Many film buffs adore Martin Scorsese’s works because they project storytelling in a way that is deeply personal to him. Each movie he creates uses a unique visual style through innovative filmmaking. Behind all the awards and recognition he has received, the veteran filmmaker had a rough start in the industry.
The 81-year-old Taxi Driver director admitted feeling daunted by big Hollywood names such as George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, both of which had booming careers during the late ‘70s to the early ‘80s.
Martin Scorsese Persevered With His Art Despite Box Office Failures
In a 1990 interview with Anthony DeCurtis via Rolling Stone, director Martin Scorsese explained how he discovered his niche in the film industry. He noted that during this period, there was a trending genre of movies that was quite popular with the viewers. To set himself apart, he had to tread another path.
“I was making a certain kind of film. It was the beginning of the Reagan era. Sylvester Stallone had created his own new mythology, and people were more towards that. I mean, after the experience of New York, New York, I realized the kind of pictures I was going to make, even if I was dealing with genre… But on the other hand, I want to find my own way in it.”
Sylvester Stallone’s claim to fame project was Rocky, released in 1976, and it took the world by storm. Everyone loved the story of the underdog boxer, and it was all that people wanted to see in cinemas. Scorsese’s Raging Bull premiered in theaters in 1980, and the filmmaker was sure as heck that no one would buy tickets to watch it.
“Now, does my own way mean, automatically, the undermining of a genre picture in traditional terms — which means it will not be satisfying to audiences the way the traditional hero films, like all the Rockys, are? I mean, that was the mood of the country. And Raging Bull comes out, who’s going to see it? Who cares about this guy? Nobody — that’s what I thought.”
Then came the era of George Lucas building the Star Wars empire and Steven Spielberg releasing the Indiana Jones films. Both veterans became Scorsese’s rivals, with their giant franchises overshadowing the latter’s works.
“The whole mood of the country was different. Big money was being made with pictures like Rocky and eventually the Spielberg-Lucas films. At that time, they were the myth makers, and to a certain extent, they continue to be. I mean, New York, New York was a total flop, and it opened the same week as Star Wars.”
New York, New York was a musical romantic film starring Robert De Niro, which unfortunately bombed at the box office. It only earned $16.4 million against a production budget of $14 million. This was a wake-up call for Scorsese.
“At that time, I knew which way the wind was blowing, and it certainly wasn’t in my direction. Therefore, I just did the best I could with Raging Bull, because I had nothing and everything to lose.”
In the end, Scorsese persevered with his art and continued making what he does best – movies with meaningful stories and relevance to the society.
Martin Scorsese Became A Giant Figure In Cinema
Today, Martin Scorsese is now recognized as a total powerhouse when it comes to filmmaking. Ten of his movies earned Oscar nominations, with 2006’s The Departed winning him the Best Director award.
Scorsese’s editor Thelma Schoonmaker once said in a documentary via The Ringer that the director was “very, very aware that he had to prove something.” He usually works on tight-budgeted projects and strict deadlines because when one has limited resources, one gets more creative.
The Goodfellas helmer did not feel quite confident about his earlier works. He called each of them a lesson, and as the years went by, he slowly regained his standing in the industry, showcasing his unique approach to cinematic storytelling.
His latest project, Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, proved that he creates films that are meant to be discussed and evaluated, not just to entertain and make money. Scorsese has proven time and time again why he stands out among the pool of brilliant directors in Hollywood.
