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24 January 2012: Hugo and Scorsese Leads Oscar Nominations
With 11 nominations, "Hugo" is the stand-out film for the Academy Awards, including nods for Best Picture and Best Director for Martin Scorsese.
Among the nominations for "Hugo" are adapted screenplay, cinematography, musical score by Howard Shore, and visual effects.
It is Scorsese's seventh Oscar nomination in the director category. He won for "The Departed" and looks to be a favorite to win a second statue.
Also nominated for best picture Tuesday: "The Artist", "The Descendants", "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close","The Tree of Life", "Moneyball", "The Help", "War Horse", and "Midnight in Paris".
The main contenders for Best Picture look to be "Hugo" as well as the silent black and white film "The Artist" which picked up 10 overall nominations.
In related news - Scorsese will accept the 2012 Harold Lloyd Award from the International 3D Society at its annual Creative Arts Awards ceremony on February 1, 2012, for his work on Hugo.
16 January 2012: 'Hugo' and Scorsese Win at Golden Globes
Congratulations to Martin Scorsese who won the Golden Globe award for best director Sunday night for "Hugo", his 3D film about an orphan living in a Paris train station. Scorsese previously won before "The Departed" and "Gangs of New York," and was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2010 from the Hollywood Foreign Press.
At these, the 69th annual award, The legendary director thanked his daughter for introducing him to the book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, on which the movie is based. Said that she once told him: "Read this book, and why don't you make a film that your daughter can see for once?"
Read the National Post for a list of winners in other categories from the evening.
9 January 2012: Honors for Scorsese
"Hugo" director Martin Scorsese has been nominated for the ninth time in career for top filmmaking honors from the Directors Guild of America. Also nominated for the 64th annual Directors Guild honors are Woody Allen, David Fincher, Michel Hazanavicius, and Alexander Payne. The winner will be announced at the January 28 dinner, with Kelsey Grammer as host. The DGA award is usually a good indiction of who is on track to win the Academy Award for Best Directing Honors.
In other news, Scorsese is also being given a fellowship by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) on February 12, 2012, in recognition of his life long contribution to filmmaking. Previous recipients of the BAFTA fellowship include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg. Dame Judi Dench, and Elizabeth Taylor.
BAFTA chairman Tim Corrie called Scorsese "a legend in his lifetime and a true inspiration to all young directors the world over."
Scorsese remarked: "It is a great honor to be recognized by the British Academy and to join the ranks of such an esteemed group of industry colleagues and friends."
21 December 2011: What Inspired Scorsese to Make "Hugo"
"I identified with the boy." - That is what Martin Scorsese told film critic Thomas Sotinel in Le Monde, as to why he wanted to adapt Brian Selznick’s novel "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" to the big screen. Scorsese also revealed: "The film also has to do with the development of my youngest daughter’s imagination." Read more on the interview at The New Yorker.
18 December 2011: Scorsese to be honored for film and music work
It has been announced that Martin Scorsese will receive the Music+Film Award at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. The Broadcast Film Critics Association gives the award as a way to honor filmmakers who use the music score to heighten the impact of the cinematic storytelling.
The BFCA cited Scorsese’s dramatic films such as “Mean Streets” and “The Departed” as well as his documentary and concert films, including “George Harrison: Living in the Material World” and “The Last Waltz,” as examples of his skill in combining film and music.
The nominees for this year’s Critics' Choice Movie Awards will be announced tomorrow. The awards ceremony takes place at the Hollywood Palladium on Jan. 12 and will air on VH1 at 8 p.m.
Hugo wins a Best Film Nod by NBR
Scorsese's Hugo was name the best film of the year by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. The lavish 3-D fantasy set in a Paris railway station in 1931 also won best director for Scorsese.
The National Board of Review, founded in 1909, is made up of film professionals, educators, historians and students. The NBR awards will be presented January 10 2012 at Cipriana's on 42nd Street in New York City.
Excellent Reviews for 'Hugo'
Manohla Dargis writes inThe New York Times: "It's serious, beautiful, wise to the absurdity of life and in the embrace of a piercing longing... The movie itself is a well-lubricated machine, a trick entertainment and a wind-up toy, and it springs to life instantly in a series of sweeping opening aerial shots that plunge you into the choreographed bustle of the train station."
Peter DeBruge writes in Variety: "Scorsese introduces Hugo's world via a series of virtuoso camera moves, seamlessly enhanced by 3D and state-of-the-art CG (notice how Scorsese uses steam and floating particles to create a sense of dimension throughout). In one shot, Richard Richardson's dynamic camera swoops down from the skies and between rows of passengers disembarking the trains outdoors, pushing its way confidently through the crowd, into the station and up to a clockface, where a pair of big blue eyes peer down on the scene below."
Next Up: The Snowman
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Scorsese's next big screen movie looks to be The Snowman, a film adaption based on Norwegian author Jo Nesbo's bestselling thriller. The novel, the seventh book in a series featuring Norwegian detective Harry Hole, is about a son who finds his mother’s pink scarf wrapped around the neck of a ominous looking snowman. Hole realizes she is the latest victim of a serial killer.
Matthew Michael Carnahan (World War Z) will write the Snowman script, while Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will produce.
