Scorsese by Ebert

Roger Ebert wrote the first film review that director Martin Scorsese ever received—for 1967's I Call First , later renamed Who's That Knocking at My Door —creating a lasting bond that made him one of Scorsese's most appreciative and perceptive commentators. Scorsese by Ebert offers the first record of America's most respected film critic's engagement with the works of America's greatest living director, chronicling every single feature film in Scorsese's considerable oeuvre, from his aforementioned debut to his 2008 release, the Rolling Stones documentary Shine a Light. In the course of eleven interviews done over almost forty years, the book also includes Scorsese's own insights on both his accomplishments and disappointments. Ebert has also written and included six new reconsiderations of the director's less commented upon films, as well as a substantial introduction that provides a framework for understanding both Scorsese and his profound impact on American cinema. "Given their career-long back-and-forth, this collection makes perfect sense. . . . In these reconsiderations, Ebert invites us into his thought processes, letting us see not just what he thinks, but how he forms his opinions. Ebert's insights into Scorsese are terrific, but this book offers the bonus of further insights into Ebert himself."— Time Out Chicago "Ebert, film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times , is an unabashed fan of Scorsese, whom he considers 'the most gifted director of his generation.' . . . Of special note are interviews with Scorsese over a 25-year period, in which the director candidly discusses his body of work."— Publishers Weekly

Roger Ebert wrote the first film review that director Martin Scorsese ever received—for 1967’s I Call First, later renamed Who’s That Knocking at My Door—creating a lasting bond that made him one of Scorsese’s most appreciative and perceptive commentators. Scorsese by Ebert offers the first record of America’s most respected film critic’s engagement with the works of America’s greatest living director, chronicling every single feature film in Scorsese’s considerable oeuvre, from his aforementioned debut to his 2008 release, the Rolling Stones documentary Shine a Light.

 

In the course of eleven interviews done over almost forty years, the book also includes Scorsese’s own insights on both his accomplishments and disappointments. Ebert has also written and included six new reconsiderations of the director’s less commented upon films, as well as a substantial introduction that provides a framework for understanding both Scorsese and his profound impact on American cinema.

 

"Given their career-long back-and-forth, this collection makes perfect sense. . . . In these reconsiderations, Ebert invites us into his thought processes, letting us see not just what he thinks, but how he forms his opinions. Ebert’s insights into Scorsese are terrific, but this book offers the bonus of further insights into Ebert himself."—Time Out Chicago

 

"Ebert, film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, is an unabashed fan of Scorsese, whom he considers ‘the most gifted director of his generation.’ . . . Of special note are interviews with Scorsese over a 25-year period, in which the director candidly discusses his body of work."—Publishers Weekly

 

 

Publishers Weekly

Ebert, film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, is an unabashed fan of Scorsese, whom he considers "the most gifted director of his generation." To prove it, he's compiled his reviews of every Scorsese film-beginning with I Call First in 1967 to his latest, Shine a Light. Along the way, Ebert pays special tribute to five "masterpieces," including Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Mean Streets, which he calls "one of the source points of modern movies." These three films in particular, Ebert argues, reflect Scorsese's ongoing preoccupation with sex and guilt, themes fueled by a Catholic upbringing and his childhood in New York City's Little Italy. Citing the director's strong collaboration with actor Robert De Niro and screenwriter Paul Schrader, Ebert says all three men seem "fascinated by the lives of tortured, violent, guilt-ridden characters," usually men who cannot relate to women, such as Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver or Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull. Of special note are interviews with Scorsese over a 25-year period, in which the director candidly discusses his body of work. (Oct.)

