2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Martin Scorsese was born on November 17, 1942,
in New York City, and was raised in the
neighborhood of Little Italy, which later
provided the inspiration for several of his films.
Scorsese earned a B.S. degree in film
communications in 1964, followed by an M.A. in
the same field in 1966 at New York University's
School of Film. During this time, he made
numerous prize-winning short films including
The Big Shave (1968), and directed his first
feature film, Who's That Knocking at My Door
(1967).
3. WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT SCORSESE?
Scorsese is a ‘auteur’. Auteurs are those who are highly
respected and far up in the world of film. Directors such
as Guy Richie, Tim Burton and Chris Nolan are also
auteurs and well known directors. These directors
usually have a distinctive theme through out all their
films, for example Scorsese usually has Robert De Nero
in his films. These directors have the respect and status
to ask and choose who what and how they film, actors
would feel honoured if they where chosen to star in an
auteurs film.
4. FILM I WILL BE ANALYSING: TAXI DRIVER 1979
A mentally unstable Vietnam
war veteran works as a
night-time taxi driver in New
York City where the
perceived decadence and
sleaze feeds his urge for
violent action, attempting to
save a preadolescent
prostitute in the process.
5. The opening of the movie
starts with an extreme
close up of a male
character is shown to
the audience. This
close up shows the
audience the intensity
to come within the
narrative. This also
tells the audience he
will probably be the
protagonist as he is the
first person we see.
6. The following shot is of a blurry
view from inside of a car
window. This shot last a
number of seconds and the
audience gather the narrative
will be set in New York.
However Scorsese is trying to
set the establishing shots from
the male protagonist
perspective on life. The effect
suggest to the audience he is
detached from the environment
around him.
7. Scorsese also has the Italian
American accent and
culture through out his
film. This comes from his
personal culture as he
himself is from an Italian
American background,
This sets collective
identity. Martin Scorsese
uses Robert De Niro to
create a sense of
verisimilitude as he
himself is a Italian
American.
9. This is the opening of goodfellas the first
initial shot shown to the audience.
Again it is set in New York like Taxi
Driver. Martin Scorsese uses New York
as his setting a lot in his films as the
Italian American culture is known to be
popular especially in the time period he
sets his films. This really sets the tone
to the narrative and lets the audience
know what is to be expected.
10. The Italian American gangster theme
runs through out goodfellas and taxi
driver. The time these films where
set is the time New York where
known for Italian mafias and
gangsters. The dialogue they use is
typical convention of an Italian
mafia, this adds to the tone of the
film and makes the characters more
believable. The audience find it easy
to set a personality on a character
from the codes and conventions of a
Italian mafia for example the hats
and suits.
11. THIRD FILM I WILL BE ANALYSING: RAGING
BULL 1980
An emotionally self-destructive boxer's journey
through life, as the violence and temper that
leads him to the top in the ring, destroys his
life outside it.
12. This shot from the opening of Raging bull is
similar to the shot in Taxi Driver. Martin
Scorsese uses this shot to tell the audience
how the boxer sees himself before the fight.
He looks isolated and detached from any
contact, the mist adds to this as it is if he is
trying to clear his head and the mist makes
it looks as if he is lost in his thoughts
before his fight. The shot being shot behind
the ropes makes it as if the audience are
there them selves and are involved in his
experience.