23 November 2011: Scorsese discusses 3D Filmmaking
You can catch a clip of Martin Scorsese discussing 3D filmmaking with fellow director James Cameron at youtube.com. Cameron describes 3D as having "additional colors to paint with that you've never had before."
The Trailer for Hugo
20 November 2011: Scorsese's Daughter Marries in Chicago
Scorsese told the Hollywood Reporter that the marriage of Domenica, his daughter by writer Julia Cameron, had shaken him: "It was very moving, but she's our little one. It was kind of surreal, I didn't quite ... understand that it was actually happening in real time. I still can't quite grasp it. This is very good for my daughter and everything; she married a sweet young gentleman. But it starts something new. Your concern is in a different way now for them. There's not much you can do. You can help however you can, but you're older, you'll be dying. You're not going to be around. And this is it."
17 November 2011: Hugo Debuts November 23
Happy Birthday to Martin Scorsese who turns 69 today!
With still a week to go until Scorsese's "Hugo" hits the theaters November 23, the day before Thanksgiving, we get a better preview of what awaits us. For a sneak peek at some of the gorgeous costumes, scenery, photography, and art direction, check out 50 photos at www.allmoviephoto.com.
27 September 2011: Scorsese Screens - Exclusive Monthly Column
According to wearemoviegeeks.com director Martin Scorsese will write an exclusive monthly column for tcm.com and TCM’s Now Playing viewing guide. Scorsese will provide insight on the various films and programs on the TCM schedule. Scorsese’s debut piece on October programming is currently available on tcm.com.
“Martin Scorsese is a master filmmaker with an immense passion for movies, an encyclopedic knowledge of film history and a ceaseless dedication to preserving the world’s cinematic heritage,” said Dennis Adamovich, senior vice president of brand and digital activation/general manager of festivals for TCM, TBS and TNT. “We are proud of our partnership with The Film Foundation in bringing Scorsese’s unique voice to TCM’s community of fans.”
Read more here.
20 September 2011: Scorsese on his Emmy win for 'Boardwalk'
Calling it "Something I never really dreamed of," Martin Scorsese won an Emmy for directing the pilot episode of the hit HBO drama, "Boardwalk."
"I was extremely nervous, and I must say it is something I never really dreamed of. It's a different medium in a way. We approach Boardwalk Empire as a film — a very long film, but a film. It's just as exciting; it's quite extraordinary."
"I've always dreamed of getting involved with a project where characters could develop over time, almost like the way Victorian novels were written: they were serialized. Dickens wrote that way, many did. You can develop character, plot, and storyline, give it the history you need if you want, and get actually more done and said over a longer period of time. It gives you more license, and it gives you much more freedom really," Scorsese said.
You can watch his backstage talk with the media on youtube.com.
4 September 2011: Harrison Biopic Premiers at Telluride
Martin Scorsese's documentary Living in the Material World: George Harrison
In a review by The Hollywood Reporter, Todd McCarthy called it "epic" and said it was "comparable to his 2005 'No Direction Home: Bob Dylan' film in length, scope and comprehensiveness. 'George Harrison: Living in the Material World' proves nearly equally rewarding, even if its subject doesn't necessarily compel the same sort of automatic anticipatory excitement."
The film premieres in October on HBO and the DVD will be released in Europe next month.
1 September 2011: Remake of 'The Gambler'
According to a story in the Hollywood Reporter, Paramount is considering a remake of the 1974 James Caan flick, "The Gambler," to be directed by Martin Scorsese, and produced by Irwin Winkler, who also produced the original. William Monahan, who won an Oscar for the screenplay of Scorsese's "The Departed," is on tap to do the screenplay. There is a rumor that Lonardo DiCaprio might star.
13 July 2011: Harrison Film on HBO
According to Reuters, HBO has picked up the North American TV rights to Martin Scorsese's George Harrison documentary "George Harrison: Living in the Material World," HBO announced on Wednesday.
13 June 2011: Harrison Film to Be Released This Year
The Scorsese documentary on the life of former Beatle George Harrison is nearly done, Harrison’s widow, Olivia Harrison said this week.
“I assume we're going to announce it sometime soon, the actual [premiere] date, but it will be this year,” she said Thursday in Las Vegas.
“I just came from New York and Monday I’m going to see it again,” she said of the film about her husband, who died in 2001 of cancer at 58. “We're real excited about it. Marty is such a great storyteller, and of course he always finds the story that you don’t expect.”
"He likes it loud,” Harrison said about Scorsese, “He's always saying, ‘It’s rock ‘n’ roll!’ ”
Read more at the LA Times music blog.
2 June 2011: Scorsese Eyes Burton-Taylor Film
Deadline New York has posted an exclusive today that Martin Scorsese is involved in a deal to do a feature film about the tempestuous romance between Hollywood legends Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The film will be produced by Julie Yorn, Gary Foster and Russ Krasnoff of Krasnoff Foster Productions, and Scorsese through his Paramount-based Sikelia banner.
It will be based on "Furious Love," the book by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger that was published by HarperCollins last year.
Read the exclusive at m.deadline.com. You can also post a comment on who you would like to see play the lead roles of Burton and Taylor.
