Small Scale Research Presentation

1. How MARTIN
SCORSESE
portrays the evolution of
male protagonists in his
films
Jamie Autorino

2. Travis Bickle Taxi Driver
Jordan Belfort The Wolf of Wall Street
Henry Hill Goodfellas
Jake LaMotta Raging Bull
Colin Sullivan The Departed
Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein Casino
Teddy Daniels Shutter Island
Howard hughes The Aviator

3. Use of SILENCE
• One way Martin Scorsese effectively conveys the state of mind of the
protagonist in his films is by his use of silence or draining out sounds.
• For example in Raging Bull, during one of the fights, it sounds as if
there is a numbing effect, sucking out all high frequency, loud sounds
emphasising that Jake La Motta has become aware of his mortality as
a boxer and has come to terms with the fact he is going to lose the
fight.
• He also uses silence in The Last Temptation of Christ when a very
loud, thunderous noise is heard and is followed by complete silence to
create a moment of enlightenment.

4. Use of SILENCE
• The silence that Martin Scorsese uses in his and
the way he ties them in with loud sounds is used
in different ways from film to film. The silences
can be used as a moment of reflection for the
protagonist and can also be used emotively as
moments where the audience can relate or
sympathise with the characters.
• Silence is also used at times when the
protagonist is thinking about important decisions
that will ultimately affect their journey throughout
the film.

5. Use of SILENCE

6. Use of FREEZE FRAMES
• Scorsese also uses freeze frames in his films, often to
tell the narrative of the main protagonist. These are used
to introduce the audience to the character and allow
them to understand the protagonist’s thought process.
• In Goodfellas, the story of Henry Hill's life is being
narrated to us, these freeze frames serve a kinetic, as
well as narrative, function. They deliver a visual punch
and also signpost moments which Scorsese wishes to
call our attention to.

7. Use of FREEZE FRAMES

8. Use of slow motion
• Another technique Scorsese masters is the use of
slow motion in his films. This technique is another
effective way of portraying the character’s state of
mind and perspective. It helps to elongate the scene
and gives the audience to assess and make their
judgments on the protagonist. It is also used in Raging
Bull, throughout, during Jake La Motta’s fights.

9. NeoRealism
• Italian neorealism, also known as the Golden Age of Italian Cinema,
is a national film movement characterized by stories set amongst the
poor and the working class, filmed on location, frequently using non-
professional actors. It emerged in Italy in the 1940s.
• This style of film greatly inspired Martin Scorsese and we can see
evidence for this in films such as Raging Bull, New York, New York
and Casino. In these films, most of the filming is done on authentic
locations rather than studio sets and a lot of the dialogue is done
through improvisation. This helps accentuate the realism of the
scene and helps to build the authentic character of the protagonists.
This realism also makes it easier for the audience to empathise or
even associate themselves with the protagonist.

10. Music
• Scorsese often uses diegetic music in his films.
Usually the songs that are played are iconic and
memorable, such as music from the Rolling
Stones. He uses the song the song ‘Gimme
Shelter’ in Goodfellas (1990), Casino (1995) and
The Departed (2006).
• This use of bold, upbeat and well known music in
a sense glorifies the main protagonist and in a way
inspires the audience, causing them to become
even more engaged with the film.

11. Tracking Shot
• He often uses long tracking shots (His most
famous tracking shot is from Goodfellas (1990),
following Henry Hill and his future wife Karen
through the basement of the Copacabana
nightclub and ending up at a newly-prepared
table).
• A notoriously difficult shot to perfect, he has been
dubbed by some as the ‘King of the Tracking
Shot’.
• This use of a tracking shot is effective as it allows
the audience to effectively follow the main
protagonist on his path through the world, sharing
the same experience with the protagonist and in
doing so develop our understanding of his

12. Tracking shot