THE MARTIN SCORSESE COUNTDOWN | List complete! Check out how your fave did!

[The Panda]

On 12/9/2021 at 6:37 PM, Eric Feels Pretty said:

#13

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

103 pts, 17 lists

"If I was a woodcutter, I'd cut. If I was a fire, I'd burn. But I'm a heart and I love. That's the only thing I can do."

 

 

#2 placements: 1

#3 placements: 1

Top 5 placements: 4

Top 10 placements: 7

Box Office: $8.9 million

Rotten Tomatoes: 81%

Metacritic: 80

Awards: Screened at the Venice International Film Festival, winning the Filmcritica "Bastione Bianco" Award. 5th Place at the National Board of Review Awards, 1 Academy Award nomination, 2 Golden Globe nominations, 1 Grammy Award nomination, 1 Golden Raspberry nomination.

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: "What makes “The Last Temptation of Christ” one of his great films is not that it is true about Jesus but that it is true about Scorsese. Like countless others, he has found aspects of the Christ story that speak to him."

 

BOT User Review: "Probably the best "Jesus movie" out there." - @ShouldIBeHere

 

Its Legacy: Became a heavy source of controversy. Resulted in Martin Scorsese protected by bodyguards for a few years. Terrorist attack at French cinema emerged. Appeared in The Criterion Collection in 1997. Censored and banned in several countries. First film in Scorsese's "Faith Trilogy". Gave David Bowie a paycheck.

 

Commentary: If you guys want to talk about controversial films, this is perhaps the craziest one ever. The original novel it was based on, which dared to humanize Jesus Christ as he struggles with temptation, is considered one of the most heretical, blasphemous texts to ever hit bookshelves, and is still targeted by extreme right-wing groups and Evangelicals to this day.

 

Scorsese’s film adaptation was no different. Despite getting some positive attention from religious leaders, the film’s departure from the standard gospel narratives led to immense backlash and hatred towards the film and even Scorsese, despite being a devout Catholic. A cinema in Paris was burned down after playing the film, protests emerged at MCA, Universal’s parent company at the time, resulting in some theater chains not playing the movie at all, and even Scorsese getting death threats and requiring bodyguards wherever he went.

 

It’s kind of disappointing the film would end up as a box office failure. If I can speak personally, though I’ll fully admit that I left Catholicism ages ago, that this is one depiction that arguably strengthens the ideals of Jesus Christ. As portrayed beautifully by Willem DaFoe, this depiction of Jesus triumphs because despite the temptation being forced into a role that calls for his own death, he is willing to go through and take part in his religious duties solely to do what is right. It’s a tough, yet relatable concept and something that, at least for my atheist mindset, makes me appreciate why people follow such a belief.

 

But of course, I don’t want to speak on everybody’s behalf, especially our Catholic members. Either way, there’s definitely many people here who struck a chord with the film, with a few notable placements in the top 5 on a couple lists. That’s gotta count for something.

 

 

 

26 minutes ago, Eric Feels Pretty said:

#8

Silence (2016)

127 pts, 17 lists

"I pray but I am lost. Am I just praying to silence?"

 

#1 placements: 3

#2 placements: 3

#3 placements: 1

Top 5 placements: 8

Top 10 placements: 7

Box Office: $23.8 million

Rotten Tomatoes: 83%

Metacritic: 79

Awards: 1 Academy Award nomination, 1 National Board of Review Award, Top 10 from American Film Institute and National Board of Review

 

Critic Review: "Building implacable dread and tension from scene to scene, the story is as simple as its underlying ideas are endlessly complex." - Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times

 

BOT User Review: "Not only is Silence the best movie of the decade, and the most overlooked one (which is shocking given it's Scorsese's career long passion project), not only do I find it to be the best film of Scorsese's career, it has just about moved its way into one of my top 5 films of all time.  One of the most powerful movies I have ever watched." - @The Panda

 

Its Legacy: Final film in the "Scorsese Faith Trilogy". Detailing the Shimabara Rebellion for a new generation. A life-long passion project for Martin Scorsese now alive. One of two adaptations of the 1966 original novel. Serves as a modern homage to Ingmar Bergman. Gave Shinya Tsukamoto a paycheck.

 

Commentary: Definitely one of the most passionate films on this list. It appeared on a lot of lists, but certainly not as much as many films before and after it in the rankings. This is not helped by the film’s box office failure, its massive runtime, and a depressing subject matter, so it’s not the easiest to get into. However, the people who voted for it really, really loved it. And it makes sense why.

 

The final film in Scorsese’s unofficial Faith Trilogy, it’s another passion project that took decades to develop and came out to great results. A film that could have only been directed by a man who has struggled with his religion all his life, Silence looks into why people fall into religion in the first place in a world that isn’t kind to spiritual folk. How can you believe in God in a world that seems godless? How do you stay close to your beliefs while doing the right thing? Is it possible to even do both at the same time? There aren’t any clear answers, but that just allows deeper analysis and for viewers to create their own unique interpretations.

 

And even if you aren’t religious, there’s still a grand story, beautiful production values, and a fantastic cast full of Hollywood talent everybody know and love, and a slew of incredible Japanese talents. And if you’re a Scorsese fan, this send-up to Ingmar Bergman is like The Irishman. A film that meditates on the director’s own life and the work he has done, as he nears the end of his own career/life. It’s genuinely fascinating, and while I’m obviously not against Scorsese continuing to make movies, this and Irishman really do feel like perfect endpoints.

