Mr Scorsese

We watched 'Mr Scorsese' on Apple, which was enormously enjoyable and entertaining. It was worth watching if only for the unscheduled appearance of the real-life Johnny Boy, Salvatore Uricola, who did not disappoint.

If anything, the disappointment was that it really could have been six or seven, rather than five, episodes. Where the previous three episodes (after the first had overseen his childhood and film beginnings) had taken one decade each, the last episode contained the whole of the 2000s, and a lot of stuff was passed over - there was no mention at all of Hugo, of his TV stuff, of the Dylan documentaries (presumably Dylan decided not to play ball as he was pointedly not mentioned when they talked about The Last Waltz either), or, hardly, of the Stones or George Harrison documentaries.

I felt there were other ends that were not quite tied up too, but these are minor quibbles - these were five thoroughly enjoyable hours of television.

Not sure I've too many insights from it. It was certainly a reminder that Scorsese like, I guess, most great film directors, is an artistic visionary, just capable of seeing things on a scale that other people can't and bringing that to life. It was amazing seeing all his sketched out images from throughout his life.

It reminded you that he can be deemed quite fortunate to be now considered a twinkly paternal treasure, for someone who was, at times, utterly, demonically, mental, but I guess he managed not to do anything so terrible that his reputation was damaged beyond repair.

It reminded that you that his films, films in general, can be incredibly powerful things, that presidents almost died because of one, that bombs were planted because of another, this is serious stuff.

It reminded me, of course, as if I need reminding that De Niro was just something else. Still just the oddest, most unfathomable genius -  there's not just the fact that when we watched clips of him in Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, and Raging Bull, it was just like seeing anew something exploding off the screen, that, presumably deliberately from Rebecca Miller - contrast between the electric fluid blabbering of Johnny Boy cutting to modern-day Bob's solid grunt and chin jut. There's also the reality that they owe as much to each other. De Niro drove Scorsese's projects and even, possibly, saved his life, a few times. 

Even recently seeing Ben Stiller talking about him doing the fourth Meet the Parents film (what the world needs!) and saying what a lovely man he is, but, of course, there's that darkness inside him, and, you just think, what is that? What even is it? Well cod-psychology, his pretty unlikely unbringing, offers some answers, but who knows?

Anyway, there were great interviews with most of the rest of the Scorsese core - Schrader, Nicholas Pileggi, Jay Cocks, de Palma, and most insightfully, Thelma Schoonmaker, and also Isabella Rosselini and Scorsese's daughters.

There was the proud mention that more women have received acting Oscar nominations in Scorsese films than anyone else's - which really is interesting. But it is also interesting that there isn't the same continuity with women, as with De Niro, Keitel, Pesci, DiCaprio. The only leading actress I can think of who has been in more than one Scorsese film is Barbara Hershey (Jodie Foster has a small role in 'Alice..' so i guess her too). ... well, apart from his mum.

Anyway, there are still Scorsese films I haven't seen, and I have to rectify that, for sure.

Here is my honest five favourite Scorseses ...

Mean Streets

The Last Waltz

No Direction Home

Taxi Driver

Killers of the Flower Moon