by Raelene Naughton
Over the course of his career, Martin Scorsese created memorable works bursting with anger, violence, fragility care and wonder. He never sticks to one story mode and has worked with different styles. Martin Scorsese is often called the American Fellini.
The Portrayal of Characters
Scorsese explores aspects of identity and violence, whether making gangster films, period films or biopics. His protagonists are often loners that live in a chaotic world, trying to make sense of the madness that surrounds them. These characters are often grappled with issues of guilt, penance and spiritual enlightenment. The feeling of nostalgia has a big part in Scorsese’s films, but so do the feelings of regret and loss.
For example, in Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, the main protagonist, played by Robert De Niro, portrays masculinity at its most violent, pitiful and tragic. However, blonde leading ladies were usually depicted as angelic and ethereal in Scorsese’s films. In their first scene they wear white and are photographed in slow-motion.
Meanwhile, female brunette characters represent stability and settlement. But regardless of their hair colour, in Scorsese’s movies, women play characters that people will care about. In Raging Bull and Taxi Driver, the women are innocent and pure. However, In The Wolf of Wall Street, the woman is her husband’s property, alongside his cars and various houses.
The Technique Used
The technique of flashlighting used by Scorsese is unique and effective. He bleaches the image to white, and for a second, only the character’s pupils are visible. The light hits the back of the retina and it is reflected. Sometimes the result can be haunting. The technique can be seen in The Aviator.
When it comes to the spotlight, if it features mob bosses then you know that it’s a Scorsese film. He loves to use a spotlight from above or reach up from below, which means that the characters have a position of power, and it gives them a menacing appearance.
When it comes to tracking shots, Scorsese likes to use long ones in order to see the situation from the point of view of the character. This enables the viewer to experience exactly what the character is experiencing at that moment. This is a very effective technique, especially since the director likes to begin his films with segments taken from the middle or the end of the story. One unforgettable example of the long tracking shot is featured in Raging Bull, where Jake LaMotta walks from the changing room to the ring.
Martin Scorsese has a big love for the Rolling Stones. Music is a consistent factor in his directing career, from the time that he used The Rolling Stones’ Jumpin’ Jack Flash in Mean Streets. These scenes from the film have become some of the most famous scenes from his illustrious career. Another song from The Rolling Stones, Gimme Shelter was used in three more Scorsese movies, Goodfellas, Casino and The Departed.
For example, in Casino, The Rolling Stones’ Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’? is used in the main trailer of the film. In addition, there is a scene in the film that features the same song. The scene focuses on how the casino business is going for the protagonists; the evolution of the casino itself, how it is managed by the pit bosses and others. The song doesn’t only focus on the casino but also the business of a jewelry store opened by Nicholas “Nicky” Santoro, played by Joe Pesci.
Martin Scorsese’s Casino stands as one of the highlights of ‘90s cinemas and gangster movies in general. Casino is energetic, beautifully paced and boosted with plentiful details that makes this story seem magical and enchanting. This kind of magic is available only on casino floors, with other movies portrayed it too. However, more recently, the movie world has started to shy away from the idea of casinos, mostly because the online counterpart, similar to Admiral Casino, has become much more popular and the world goes digital each day.
Last Words
Martin Scorsese knows that films are changing fast and now it’s all about digital. Scorsese is a passionate advocate in preserving and restoring old films and his main fear is that many movies might be lost.
In addition, Scorsese has spoken out about cinema’s communal experience being important. Nobody is going to watch Lawrence of Arabia for more than five minutes on their smartphones. Of course, what will happen is that directors will make films for smartphones.
But despite his fears, Martin Scorsese has now partnered with Netflix with his project The Irishman. This means that one of American’s greatest cinema auteurs has committed to work on a digital platform with a big-screen experience. The 74 year old New Yorker has vanquished his fear. Now, Scorsese will know that his movies remain relevant in these rapidly changing times.