23 May 2011: Emily Mortimer on Working with Scorsese
Actress Emily Mortimer is out promoting the animated "Cars 2" feature for which she is the voice of Holly Shiftwell. She was also asked about working in the Scorsese 3D film, "Hugo Cabret":
"...this is what differentiates someone Martin Scorsese from most filmmakers is that he has the balls and the curiosity and, in a way like John Lasseter, the imagination to want to use 3D. He’s the first really auteur director to have shot a film in 3D—I mean I know that Hitchcock did it in like the 50’s, he did Dial M for Murder I think in 3D—but most people, including myself, people who are sort of cinephiles and things, we’re more conservative than we really ever think and care to admit.
So like 3D to me, up until Scorsese has the guts and the curiosity and the passion to be at the vanguard of this new thing, I’ve just thought of it as just a kids thing that makes me feel a bit sick when I’m watching it. But he doesn’t see it that way, he sees it as there are moments in cinema where the technology becomes available to do something different and new, and if you’re somebody that’s interested in cinema and the history of cinema, you should be using that cinema to make a movie.
I think that he’s a real revolutionary in that sense, like he’s there at the front pioneering it, and I don’t think a lot of other filmmakers or auteurs would have the guts or the curiosity to do that. Just seeing him there on that set just loving every second of it, he was just like a kid in a sweet shop kind of, just so amazed by getting to do this whole new thing. It was really really cool."
Read the entire interview at collider.com
18 May 2011: Scorsese Gets 'Five Obstructions'
It has been confirmed that director Martin Scorsese will work with controversial Danish director Lars von Trier on a follow up to von Trier’s earlier documentary about filmmaking.
The concept of the original film came about in 2003 when von Trier challenged his old mentor, director Jorgen Leth, to remake a 1967 classic, Det perfekte menneske (The Perfect Human) five times. In each remake, the director must use different criteria in order to overcome an obstruction invented by von Trier.
Rumor has it that von Trier has put Scorsese up to remaking his 1976 classic 'Taxi Driver.'
More on the collaboration here, here, and here.
12 May 2011: Scorsese at London's Documentary Film Festival
Martin Scorsese's highly personal profile of Elia Kazan will debut at The London International Documentary Festival (LIDF) which opens its doors to sell-out performances this Friday, May 13, 2011.
"Letter to Elia" will start 28 May at the Curzon Soho venue. The film was written and directed by Scorsese and his long-time collaborator Kent Jones.
The Filmmakers’ Statement:
This film was made over the course of a few years, resulting from many screenings of Kazan’s films and readings of his books and interviews, and from an on-going discussion of, among other things, exactly how to talk about artistic influence. We wanted to do justice to Kazan as a person, as a historical figure, most of all as an artist: but we also wanted to do justice to the power of the films themselves, which have a life of their own. To put it simply, A Letter to Elia is a labor of love. – Martin Scorsese & Kent Jones
The LIDF festival celebrates its fifth year with its most extensive program to date. It runs from 13 May – 28 May at venues across London and features more than 130 films from 44 countries (www.lidf.co.uk).
21 April 2011: New Book on George By Olivia Harrison
To be release in time for Scorsese's new biopic on the life of the late Beatle, George Harrison, Olivia Harrison is releasing a personal archive of photographs, letters, diaries, and memorabilia, This book will also have stories and reminiscences from Harrison's friends, including Eric Clapton, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idol, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and others. [Read More]
 | "Conversations with Scorsese"Read Sample Quotes from the new book |
25 March 2011: Scorsese and Alec Baldwin at Tribeca Film Festival
According to contactmusic.com, Alec Baldwin and Martin Scorsese will take part in the discussion series at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival in New York in April.
Baldwin, the star of '30 Rock', will interview The Bourne Identity helmer Doug Liman, while Scorsese will sit down with Malian director Souleymane Cisse.
Festival co-founder Robert De Niro will also feature in the Tribeca Talks: Directors Series events. He will be interviewed by news anchor Brian Williams.
8 March 2011: Scorsese Hit With Massive Tax Bill
Director Martin Scorsese continues to have troubles with the IRS. The latest problem came to light February 14 when he was slapped with a $2.85 million tax lien.
According to a story in the New York Post: A source familiar with the situation said Scorsese's involvement with financial advisor Kenneth Starr since the 1990s may have led to the tax shortfall.
"He'd been mismanaged for a number of years when he was at Starr, and s- - - started to happen," the source said. "In a general sense, his finances were messed up, and this is probably one of the many things that didn't get tended to."
Let's hope Scorsese gets past this Starr-mess as quickly as possible...
3 March 2011: Taxi Driver Back to the Big Screen
Hollywoodnews.com: The 1976 classic film "Taxi Driver" will be shown on the big screen for two nights only at select theaters in the U.S.
In honor of its 35th anniversary, AMC Theatres will sponsor screenings of “Taxi Driver” on Saturday, March 19, at 8 p.m., and Tuesday, March 22, at 8 p.m. Admission price to the screenings will include a commemorative mini-poster (while supplies last).
According to Cinemablend, the film will be shown in digital format:
The only downer is that it’s being shown in digital 4K format, rather than on film. I’m not opposed to films shooting in digital, there’s really no way around it these days, but Taxi Driver is a dirty, grimy film and it should be shown that way. I’ll take a scratched up old 35mm print over a digital version of it any day.
