Martin Scorsese is a world-renowned director, producer, screenwriter and actor. He made his directorial debut in 1967 with Who’s knocking at my door? and became one of the most important figures in New Hollywood in the 1970s and 1980s, with the release of films such as Average streets, Cab driverand Raging Bull. Scorsese’s career has only blossomed over the years with the release of hit films like Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Streetand the Irishman. After nearly six decades of work in the film industry, he has received a number of prestigious accolades, including an Academy Award, three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, three Golden Globes and many more.
Over the years, people have looked up to Scorsese not only for his own phenomenal filmmaking skills, but also for his views on films and, as explained by CBR, are recommendations. Scorsese isn’t shy about voicing the movies he likes, and many are shocked by some of his recommendations because some of the movies he likes may not be as widely revered as you might think. From openly voicing his distaste for Marvel movies to admitting that the newly released movie Pearl kept him up at night (via Variety), Scorsese is more than willing to share his thoughts and opinions with the public. Here are eight films that have been awarded the Martin Scorsese seal of approval.
8/8 Salvatore Giuliano
This Italian drama from 1962 revolves around the murder of the real Sicilian bandit Salvatore Giuliano. Shot in a documentary-style film style, Salvatore Giuliano is unique in every sense of the word, with the title character remaining off-screen for most of the film, with most appearances being of Giuliano’s corpse. Scorsese praised the film for delving into Sicilian culture through the use of cinema, and showing global audiences the dirty truths that Sicilian people have to face in their waking lives. Scorsese’s appreciation is supported by the film’s various awards, including a Silver Bear and a Silver Ribbon for Best Director.
7/8 The seekers
The seekers centers on Ethan Edwards, a Civil War veteran who spends years searching for his kidnapped niece with the help of his adopted nephew Martin. A critical and commercial success, the film eventually gained the status of one of the greatest films ever made and was considered the best American Western by the American Film Institute. John Ford’s classic western makes it to Scorsese’s list thanks to its iconic ending, leaving the audience with more questions than it started with. Rather than cap it off with a quintessential western ending, Ford brings the film around by letting Ethan leave as he arrived, alone and wandering.
6/8 The shining
Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, Stanley Kubrick’s The shining is arguably one of the most iconic horror films to date. When writer Jack Torrence and his family travel upstairs to become a temporary concierge at the Overlook Hotel, they discover that something in the hotel is causing Jack to slowly lose his grip on reality. Scorsese praises The shining not only because of the eerie feeling, but also because of the way the unseen is just as important to the film. While Kubrick’s methods led to Shelley Duvall having a nervous breakdown on set, there’s no denying that he’s created a unique horror film that gets more terrifying every time you watch it.
5/8 Touki Bouki
This Senegalese film has been hailed by Scorsese as one of the greatest African voices in cinema history. Touki Bouki (or The Hyena’s Journey) revolves around two penniless men who change their fate by stealing money and clothes before booking a passage to France. Scorsese felt so strongly about the film that his World Film Foundation restored the film and presented it at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, where he personally introduced the film via video. Touki Bouki has won a number of awards, including the International Critics Award and the Special Jury Award, and also made the Sight and Sound Critic’s Poll as the 93rd greatest film of all time.
4/8 ugetsu
Based on the book of the same name, ugetsu is a ghost story/period drama set in 16th century Japan and revolves around farmers Genjuro and Tobei, who sell their pots for profit despite being warned. Genjuro and Tobei’s pursuits risk destroying their lives and the lives of those they care about. Scorsese has praised director Kenji Mizoguchi and considers him one of the greatest directors to ever work in cinema. While Scorsese has taken credit for other Mizoguchi films such as The life of Oharu and Sansho the bailiff, ugetsu stands out above the rest.
3/8 The Uninvited (1944)
the uninvited tells the story of a brother and sister who move to a new home in Cornwall, England, only to experience a series of supernatural events thanks to the ghost that inhabits the house. While Scorsese admits the film has a simple haunted house formula, the film’s tone and atmosphere make for a subtly scarier film. The film was subject to positive reviews at the time of its release and later received critical acclaim for its portrayal of the paranormal as fact rather than a figment of the human imagination. the uninvited was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black and White.
2/8 Fear of heights
Alfred Hitchcock’s Classic Movie Fear of heights tells the creepy story of PI Scottie, who is hired by an acquaintance to follow his wife Madeleine to understand her recently strange behavior. Scorsese has openly expressed his admiration for the psychological romance, stating that the film satisfies both the movie buff in him and the filmmaker in him. Despite its high ranking as one of the greatest films ever made, Fear of heights was subject to mixed reviews at the time of its release, but has since received widespread critical acclaim. Fear of heights was even one of the first 25 films selected by the Library of Congress for safekeeping in the United States National Film Registry for being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
1/8 The woman is the future of the man
When old friends reunite in Seoul, the couple sets out to find that one woman they both had feelings for back then. Directed by South Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo, Woman is the future from husband has received special attention from Scorsese for his “masterful sense of storytelling.” Scorsese praised Hong’s style of filmmaking, where the story unfolds at a perfect pace that matches real life. While Scorsese’s take on the film is extremely high, overall reviews of the film have been somewhat mixed. That all being said, The woman is the future of the man could be seen as an underrated movie that doesn’t get the attention it deserves.