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This article was originally published on October 31, 2019.
It was updated to includeKillers of the Flower Moon,which is now available tostream on Apple TV+.
When Martin Scorsese decided he wasnt going to be a priest, his reasons were simple.
His movies feel alive, inviting even when his characters are mobsters or monsters.
Theyre the work of a true believer.
As youll see, theres very little worst here more like ambitious misfires or imperfect curiosities.
Thank heavens Scorsese rejected the priesthood and followed a higher calling.
But seen years later, well, Marty should have taken it easier on himself.
This remains the only Scorsese film to ever receive Two Thumbs Down onSiskel & Ebert.
But Scorseses comfort with the material is self-evident.
Allens film is the usual; Coppolas is dull and precious.
Scorseses is the only one that burns with life.
And what worked more for us were the dreamlike states rather than narrative scenes.
Its a depiction of the mystery of faith that ends up being a little too opaque to fully connect.
22.Whos That Knocking at My Door?
Its a raw, vital film that underground New York auteurs such as John Cassavetes deeply dug.
They hadnt seen nothing yet.
(Like DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz feels ill at ease as his tough-as-nails love interest.)
Still, its a feat of production design and vision, even if Scorseses reach exceeds his grasp.
Plus it has one of Scorseses most moving finales, a true reckoning.
turns a traditional legal thriller into something scary, twisted, and at times thrillingly revolting.
And it led toone of the greatestSimpsonsepisodes ever.
The best relationship he ever had was probably with Robbie.
Even Neil Diamond slays.
Up to this point, Scorsese looked like a future star.
Now it appeared he was capable of anything.
I just had a ball with it, because it meant so much to me.
I asked myself, Can I make a picture with the same energy I had when I was 32?
Its giddy punk-rock purity remains intoxicating.
DiCaprio is glorious as Belfort, an absolute prick before hes rich and even more of one afterward.
(Kyle Chandler is the one glimmer of decency in the film.
Watch how shabbily hes treated.)
Were all those suckers at the end of the movie, trying to sell Belfort a pen.
10.TheIrishman(2019)
We never entirely bought the argument that Scorsese glamorized the mobster lifestyle.
Lest there be any doubt,The Irishmanmakes it plain: Crime does not pay.
9.ShutterIsland(2010)
Poor Teddy.
Scarred by World War II, mourning a dead wife, tormented by migraines, hes a U.S.
Unfortunately, Teddy is going to find out.
About to turn 64, Scorsese made the best possible version in his sleep.
But he realized, during COVID, that he was looking at the story all wrong.
It was, fair to say, the right call.
Its pure Scorsese … but also a lot more.
The film is so good that its weathered those criticisms.
(It didnt do great business and wasnt particularly beloved by critics at the time of its release.)
Showbiz has never really looked so pathetic the movie is funny, but its rarely haha funny.
2.TaxiDriver(1976)
Taxi Driver, like its protagonist, has always felt too real.
He works through those conflicted feelings brilliantly inGoodFellas.
All these years later, all of us remain just as torn about these enormously charismatic reprobates.