For a complete list of participating theatres, click here.
16 February 2011: The Wolf of Wall Street
For a 5th time, director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio will team up to make a movie that has spent a long time in development. In the next collaboration, Scorsese will direct The Wolf of Wall Street
From EW: Wolf chronicles the author’s debauched, hard-partying rampage in the world of high finance during the go-go ’90s. "After almost four years in development, I can’t begin to tell you how thrilled I am to finally be working with Leo and Marty on this,” said Belfort. “They’re the ultimate dream team, and it was definitely worth the wait.”
Belfort was indicted in 1998 for securities fraud and money laundering and spent 22 months in federal prison. He later become a motivational speaker and corporate trainer.
Alexandra Milchan, DiCaprio's Appian Way and Scorsese are producing the film. DiCaprio is currently working with director Clint Eastwood on a J. Edgar Hoover biopic, while Scorsese is in post-production on Hugo Cabret. Scorsese may likely direct Silence next, before doing The Wolf.
15 February 2011: Taxi Driver Release on Blu-Ray
Sony Pictures has announced that Taxi Driver, the classic Academy Award-nominated film, will be released April 5 2011 on Blu-Ray. It was nominated for four Oscars including Best Original Score (Bernard Herrmann), Best Actor (Robert De Niro), Best Supporting Actress (Jodie Foster) and Best Picture.
This special 35-year anniversary edition has been remastered in 1080p video (4k digital restoration from the original negative) and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. It features commentary by Martin Scorsese and the writer Paul Schrader recorded in 1986 by the Criterion Collection.
It also has Audio commentary with Professor Robert Kolker; Martin Scorsese on Taxi Driver; God's Lonely Man; Producing Taxi Driver; Influence and Appreciation: A Martin Scorsese Tribute; Taxi Driver Stories; Making Taxi Driver; Travis' New York; Travis' New York Locations; Storyboard to Film Comparisons with Martin Scorsese; Animated Photo Galleries; and Blu-ray exclusive Interactive Script to Screen; and movieIQ.
Taxi Driver will be release April 5, but you can pre-order
1 February 2011: 'Public Speaking' Goes to the Big Screen
Specialized distributor Rialto Pictures has bought the theatrical rights for the US to Martin Scorsese’s documentary on Fran Lebowitz. The company will open 'Public Speaking' on February 23 at New York’s Film Forum, with special engagements in select U.S. cities to follow throughout 2011.
The full press release reads:
RIALTO PICTURES ACQUIRES THEATRICAL RIGHTS TO MARTIN SCORSESE’S “PUBLIC SPEAKING,” PORTRAIT OF ICONIC AUTHOR FRAN LEBOWITZ OPENS FEB. 23 AT NEW YORK’S FILM FORUM, FOLLOWED BY OTHER CITIES.
More at indiewire.com
30 January 2011: Scorsese Wins but Misses 'Boardwalk Empire' win Due to Illness
Martin Scorsese won outstanding directorial achievement in a dramatic series for his HBO series 'Boardwalk Empire' at the 63rd Annual Directors Guild Awards on Saturday in LA, but misses the ceremonies due to an illness.
Actress Jennifer Lawrence read a statement from the director when his name was announced: "'Boardwalk Empire has been one of the greatest and energizing experiences I've had in 45 years of making movies."
The HBO series picked up the honour for the show's first episode, 'Boardwalk Empire', which was directed by Scorsese.
Friend and fellow director Steven Spielberg stepped in for Scorsese for his duties to introduce one of the night’s short films about the DGA's history.
DGA Award Nominees for Best Director
Over 35 directors were nominated in numerous catergories for their work in television and commercials this year, including Martin Scorsese (Boardwalk Empire), Frank Darabont (The Walking Dead), Mick Jackson (Temple Grandin), Barry Levinson (You Don't Know Jack), Ryan Murphy (Glee), and Tim Van Patten (The Pacific).
Expect 'Boardwalk Empire' to beat out 'Mad Men' and 'The Good Wife' to win the category for Best Drama Series TV.
The 63rd Annual DGA Awards dinner will take place on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
Most Rented 2010 Film at Red Box? It's 'Shutter Island'
January 1 2011: Redbox has announced that the Martin Scorsese picture "Shutter Island" was the most-rented film of 2010 at the company's red box kiosks.
Not only was the Leonardo DiCaprio psychological thriller rented 5.5 million times, it easily beat the previous record of 4.5 million rentals in one year set by "Paul Blart: Mall Cop."
These were the top five rented Redbox movies below:
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Shutter Island
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Bounty Hunter
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Grown Ups
- The Karate Kid
- The Blind Side
Shutter Island
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Set Photos from Hugo Cabret
The first photos from the set of the Scorsese film, Hugo Cabret, have hit the internet. Check them at the Hugh Cabret Facebook page to see all of them. The film stars Ben Kingsley as Papa Georges, Asa Butterfield as Hugo, Chloe Moretz as Hugo's friend, and Sacha Baron Cohen as a station inspector.
'Fran Lebowitz in 'Public Speaking'
The new Martin Scorsese documentary on Fran Lebowitz, Public Speaking, with air Monday, November 22, 2010 on HBO at 10 pm EST.
