News Archives
5 December 2006. Scorsese Turns Artist for Charity
The online movie rental company, Netflix, and Martin Scorsese's non-profit organization, The Film Foundation, have teamed up to create special holiday editions of Netflix's mailer envelope which will display original artwork by Hollywood's elite.
The artists contributed much of their individual personalities and their feelings about the holiday season in bringing their artwork to life. Scorsese worked with his 7-year-old daughter Francesca to create a snowflake-themed mailer.
Other celebrities and their art include: Charlize Theron who created a whimsical snowman; Leonardo DiCaprio who created a tree decorated with a multi-cultural array of symbols and icons; director Peter Jackson painted a classically-themed canvas of a holiday pheasant and two pugs in stocking caps; and Orlando Bloom painted an image of two hands offering hearts.
The unveiling took place at the Directors Guild of America and was hosted by Bloom.
The special envelopes which are used to mail DVD rentals will begin mailing today to subscribers. In appreciation of the efforts of the stars, Netflix has made a donation to The Film Foundation to support its efforts in film preservation and film education.
The envelopes can be viewed online at netflix.com
1 December 2006. Scorsese to Make "The Last Duel"
Martin Scorsese’s latest announced project is an adaptation of a historical novel called, “The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal and Trial by Combat in Medieval France”.
Taken from the historical novel by Eric Jager, the story set in 1386 is about a duel between two knights, Jean de Carrouges and Jacques LeGris, who battle in the last fight ever sanctioned by the French government of King Charles IV.
The medieval story goes into the culture norms that are behind dueling. Scorsese usually knocks it out of the park with period movies (The Age of Innocence and Gangs of New York to name just two) so we can expect this to be a rich, detailed, sweeping epic - when he makes it. Meanwhile, he's still got a number of other projects lined up that he needs to finish, including the Rolling Stones documentary.
8 November 2006. Scorsese Replaces Cruise at Paramount
Director-turned-movie mogul? It was announced today that Martin Scorsese has replaced Tom Cruise as the big man at Paramount after signing a four-year, first-look deal to develop projects with studio executives.
Paramount boss Brad Grey announced he's thrilled to welcome Scorsese. In a statement released yesterday, Scorsese says, "I have had a great personal relationship with Brad Grey for several years now and am looking forward to working with him at Paramount, a studio rich in cinematic history and responsible for making some of my favorite films."
Scorsese will direct and produce a number of projects from movies to TV dramas for Paramount.
Cruise was unceremoniously dumped from Paramount this summer by studio boss Sumner Redstone, who stated, "He was embarrassing the studio and he was costing us a lot of money."
Congrats to Mr. Scorsese who is having an outstanding year with the success of "The Departed" and will now have the financing and freedom to pursue projects he feels deeply about.
6 November 2006: Scorsese Gets Stoned
Martin Scorsese's documentary about the Rolling Stones has begun production. The director started work on his new documentary based on legendary rock band The Rolling Stones last month when he filmed the Stones' concerts on two nights in New York City, where they were continuing their 'Bigger Bang' tour.
Much like 'No Direction Home', his last documentary on Bob Dylan, Scorsese's new documentary will include footage from the concerts, in addition to behind-the-scenes material and interviews from the band. The Stones film will reportedly be out some time next fall.
25 October 2006: Italy to Put Scorsese on a Stamp
Famed director Martin Scorsese may not have an Oscar (yet!) or even an honorary Oscar (yet!) but he will have something that Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, Roman Polanski and all the other directors don't have and will never have - a postage stamp with his face on it. We are hearing from Hollywood gossip Mike Evans that Italy will honor Scorsese by issuing a commemorative postage stamp with his likeness on it. Congrats to Marty for yet another great honor!
25 October 2006: Scorsese Voted Among Top Males
Martin Scorsese has been named one of the top "ambassadors of MALE-kind" by Askmen.com.
Last month, AskMen.com asked its readers to submit 100 nominees for the list asking: “Who are the best representatives of our gender? Who are the 49 ambassadors of male-kind?”
Readers cast more than 1 million votes to determine the Top 49.
(Not high enough! Get over there and vote again guys!)
Congrats to Marty - and the other 48 men honored. Check the list at www.askmen.com
16 October 2006: Scorsese to Depart Hollywood
Despite the early success of his new film "The Departed", Martin Scorsese said that his immediate plans include taking a break from making Hollywood blockbusters and say "ciao" to big films for awhile. He said his plans now are to focus on the adaptation of a Japanese novel for his next work.
Over the weekend, Scorsese received the distinction of having the first standing ovation at the first ever Rome Film Festival with the screening of The Departed, the cops versus mobsters thriller.
6 October 2006: The Departed Opens to Rave Reviews
It's being described as a return to the mean streets, as director Martin Scorsese releases today, the long-awaited film, The Departed. Reviews have been positive, citing the cast, script and director as coming together to make a rivating film:
"The Departed is directed, in what feels like a fever, by Martin Scorsese and is easily his most entertaining and exhilarating film since his 1991 gangster classic GoodFellas." ~ Detroit Free Press
"Martin Scorsese won't be winning any Oscars for The Departed. The movie's too hard, too pulpy -- too good." ~ Boston Globe
"Martin Scorsese's "The Departed" is an instant gangster classic, a gritty, intense and electrifying work from a master who knows this turf better than any director who ever lived. The moment it was over, I wanted to see it again." ~ Chicago Sun-Times
"The Departed is Martin Scorsese's best film in a decade, but it's more than that, too: This is the most vibrant, exciting and invigorating movie-movie of the year." ~ Miami Herald
"A deranged sense of humor weaves its way through "The Departed," from outrageous opening scenes introducing the sulfurous crime boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) to its eye-roller of a final shot." ~ Washington Post
"Loosely based on the 2002 Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs, Scorsese's latest is his best since 1990's Goodfellas. Two and a half hours race by as this twisting, turning tale blazes its exciting, funny, brutal path." ~ USA Today
"Martin Scorsese has got his groove back, or most of it, with what is arguably his best picture since GoodFellas: a big, brash, splatteringly violent mob opera starring Jack Nicholson giving it the full Pavarotti, with an outrageous and outrageously enjoyable performance that doesn't so much go over the top as go over the ionosphere." ~ Guardian Unlimited, UK.