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Roger Ebert wrote the first film review that director Martin Scorsese ever received—for 1967’s I Call First—when both men were just embarking on their careers. Ebert had never been touched by a movie in quite the same way before, and this experience created a lasting bond that made him one of Scorsese’s most appreciative and perceptive commentators. Scorsese by Ebert offers the first record of America’s most respected film critic’s engagement with the works of America’s greatest living director. The book chronicles every single feature film in Scorsese’s considerable oeuvre, from his aforementioned debut to his 2008 release, the Rolling Stones documentary, Shine a Light.Here Ebert puts Scorsese’s career in illuminating perspective, exploring the different phases of his development and the abiding themes (many of which reflect Scorsese’s Catholicism) that give his work such complexity and depth. All of Ebert’s incisive reviews of Scorsese’s individual films are here, of course, but there is much more. In the course of eleven interviews done over almost forty years, the book includes Scorsese’s own insights on both his accomplishments and disappointments. One of these interviews, the single longest ever conducted with Scorsese, appears here for the first time. Ebert has also written and included six new reconsiderations of the director’s less commented upon films, as well as a substantial introduction that provides a framework for understanding both Scorsese and his profound impact on American cinema. As Scorsese himself notes in his foreword to this volume, history is the only critic that counts, but the dialogue from which its judgments arise begins with the kind of emotionally alert, historically informed, and intellectually honest writing that Ebert has collected here in this, the ideal pairing of filmmaker and critic. Contents 10 Foreword by Martin Scorsese 14 Introduction 18 Part 1: Beginning 26 Introduction 28 I Call First 33 Who’s That Knocking at My Door 35 A Reconsideration 38 Woodstock: An Interview with Martin Scorsese & Company 42 Boxcar Bertha 49 Mean Streets 51 Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore 53 Taxi Driver 56 An interview with martin scorsese and paul schrader 59 New York, New York 65 Reconsideration 68 The Last Waltz 72 Part 2: Achieving 76 Introduction 78 Raging Bull 82 The King of Comedy 85 Scorsese: king of romantic pain 88 Reconsideration 94 After Hours 99 Reconsideration 102 The Color of Money 106 The Last Temptation of Christ 110 Scorsese’s last temptation 113 Reconsideration 117 New York Stories: “Life Lessons” 122 Martin scorsese and his “new york” story 124 Part 3: Establishing 130 Introduction 132 GoodFellas 137 why goodfellas was the best film of 1990 141 Cape Fear 146 The Age of Innocence 149 The innocence of martin scorsese 153 Casino 160 De niro, pesci, scorsese tell a shocking mob story in casino 164 Part 4: Reflecting 172 Introduction 174 Wexner center for the arts interview 175 Part 5: Venturing 224 Introduction 226 Kundun 232 Scorsese learns from those who went before him 235 Reconsideration 241 Bringing Out the Dead 245 Bringing out scorsese 248 Gangs of New York 252 Gangs all here for scorsese 256 The Aviator 260 Howard’s end: scorsese and the aviator 264 No Direction Home: Bob Dylan 268 The Departed 273 Shine a Light 277 Part 6: Masterpieces 280 Introduction 282 Mean Streets 285 Taxi Driver 289 Raging Bull 294 GoodFellas 298 The Age of Innocence 303 Index 308 Scorsese By Ebert Offers The First Record Of America's Most Respected Film Critic's Engagement With The Works Of America's Greatest Living Director. The Book Chronicles Every Single Feature Film In Scorsese's Considerable Oeuvre, From His Debut In 1967's I Call First, Later Renamed Who's That Knocking At My Door, To His 2008 Release, The Rolling Stones Documentary, Shine A Light. Here Ebert Puts Scorsese's Career In Illuminating Perspective, Exploring The Different Phases Of His Development And The Abiding Themes (many Of Which Reflect Scorsese's Catholicism) That Give His Work Such Complexity And Depth. All Of Ebert's Incisive Reviews Of Scorsese's Individual Films Are Here, Of Course, But There Is Much More. In The Course Of Eleven Interviews Done Over Almost Forty Years, The Book Includes Scorsese's Own Insights On Both His Accomplishments And Disappointments. A Career-spanning Interview From 1997, One Of The Longest Ever Conducted With Scorsese, Appears Here For The First Time. Ebert Has Also Written And Included Six New Reconsiderations Of The Director's Less Commented Upon Films, As Well As A Substantial Introduction That Provides A Framework For Understanding Both Scorcese And His Profound Impact On American Cinema.--jacket. Beginning -- Achieving -- Establishing -- Reflecting -- Venturing -- Masterpieces. Roger Ebert ; Foreword By Martin Scorsese. Includes Index. Roger Ebert wrote the first film review that Martin Scorsese ever received - for 1967's 'I Call First', later renamed 'Who's That Knocking at My Door', forming a lasting bond between the two men. This volume offers a record of one of America's most respected critic's engagement with one of her greatest filmmakers A first record of America's most respected film critic's engagement with the works of one of America's greatest living directors chronicles every single feature film in Martin Scorsese's considerable oeuvre and explores the different phases of his development and the abiding themes.