Produced by Emmy and Peabody-winning documentary producer Graydon Carter, Scorsese has directed this film about the legendary New York writer in the style of his early documentaries “Italian American” and “American Boy,” weaving together extemporaneous monologues with archival footage.
PUBLIC SPEAKING showcases Lebowitz’s worldview and experiences while spotlighting her trademark humor.
For more information and clips of the film, go here.
17 November 2010 - Happy Birthday, Marty!
Best wishes to Martin Scorsese, who turns 68 today, and a very happy belated birthday to his daughter, Francesca, who turned 11 years old yesterday on November 16.
30 Oct 2010 - Scorsese's Top 11 Horror Film Picks
Happy Halloween! Here's a reminder of Scorsese's top 11 favorite horror films of all time. If you are looking for ideas for films to watch this weekend, go with one or all of these.
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1. The Haunting |
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h/t awardsdaily.com
26 Oct 2010 - In Development: A Goodfellas Prequel
Nicholas Pileggi told Britain's Culture magazine that he and Martin Scorsese want to adapt a pre-quel to the 1990 hit film Goodfellas and develop a TV series for it.
"I want to do it, Marty (Scorsese) wants to do it, Warner Bros wants to do it," Pileggi said. "Of course, you can't pick up from Goodfellas, since we murdered everybody, or rather, everybody was murdered! There's nobody left. But I think we're going to figure out a way to do the early years - sort of a prequel. The part of the movie people often like best is the opening third, where all the funny stuff is happening, and there's so much we could fit in."
Pileggi wrote the original novel ‘Wiseguy’ based on the real mobster Henry Hill. He adapted it into the movie Goodfellas, and later wrote both the book and screenplay Casino.
22 Oct 2010 Win 'A Letter to Elia' Poster Signed by Scorsese
The Martin Scorsese full-length documentary, 'A Letter to Elia' was released in early 2010. The film, co-directed with Kent Jones, and narrated by Scorsese, depicts the career of the late filmmaker Elia Kazan, who directed 'A Streetcar Named Desire,' 'East of Eden' and 'On The Waterfront.'
A Letter to Elia
Cinematical's 'A Letter to Elia' poster giveaway is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. You must enter before 12:00 am Eastern Time on October 25, 2010. You may enter once per email address, and one winner will be selected in a random drawing. Click Here for information on how to enter.
The Eliz Kazan Collection
In related news, Scorsese is also bringing out a collection of fifteen cinematic treasures from Eliz Kazan. The 18-disc set includes A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945), Panic in the Streets (1950), A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), Viva Zapata! (1952), Man on a Tightrope (1953), East of Eden (1955), Splendor in the Grass (1961), and more. Also included in this extraordinary set is A Letter to Elia (2010), the new, full-length documentary on Kazan's life, produced and presented by Scorsese himself.
Get more information on The Elia Kazan Collection
18 Oct 2010 Scorsese Nominated for Fran Lebowitz Documentary
The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) announced the nominees for the 20th anniversary Gotham Awards today. The IFP is the nation’s oldest and largest organization of independent filmmakers.
Since they focus on indie films, the biggest vote-getters were Debra Granik’s Winter’s Bone, Lisa Cholodenko’s sleeper hit The Kids Are All Right, and the mumblecore comedy Tiny Furniture. Martin Scorsese’s Fran Lebowitz documentary, Public Speaking, leads the nominees for Best Documentary.
This year's Gotham Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, November 29, 2010, at Cipriani Wall Street. In addition to the competitive awards, actors Robert Duvall and Hilary Swank, director Darren Aronofsky, and Focus Features CEO James Schamus will each be presented with a career tribute.
Read more about the awards at IFP.org.
15 September 2010 Dream Team for Scorsese's New Mob Movie?
In what could be the ultimate gangster film, Robert De Niro is re-teaming with "Goodfellas" and "Casino" director Martin Scorsese along with other big names including Joe Pesci and Al Pacino.
According to deadline.com, De Niro has been developing the picture at Paramount through his Tribeca Productions. The script is written by Steve Zaillian (Gangs of New York), based on the 2004 Charles Brandt book, "I Heard You Paint Houses: Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran & The Inside Story of The Mafia, The Teamsters, & The Last Ride of Jimmy Hoffa."
The title comes from the first words ever spoken from Jimmy Hoffa to Frank Sheeran, which allegedly meant: “I heard you kill people and paint the walls and floors with their blood.”
Scorsese is currently filming "Hugo Cabret."
14 September 2010 Scorsese's Favorite Gangster Movies
From the The Daily Beast: Martin Scorsese give an annotated list of his 15 favorite gangster movies-
"Here are 15 gangster pictures that had a profound effect on me and the way I thought about crime and how to portray it on film. They excited me, provoked me, and in one way or another, they had the ring of truth.
I stopped before the ‘70s because we're talking about influence here, and I was looking at movies in a different way after I started making my own pictures. There are many gangster films I've admired in the last 40 years—Performance, the Godfather saga, Leone's Once Upon a Time in America, The Long Good Friday, Sexy Beast, John Woo's Hong Kong films.
The films below I saw when I was young, open, impressionable."
- The Public Enemy (1931) — this picture led the way for all of us.