"Every actor is firing on all cylinders: Damon has never been more appealing and conniving, DiCaprio has never been tougher or more layered and Nicholson dazzles as a grinning, snarling Cheshire cat ready to pounce on anyone who looks at him funny. The difference between cop and criminal dissolves in a swarm of surveillance and deception, and Scorsese presides over the whole operation like he's the only one in the world who knows where illusion ends and identity begins." ~ Chicago Tribune
"...Then there it is: the mule kick of a music cue that takes us back to 1990 and Scorsese's last virtuoso crime spree, ``GoodFellas.'' As the Rolling Stones' ``Gimme Shelter'' erupts from someplace much deeper than even sub-woofers can go, the movie begins to shimmer and shake, and every pulse in the room quickens. He's back." ~ San Jose Mercury News
"After his velvety detour into high-toned Hollywood biography in The Aviator, it's nice to see Martin Scorsese killing people again..." ~ Philadelphia Daily News
25 September 2006. Early Reviews: The Departed Rocks!
Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg all together giving great performances in a film? Check. Excellent script. Check. Great music, editing, and cinematography. Check.
Edited by the fabulous Thelma Schoonmaker? Check.
And Martin Scorsese, one of the great directors of all time at the helm? Check! Check!
Early reviewers who've had a sneek peek of the new film "The Departed" are reporting that the director has gone back to his roots. From the first riffs of The Rolling Stones' song "Gimme Shelter", Scorsese is back with the kind of powerful street film that made his earlier works in "Mean Streets", "Taxi Driver" and "Goodfellas" such fan favorites.
Especially notable are "over the top" performances, such as those delivered by veteran actor Nicholson who persuaded Scorsese to include a 3-way sex scene. Nicholson, who plays Mafia boss Frank Costello, told Rolling Stone magazine: "I thought it would be more frightening if my character had a sexual component, so I called Martin up and said, 'Look, I just thought of what would be an interesting scene for my character - him having wild sex. And in this scene with two girls, one of the girls is wearing a strap-on. This was my idea and it was improvisational, and Marty went for it."
Nicholson recently revealed that he almost turned down a part in the movie because it did not have enough sex in it. "These kind of monsters usually don't have a sex life on screen, so I wanted to bring that to the part. He's a bad nut job so he's evil sexually too. F**k 'em, kill 'em, you know."
New article links for The Departed - Hit it here.
22 September 2006. New Project for Scorsese and DeNiro!
Together again!
Longtime friends Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro are announcing that the two will work together again on a biopic. The director and Oscar-winning actor grew up in the same New York City neighborhood and have worked on a string of hit movies including "Goodfellas" and "Raging Bull".
Now they're planning to reunite for a movie "about our life together", Scorsese confirms.
Work on the project will begin when De Niro finishes directing and starring in "The Good Shepherd", alongside Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie and Joe Pesci.
11 September 2006. Stills from the film 'The Departed'
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More photos from the new Martin Scorsese picture 'The Departed' are showing up on line. Here's a few of them and you'll find a lot more at justjared.com. We are a month away from enjoying a new Scorsese flick! Enjoy.
Oh, and Marty will likely like this photo with Leonardo Dicaprio and Matt Damon, because it makes him look taller!
5 September 2006. Sharon Stone Talks "Casino" to Rupert Everett
There's interesting stuff in actor Rupert Everett's new book called "My Life With the Divas". What's that to do with Scorsese? In the book, he talks about Sharon Stone who relates to him how she got into the character of Ginger while filming "Casino." Here's an excerpt:
"Marty left the 'mad scene' for last," Sharon said. "You remember, when my character has that total meltdown?"
"How could I forget? It was brilliant," Rupert replied.
"Well, she came inside me while I was in the trailer before the scene. I was, like, completely possessed. She was right there. I was her. Bobby could tell straightaway. He said to Marty, 'How much film do you have?'And Marty said, 'We got a full mag!'
'So just keep rolling,'Bobby told him. 'Trust me.' He knew. Bobby knew."
"And when Marty said 'Action', I blacked out. I have no recollection. She took over. At the end of the scene I was on the ground. I couldn't move and Marty said: 'Don't touch her. Leave her for a few minutes.'"
"There was a pinkish mist over me" Sharon continued. "Everyone saw it. And it's happened again on this film. This could be the last time we speak, you and I."
Rupert then writes: The thing was, if you watched Casino, Sharon's performance was possessed. It was on a level few actors achieve, so it was difficult to know what to think. Maybe she was invaded by the dead. Maybe Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro believed it too.
This girl was stark raving mad. I was scared of her.
30 August 2006. Scorsese To Become Film Critic
Director Martin Scorsese has been hired as a film critic for the satellite company DirectTV after he complained about their movie review system.
Scorsese will write a monthly column for DirecTV subscribers in the magazine and program guide. According to imbd.com news, executives at the company came up with the idea when Scorsese, who is a DirecTV subscriber himself, wrote to the firm to suggest changes in the movie review system.
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