Martin Scorsese

EXACTLY WHO IS THIS “NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW” THAT THINKS THE IRISHMAN IS BEST FILM OF 2019?

The National Board of Review (whatever THAT is) just outed itself as an all-MALE organization when they named the all-male movie The Irishman as Best Film of 2019. Really? Like most people, we watched it over the Thanksgiving weekend and felt it was MUCH too long and essentially, boring. The visuals of a bygone era were delicious (the cinematographer and set decorators should be credited) but didn’t make up for the total lack of female characters and proliferation of dull men. After less than two hours we were sick of all the egotistical mobsters at any age. We never thought we’d tire of Martin Scorsese’s characters, but we’ve had enough. That “man’s world” is, fortunately, OVER.

Photo: Netflix

By Janet / December 3, 2019

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THE IRISHMAN: SPECIAL EFFECTS WILL MAKE ROBERT DE NIRO LOOK 30 YEARS OLD

Robert De Niro is on a set in Queens beating up a shopkeeper for his new film The Irishman. It’s about a REALLY nasty gangster named Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran and flashbacks of his 25 mob murders – including Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa. Scorsese is directing all his favorites – DeNiro, Al Pacino (he plays Hoffa,) Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel etc in this gangster epic said to rival Goodfellas. The film’s huge budget stalled production until Netflix took over. Interestingly, DeNiro, 74, has to start out the movie as a 30 year old, so the same special effects team that made Brad Pitt age backwards for Benjamin Button will make DeNiro look young. It’s worth seeing just for THAT…

Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News

By Janet / January 31, 2018

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Bobby Cannavale HBO Martin Scorsese Rock n Roll

BACK TO THE 70’S WITH BOBBY CANNAVALE

Bobby Cannavale is one of our favorite actors, and he has a starring role in Martin Scorsese’s untitled rock n roll series for HBO that we told you about. It takes place in the 70’s and we are struck by how authentically attired Bobby is. From the fluffy hair with sideburns to the tight shirt and wide leg pants – he’s got the look. That orangey leather jacket is a color truly from the era. Best of all, he has the dark tan that people used sun reflectors to achieve in those days. He really looks like a guy from Brooklyn in 1972.

Photo Credit: AKM-GSI

By Janet / July 19, 2014

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Bobby Cannavale HBO Martin Scorsese Rock'n'Roll

HBO’S HISTORY OF ROCK N ROLL IN NEW YORK

Martin Scorsese is directing what looks to be a VERY interesting series pilot for HBO. It’s an untitled rock n roll project that takes place in 1970’s New York (the Max’s Kansas City era.) Punk and disco were both breaking out and Bobby Cannavale (in the car, above) plays a record executive scrambling to resurrect his label with a new sound. Ray Romano is his outspoken co-worker. Lots of drugs, sex, hot clubs, and gangsters – even some Warhol characters. Mick Jagger is one of the producers and his son James has a role in the series. Andrew Dice Clay plays a bad guy. This was a great time in the city – and young people could actually afford to live there!

Photo Credit: AKM-GSI

By Janet / July 17, 2014

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Gangster I Heard You Paint Houses Martin Scorsese Mobster Robert DeNiro Taxi The Irishman

ROBERT DE NIRO LEAVES THE FOCKERS TO RETURN TO THE MOBSTERS

After far too many “Meet The Parents” and “Focker” movies, it looks like Robert De Niro is set to redeem himself in a mob film directed by his buddy Martin Scorsese. Scorsese, who has been favoring Leonardo DiCaprio as his leading man, is directing a script based on the book “I Heard You Paint Houses.” (“Paint houses” is mob slang for contract killings.) The movie is called “The Irishman” and it’s about Frank Sheeran, a labor union official who became a mobster responsible for 25 killings – including Jimmy Hoffa. The real Sheeran confessed this to the book’s author before he died. How Bobby will prepare for this role is not known but you may recall he drove a cab before he filmed “Taxi Driver.”

By Janet / December 14, 2010

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Leonardo DiCaprio Movies

SHUTTER ISLAND: COINCIDENTALLY OR NOT, “TWILIGHT ZONE” IS LEONARDO DICAPRIO’S FAVORITE TV SERIES

We’re eager to hear what readers thought of “Shutter Island,” which opened this weekend, because it’s not the usual Scorsese fare. First of all, we were immediately blown away by the extraordinary cinematography. Each scene was almost surreal in clarity and beauty – we wonder if the NON 3D version of “Avatar” looked this good. The 3D movie didn’t. We happen to be huge fans of “Twilight Zone” (along with Leonardo DiCaprio) and when we say this film is like a two hour return to the classic TV series, we mean it as a compliment. It’s a real psychological thriller and it’s hard to figure out what’s real and what’s not. Fun and entertaining.

By Janet / February 21, 2010

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