- Scarface (1932) — so fluid, so funny, and so excitingly expressionistic
- Blood Money (1933) — tough, sardonic… the ending is unforgettable
- The Roaring Twenties (1939) — epic scale… the template for GoodFellas and Casino
- Force of Evil (1948) — had as great an impact on me as Citizen Kane or On the Waterfront
- White Heat (1949) — the level of ferocity and sustained energy is breathtaking
- Night and the City (1950) — desperation, no holds barred
- Touchez pas au Grisbi (1954) — elegant and understated, an aura of weariness and mortality
- The Phenix City Story (1955) — shot in 10 days! Fast, furious, and unflinching
- Pete Kelly’s Blues (1955) — a beautifully made picture, in glorious color and Scope
- Murder by Contract (1958) — a lesson in movie-making, for me, an inspiration
- Al Capone (1959) — Rod Steiger is brilliant as Capone—charming, boorish, brutal, ambitious
- Le Doulos (1962) — extremely elegant, intricate, and lovingly crafted gangster picture
- Mafioso (1962) — by the end you’ll find the laughs catching in your throat
- Point Blank (1967) — gave us a sense of how the genre could pulse with the energy of a new era
Read Scorsese's expanded comments plus clips from each film at The Daily Beast.
13 September 2010 Boardwalk Empire Coming to HBO
The first episode of HBO's new gangster series "Boardwalk Empire" premieres next Sunday, September 20. The Martin Scorsese co-produced series (he also directed the first of the 12 episodes) and stars Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson, the political boss who ran Atlantic City during the Prohibition era.
Also in the cast are Gretchen Mol, Dabney Coleman, Kelly Macdonald and Michael Pitt (above, left) as Jimmy.
Read a solid review at kansascity.com.
24 August 2010 Scorsese's Bleu de Chanel TV ad
The commercial stars French actor Gaspard Ulliel, with the song "She Said yeah" by The Rolling Stones.
24 August 2010 'Boardwalk Empire' Promo
Here is HBO's making-of promo for Boardwalk Empire (coming September 19). It includes interviews with writer Terence Winter (The Sopranos), Scorsese, and the actors:
2 August 2010 Scorsese to Produce Leo's 'Wall Street' Film
Hollywoodnews.com: Leonardo DiCaprio is being lined up to star in the movie version of Jordan Belfort’s bestselling book ‘The Wolf of Wall Street.’
He told Sydney’s 2DayFM: “It’s not been green lit yet but it’s in the pipeline.” The film is likely to be directed by Ridley Scott and produced by Martin Scorsese.
Scorsese and DiCaprio nearly did the project together two years ago but it stalled in a tug of war between movie studios Warner Bros – where the project was developed – and Paramount.
‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ tells the story of a stockbroker who squeezed clients to buy shares. The broker and his team used the funds to live extravagantly until they were brought down by the Feds.
28 July 2010 The 'Rock and Roll Epic' With Mick Jagger
Martin Scorsese and writer Terence Winter are partnering with Mick Jagger for the HBO series 'History of Music.'
Reports say that it was the Rolling Stone's idea for the series, following the successful documentary, "Let It Shine," that Scorsese did on the band in 2008.
The project is described as “a rock ‘n’ roll epic following two friends through 40 years in the music business, from the early days of R&B to contemporary hip-hop.”
Though not signed yet, it's reported that HBO is in final negotiations with Paramount to develop the series.
A source said to UK newspaper News of the World: 'This was originally a movie idea of Jagger's. I wouldn't be surprised if he makes a cameo appearance in it.'
20 July 2010 Another Commercial for Scorsese
Film director Martin Scorsese is doing a new commercial for Chanel‘s new Bleu de Chanel men’s fragrance. The commercial will air in September.
2 July 2010 British Cast announced for Scorsese's Film
A predominately British cast for Scorsese's upcoming motion picture, Hugo Cabret, was confirmed this week.
Oscar winner Ben Kingsley, who worked with Scorsese in Shutter Island, and Jude Law will star, with support from Sacha Baron Cohen, Ray Winstone, Christopher Lee, Chloe Moretz, Helen McCrory, Frances de la Tour and Richard Griffiths, who plays Uncle Vernon in the Harry Potter films.
Asa Butterfield will play the young boy Hugo.
The film has started production in London.
19 May 2010: News on the George Harrison BioPic
The documentary of Beatles legend George Harrison is called "Living in the Material World: George Harrison." The Martin Scorsese directed film will showcase the life of Harrison as a member of The Beatles.
Scorsese has been working on the documentary with the help of Harrison's widow, Olivia, for the last three years. "'Shutter Island' took a great deal out of me," the director said recently. "This film was a form of interest and a really good sense of ignorance -- not knowing what you're getting into. I know the level is deep and I know at some point there's going to be conflicts between the projects. But this is a labour of love. It's not something that has that kind of a deadline."
"Ultimately, we're trying to have the development of his own music tell the story, if we can. And the images that he shot, that (Olivia) shot, a lot of this is telling the story. There are some famous bits and some very interesting new material.”
"Living in the Material World: George Harrison" is scheduled to be released next year.
