Martin Scorcese: The Art of Film

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Art of Film

Martin Scorsese was born in 1942 to devout Catholic parents who were both part-time actors. He was raised in the Little Italy neighborhood of New York, which would later serve as the inspiration for many of his films. As an asthmatic child with few friends, he found solace in his frequent trips to the movie theater, where he first began to develop his passion for cinema. He initially entertained the idea of entering the priesthood, but ultimately decided to pursue filmmaking after he was awarded a $500 scholarship to attend NYU for a ten-minute short film he made in high school. He went on to receive a B.A. in English from NYU’s University College of Arts and Sciences and an M.F.A. in film from NYU’s School of the Arts.

Scorsese’s style of filmmaking has been heralded as one of the most influential of all time. Among his influences are French New Wave cinema and also Italian neorealism, which along with his Italian Catholic upbringing, has served as the basis of many motifs and themes within his films. His work tends to integrate the themes of Italian American identity, the Catholic concepts of guilt and redemption, modern crime, and often deals with a protagonist who is a violent outsider living on the fringe of society. He is also known for the distinctive trademarks in his filmmaking style, which often features excessive violence and profanity, long tracking shots, and voice-over narration.

The Wolf of Wall Street is a black-comedy film based on the exploits and memoir of Jordan Belfort, a corrupt New York stockbroker who commits fraud on Wall Street in the 1990s. At face value, the film seems like an unapologetic bacchanalia of drugs, sex, profanity, and excess. However, the underlying themes of addiction, ...

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The Wolf of Wall Street is a fast-paced tour de force that is as energetic and frenzied as the drugs its characters are on. The result is a slick, poignant exploration that simultaneously entices and revolts its viewers. Like its predecessors, The Wolf of Wall Street does not attempt to moralize or condemn the actions of its characters, but instead absorbs its audience into a first-hand perspective of the potential for corruption inside every person. Martin Scorsese easily deserves his place as one of the best directors of all time. His innovative techniques and distinctive style have set a new standard for filmmaking.

Works Cited

"Martin Charles Scorsese." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2014. Web. 20 May 2014.

"Martin Scorsese." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 May 2014. Web. 20 May 2014. .

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