggles to avoid being typecast and make the films he desired. Reading about his challenges, projects, and seeing accompanying images of how young these figures were is highly engaging.
Something I’ll also credit here is that this is an easy read. Nathan’s writing style just flows and time would fly by as I get lost in what he’s saying. That is something I wanted to make sure that I gave credit to him for. Now if I do have a gripe, the version I read is only 176 pages. I do see there is a longer version out there. This doesn’t go as deep into the productions and it just seems to gloss over each film. The longer version makes me think it has more of what I was looking for.
I’ll just end by thanking the team that sent me over the critic’s copy. This is a beautiful edition that comes with a dust cover. It is something that I will gladly display amongst my collection for sure.
In conclusion, this offers a highly engaging and easy-to-read overview of Scorsese's career, successfully highlighting his genius beyond the crime genre and exploring his pivotal collaborations. While this 176-page edition provides a beautiful tribute to the director's place in film history and is an attractive addition to any collection, the brevity means it often glosses over the deeper production details. For fans seeking a concise celebration of Scorsese's filmography and evolution, this book is a compelling read; however, those desiring more in-depth analysis of his 26 films may prefer the longer version.
My Rating: 8 out of 10
Displaying 1 of 1 review