13 May 2010: Sinatra Jr Weighs in on Scorsese's Sinatra Biopic
OK! Magazine recently published an interview with Frank Sinatra Jr, the 66-year-old son of the late singer. When asked about Martin Scorsese doing a biopic of his father's career, Sinatra Jr sounded underwhelmed - for one, that he hasn't been consulted, but also with the names of the possible actors who might be cast in the lead role - such as DiCaprio, James Marsden, James Franco, or Mark Wahlberg.
19 April 2010: Shutter Island DVD Release in June
Martin Scorsese's latest thriller Shutter Island starring Leonardo DiCaprio will be released on Blu-ray Disc, DVD, and VOD on June 8.
Paramount is including a "Behind the Shutters" featurette which will include interviews with cast and crew, and a segment called "Into the Lighthouse," which will talk about psychiatric therapies during the 1950s, also through interviews with the cast and crew.
Music from the motion picture is available now from Rhino Records at retail stores and online. The double disc set was produced by friend and frequent Scorsese collaborator Robbie Robertson.
The SHUTTER ISLAND DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles.
The Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and Brazilian Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese subtitles.
15 April 2010: Scorsese will go 3D for Hugo Cabret
Film director Martin Scorsese will work with the latest technology to do his next film The Invention of Hugo Cabret in 3-D, following the success of James Cameron's Avatar and other Hollywood films embracing the 3-D craze.
The director has previously said that he is very excited about the possibility of 3D filmmaking: "We see in depth, for the most part. We go to the theater - it’s in depth. Why couldn’t a film like Precious be in 3D? It should be.”
Hugo Cabret is based on the best-selling children's book by Brian Selznick. It tells the story of a 12-year-old orphan boy who lives in the walls of a Paris train station in the 1930s and is trying to solve the mystery of a broken robot to fulfill his late father's dying wish.
The film will star Sacha Baron Cohen (Ali G, Borat) as a station inspector, Ben Kingsley as Papa Georges, Asa Butterfield (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas) as Hugo, and Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass) as Hugo's friend. Shooting is expect to start in May.
That's right, folks: Scorsese, Borat, Ghandi, 3-Dimension, a kid's story, Paris in the 30s, and a robot. If anybody can pull this off - it is SCORSESE!
Hugo Cabret has a scheduled release date of December 9, 2011.
Featurette on Shutter Island
14 March 2010 Friedman on the success of Shutter Island
Film critic Roger Friedman: Scorsese On Track for Biggest Hit Ever
It’s an amazing story with a happy ending: Martin Scorsese is on track to have his biggest hit ever with "Shutter Island."
The Hitchockian like saga should finish this weekend with $106 million in domestic box office receipts. Scorsese’s Oscar winning "The Departed" made a total of $132 million in the US. Right now, “Shutter Island” is Scorsese’s second biggest hit ever in his long and illustrious career.
Everyone scoffed when “Shutter Island” was held out by Paramount from its fall 2009 release. But now the decision seems very wise. Some of the reasoning for the wait was to give Leonardo DiCaprio a chance at a Best Actor nomination and win. For this past season, with Jeff Bridges in the lead and George Clooney very hot in “Up in the Air,” DiCaprio would have struggled. But now he’s got a clear path and an early start.
21 February 2010 Shutter Island Wins Weekend Box Office
Shutter Island topped the Friday opening box office taking in $14 million, and went on to score an estimated $40.2 million, easily bumping the love story Valentine's Day to claim the weekend's top spot.
It is the biggest box office weekend ever for a Martin Scorsese picture. His previous best was $26.9 million for The Departed four years ago in 2006 which also starred Leonardo DiCaprio.
It looks like the gamble to delay the opening of the R-rated thriller for four months has paid off for Paramount. Congratulations to Mr. Scorsese!
19 February 2010 DiCaprio to Play Sinatra?
Martin Scorsese told a reporter at the premiere last night for Shutter Island that he'll be working on plans to direct a Frank Sinatra biopic, but that the actor who plays Frank will not sing, just lip-synch.
The director tells the Hollywood Reporter's columnist Roger Friedman, "With those records, Frank will do the singing. But we're waiting for a finished script."
Ee-gads! Is Leonardo DiCaprio going to be cast as Frank? Is he going to lose 50 pounds to pull off the svelt frame of Ol Blue Eyes? Why not cast Harry Connick, Jr., who actually looks a bit like Sinatra and has a lifetime of living and breathing the music of that era? Or perhaps an unknown actor?
However, Leo (sort of) denied the rumors that he had even been offered the part: "There are no plans to do that (role) as of yet."
Scorsese is saying that his next project will be a small film, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It is a mystery set in Paris, chronicling the life of a 12-year-old orphan and thief living inside the walls of a train station.
Meanwhile, his 17th centuryJesuit priest film Silence has been put on hold so he can shoot Hugo Cabret first, with Silence to follow immediately afterwards.
There is also the announced The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt biopic (natch, with Leo as Rough Rider Teddy) that needs to be scheduled, and Scorsese is longing to do a project with Robert DeNiro again.
16 February 2010 - Early Reviews on Shutter Island are Thumbs Up
'Shutter Island' opens in wide-release this week with early reviews rating it a psychological thrill ride. On the popular Rotten Tomatoes website, it has garnered a positive 89% - about 10 positive reviews ("fresh tomatoes") to 2 negatives or "rotten tomatoes". Here are a few comments:
Drew McWeeny of hitfix.com: "Scorsese's in Cape Fear mode here, making his own version of the sort of thing that rocked his world when he was younger... [a] horror film, but with a haunted house that travels on two legs."
