Putting one’s heart and soul into their art is nothing new, Martin Scorsese being one of the many to find solace in that. It takes a great amount of dedication to bring out the best that a movie and script can provide. Penning it down and then executing the idea is a process that makes the film personal on its own. However, there are times when those personal films include an actual touch of the filmmakers.
With time, the director came to learn the art of filmmaking. One that takes patience, resilience, and a great amount of understanding. Especially taking into consideration how pieces of oneself get left behind as souvenirs for the film, making them exceptional. However, sometimes that can also make such movies impossible to come to.
Martin Scorsese’s Favorite Movie in His Filmography
Martin Scorsese, after perhaps a rather harsh criticism received while making Boxcar Bertha, knew things had to change. The aforementioned film lacked any sense of personal belonging and heart to it. A piece of work is nothing but a couple of words or strokes of a brush put together if there is no heart to it. Understanding the changes required, Scorsese told Rolling Stone that his approach changed too.
“Well, Mean Streets is always a favorite of mine because of the music and because it was the story of myself and my friends.”
He then came up with the idea of Robert De Niro’s Mean Streets. The elements incorporated in the film were unique to his own. Whether it was the movie or the story that was told to the fans, it was all a personal effort that made it Scorsese’s favorite work of his own.
He took the criticism to heart, adding personal experiences in the film that made it special, igniting a relationship with De Niro that goes on to date.
Martin Scorsese Cannot Look Back at Mean Streets
Martin Scorsese, during the same interview, took into consideration how although the film performed well, it is something he cannot see revisiting. It takes a certain level of bravery to face oneself; look in the mirror and see parts of you that you otherwise hide. Scorsese took a leap of faith with the film, one that clearly worked.
“It was the movie that people originally took notice of. It’s kind of a favorite, but I certainly couldn’t watch it. It’s too personal.”
He adapted from his own neighborhood, taking ideas from the place he grew up in. The story told in the film was one taken from Scorsese’s life and the friends he grew up with. This amount of dedication and personal attachment was both a boon and a bane.
While the film did incredibly, making it Scorsese’s favorite, he also hated going back to it. It was too personal, with parts of him he had long since left behind. Making it impossible for him to return again.
Mean Streets is available to watch on Apple TV.
