A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies
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Movie Reviews of A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies
Movie Review: Every cinema buff and film student should own a copy
Summary: 5 Stars
How close is this to the syllabus of Prof. Scorsese's course at NYU? It really doesn't really make a difference to me whether these are his "personal" opinions or not--it's an incredibly valuable survey of cinematic technique. Particularly striking is the section entitled "The Director as Smuggler," highlighting how once-controversial themes were cloaked in the familiar fabric of genre pictures. Today when everything has to be so in-your-face obvious, there's a lot to be learned from these subtle visual and narrative tricks.Movie Review: A Master Directors Vision
Summary: 5 Stars
For those of us who admire and study one of the true maestros of American film, this set is priceless! Going through Martin Scorsese's own chronologic recollections of the films, directors, cinematographers etc., that influenced his thinking and sensibilities, one is left with a sense of having been with him thorough this development. What a treat! Understand that, just like his films, Scorsese covers a topic from his own, now recognizable perspective. He says, "I can't be objective here ...", right off the bat. The very title denotes the vision is "Personal...". It's Scorsese's vantage point. He makes no bones about that. I love that he doesn't even try to be global and universal on any of it. Isn't that what we love about a Scorsese film? He has a personal vision on what he experiences and shares it honestly, openly and candidly. And isn't that what a director does? Nobody does it like Scorsese.
I say: Thanks for sharing those thoughts with us Maestro Scorsese. What a personal pleasure it is having your notes on all those great films, on the era, on the cinematic technology, on the concurrent cinematic history that runs throughout, for another exposure to the Scorsese views and visions. Bravo, Maestro!
Leon Rodriguez
Filmmaker
Leon Rodriguez
Movie Review: Fascinating and disappointing
Summary: 3 Stars
Listening to Martin Scorsese talk about movies is always a pleasure, and the depth of his knowledge never fails to astound. But in this documentary, Scorsese isn't really talking -- he's reciting a script, if a very well-written one. This has the very unfortunate effect of dousing much of Scorsese's spontaneous spark, which is so captivating in other documentaries and interviews (esp. "Martin Scorsese Directs" on PBS's American Masters several years ago).And for this 38-year-old non-film buff, most of the movies discussed are either unfamiliar or not-yet-seen -- Scorsese states that he doesn't want to talk about the work of his contemporaries. One ends up making a great list of films to see, but also still longing to hear what he thinks about films you know well.
Movie Review: Long, but presented in a non-stop, fascinating fashion
Summary: 5 Stars
Martin Scorsese shows here why he is the master. Not only can he be recognized before the documentary begins as an accomplished craftsman of such works as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, GoodFellas and The Last Waltz, but he also has an eye for film that matches (and dare I say tops) the knowledge posessed by most film critics. If Scorsese hadn't chosen to be a film-maker, it's evident here in this 3-tape (or 2 DVD) set that he would've rivaled Ebert, especially considering he has a good friend and sometimes co-screenwriter who is a film critic named Jay Cocks.This is a long, boring (to those who aren't truly aren't interested) film that can at the least give some insight to famous movies from certain genres and times of film, and at the best, which is what I feel, give the best modern look at the films that shaped the industry and maybe some of society as well. It is a daring, informative film anywhich way you look at it. Also incuded are interviews with Clint Eastwood, Gregory Peck, Billy Wilder, Frank Capra, and even a frank look at John Ford by Peter Bogdanovich (Directed By John Ford).
Movie Review: Essential: The Single Finest Movie Documentary Yet Made
Summary: 5 Stars
Poster Owen Coughlan pretty much said it all, but it warrants being seconded. By taking a purely subjective approach - concentrating on those genres, films & filmmakers which hold a special significance to him - Martin Scorsese makes not only these subjects live and breathe, but captures the entire history of American film in a manner that informs, excites and even inflames the viewer with a measure of Scorsese's own archivist passion for the medium. His refusal to tout his own body of work, soft-pedaling as impressive a filmography as anyone's assembled, in order to keep the focus on the men and women who sculpted and built the artform that first seduced him as a wide-eyed four-year-old is both touching and typical of Scorsese's reverence for his forebears. The many lesser-known and neglected films sampled here serve a dual purpose: one, as dowsing rods pointing to worthwhile movies left off of the general-consensus, AFI-type lists; and secondly, as reminders that we've ALL seen extraordinary films dismissed or ignored by critics, the public, even ourselves at earlier points. You'll finish watching this great doc champing at the bit to go rent THE ROARING 20s and THE PHENIX CITY STORY for sure, but you'll also want to begin your OWN voyage of rediscovery through 100 years of movie history with wide eyes seeing the new and exotic in the old and once-familiar. Can't ask for more than that from any historical documentary - well, I'd've loved this even more at twice the length, but let's not get greedy...