Devin Faraci of chud.com :"The work of a master at his height. This is Scorsese flexing his muscles and cracking his knuckles and making a movie that's intense and thrilling and engrossing and beautiful and dense."
Marshall Fine of hollywoodandfine.com: "Shutter Island is like a lunatic's trip to Wonderland, where no one and nothing is what it appears to be. It builds suspense with only brief respites, reaching a climax that is truly shattering. This is one man's journey into madness – and Martin Scorsese is your most welcome tour guide. Hang on tight."
Thomas Caldwell of Cinema Autopsy: "Shutter Island is the work of a true master who is completely accomplished in the art of filmmaking. An hour later you will be making plans to see it again."
12 February 2010 - The Great Directors' Series: Scorsese
Tim Ryan at Rottentomatoes.com has an interesting round-up of 15 of Scorsese's best films, from his early 70s films, to the black comedy The King of Comedy, his historical dramas like The Age of Innocence, and his most recent work with Leonardo DiCaprio. It's a nice journey through Scorsese's career (thus far!) Take a look at rottentomatoes.com.
Cynthia McFadden’s interview with Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio airs on ABC News "Nightline" Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 11:35pm (ET/PT).
4 February 2010 - Scorsese and Others to Honor Kurosawa
Hollywood's most renowned directors and actors will be in attendance at a memorial tribute to the late Akira Kurosawa. It will be held on March 23, 2010, on what would have been the director's 100th birthday. The Guest of Honor will be Akira Kurosawa's son and President of Kurosawa Production, Hisao Kurosawa. Joining him with be some of Kurosawa's closest friends in Hollywood included Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Richard Gere.
One of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century who introduced the west to Japanese cinema, Kurosawa won multiple awards for many of his films, including Rashomon in 1951, Kagemusha in 1980 and Ran in 1985. In 1989 he won an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement, which was presented to Kurosawa by Lucas and Spielberg
The Tribute will be a main event during the 2010 Green Globe Film Awards, which includes over 100 Viewers' Choice Awards which can be voted on through the event Web site at www.movie-voters.com. The Dinner Gala will be held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel's California Ballroom in Los Angeles on 23 March 2010.
2 Feb 2010 Scorsese Working on George Harrison Film
In an interview with Roger Moore of the Orlando Sentinel, director Martin Scorsese revealed his current workload now that Shutter Island is just weeks away from its premiere on February 17th. Scorsese told Moore in an interview that he is currently working on the George Harrison documentary.
"Hopefully you’ll see that in theaters by the end of this year. We’re literally two thirds of the way through it as I speak," Scorsese said.
"We’re editing it, and editing is really making the movie, in this case. We’re going through all this footage. ALL of it. David Tedeschi’s editing it, who cut Shine a Light for us.
"And we’re getting to it, all of it. So much to go through. That Concert for Bangladesh, that alone…beautiful film."
Scorsese said that he won't get to the Teddy Roosevelt project now, but confirmed that his next film is Silence, about 18th century Jesuit priests in Japan.
25 January 2010 - Auction for Shutter Island Premiere tickets
Want to go to a Hollywood premiere and perhaps meet Martin Scorsese in person? Then go to Ebay.com and bid on TWO (2) tickets for the New York Premiere of Scorsese's new film, Shutter Island. The auction, which closes on February 1, 2010, at 5 pm PST, is now open and taking bids.
Here are the details: Recipient and 1 guest will attend the premiere of Shutter Island.
Date of premiere: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 7:30 pm.
Location: The Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City
Proceeds of the ebay auction of the tickets benefits the Children's Charity's Mission is to assist addicted, abused, neglected and physically-challenged children.
Go to ebay and check on the details of the Shutter Island tickets auction - and good luck to everyone!
Advanced Screening Passes in Washington D.C.
Enter to win free tickets to a screening in Washington D.C. to be held on February 18, 2010 at the Regal Gallery Place. The contest is open to residents of D.C., Virginia, and Maryland only.
Shutter Island opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, February 19, 2010!
18 January 2010: Scorsese honored at the Golden Globes
Legendary director Martin Scorsese was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award last night at the Golden Globes Awards Show. The director was presented the honor by his longtime friend Robert DeNiro and his Shutter Island leading man, Leonardo DiCaprio.
In his acceptance speech, Scorsese gave his opinion of where the credit is due - to all the great directors who came before him:
"As far as I’m concerned, making films and preserving them are the same thing. In this room, none of us who make films and watch them would be here without the people who came here before us. Whether it’s DeMille, Hitchcock, the Senegalese filmmaker [Ousmane] Sembène, Kurosawa or John Ford, de Sica, Bergman, Satiajit Ray, we’re all walking in their footsteps every day, all of us…
[DeMille] made these pictures for us, the audience, so we could live in their wonders. He was from the beginning, when films were born. He helped create the narrative style and language that we use today, shaped film as an art form, as a business, and as a mythical landscape. He led the way for all of us. When we look at his films, or Hitchcock or Kubrick, we all remember that motion pictures are part of a continuum, a living, ongoing history. And for me to be a part of all that, well ...I thank you, and I thank you so much."
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