 

Scorsese’s faith-based releases have always been under the shadow of Scorsese’s more commercially viable gangster titles. And it’s unlikely that will change in the future. Yet Silence, and his other two films, will continue to endure for many and still leave a strong impression on viewers, whether they be Catholic or otherwise.

 

 

 

4 minutes ago, Eric Feels Pretty said:

#7

The Age of Innocence (1993)

128 pts, 18 lists

"How can we be happy behind the backs of people who trust us?"

 

 

#1 placements: 3

#3 placements: 2

Top 5 placements: 8

Top 10 placements: 6

Box Office: $32.3 million

Rotten Tomatoes: 84%

Metacritic: 90

Awards: 1 Academy Award and 4 nominations, 1 Venice Film Festival Award, 1 BAFTA win and 3 nominations, 1 Golden Globe Award and 3 nominations, 2 National Board of Review Awards, 1 Grammy Award nomination

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: "I recently read The Age of Innocence again, impressed by how accurately the screenplay (by Jay Cocks and Scorsese) reflects the book. Scorsese has two great strengths in adapting it. The first is visual. Working with the masterful cinematographer Michael Ballhaus, he shows a society encrusted by its possessions...His second strength is a complete command of tone. Like her friend Henry James, Edith Wharton seldom allowed her characters to state bluntly what they were thinking. They talked around it, inhibited by society and perhaps afraid of their own thoughts. Wharton, however, allows herself a narrator who does state the plain truth."

 

BOT User Review: N/A

 

Its Legacy: A rare departure from Scorsese in tone, style, and subject matter. The final appearance of Luciano Charles Scorsese. The film was dedicated to him. Part of the Criterion Collection. One of the final works of Saul Bass. Gave Richard E. Grant a paycheck.

 

Commentary: At the time, this romance story was overlooked during Scorsese’s early 1990s heyday of Goodfellas, Cape Fear, and Casino. But this look into high society is one that is intensely romantic yet also deeply sad. Daniel Day-Lewis and all the other characters are trapped in rigid social codes, one that sees marriage less as a love between others and more as something to follow so as wealth can continue for previous generations. It’s both a glamorous look at rich folks, yet also showcases the 1% as folks stuck in a prison, unable to truly enjoy themselves and the world around them, despite being rich enough to have anything and everything.

 

It’s a stark contrast to the typical middle class, American Dream deconstruction found in other Scorsese films, yet also serves a purpose as a slight against the rich and powerful. That despite getting all you could ever want, you have no choices to make nor can you follow your own dreams. Wrapped up in a passionate love story with exemplary work from Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfieffer, and Winona Ryder, it’s sure to be a popular film among Scorsese fans for years to come.

 

 

Y’all are sleeping on these top 5 Scorsese gems

[Eric Atreides]

#6

The King of Comedy (1982)

133 pts, 20 lists

"Better to be king for a night than schmuck for a lifetime."

 

#1 placements: 1

#3 placements: 2

Top 5 placements: 6

Top 10 placements: 10

Box Office: $2.5 million

Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

Metacritic: 73

Awards: #87 on Empire's The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time, Cannes Film Festival Opener

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: "Martin Scorsese's "The King of Comedy" is one of the most arid, painful, wounded movies I've ever seen. It's hard to believe Scorsese made it; instead of the big-city life, the violence and sexuality of his movies like "Taxi Driver" and "Mean Streets," what we have here is an agonizing portrait of lonely, angry people with their emotions all tightly bottled up. This is a movie that seems ready to explode -- but somehow it never does."

 

BOT User Review: "My favorite of his films after Goodfellas. Fucking brilliant, eerily phophetic film with possibly De Niro's best performance ever." - @Jake Gittes

 

Its Legacy: A spiritual sequel to Taxi Driver. Opened the 1983 Cannes Film Festival. Jerry Lewis' final film with 20th Century Fox. The spiritual predecessor to Todd Phillips' Joker. Was produced while Scorsese was dealing with pneumonia. Also a major influence for Steve Carell in Foxcatcher. A favorite of Akira Kurosawa. Gave Sandra Bernhard a paycheck.

 

Commentary: I’ll be the first to admit that I thought King of Comedy was going to be in the midrange. I felt that while it was well-loved that the movie was too overlooked and obscure for it to go much higher. You know, similar to Alice or After Hours. But you guys really, really loved this one, just reaching outside the top 5.

 

And I’ll admit, I am half-kidding with why this ranked so highly. With Todd Phillips ripping this movie off and getting away with it to the tune of a billion dollars, The King of Comedy has gained a massive resurgence. And that’s not a bad thing at all. Morbid, horrifying, satirical, and inexplicably hilarious, The King of Comedy is a film jam-packed with qualities and wit. Tackling the toxic ideals of celebrity worship and media culture, subject matters we as a culture are only now trying to take down, it’s anchored by an expert performance by Robert De Niro.

 

Detailing a mentally deranged obsessive of a Johnny Carson type, what’s really incredible about his role as Rupert Pupkin is how his story is still prescient. In the Internet age, people are more fame hungry than ever and feel more attached to the celebrities they’ve never met before. It’s a strange parasitic relationship that only hurts people’s mental health and senses of empathy. In a way, it’s kind of sad how ahead of its time this movie truly is.

 

And when you include a stunning climax that still puts chills down the viewer's spine, it’s pretty great to see this gem of Martin’s filmography get its deserved time in the sun.

 

 

[baumer]

I saw King of Comedy in my teens and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.  And then when you watch it through today's lens, it becomes an even better film imo.  

 

Great write-ups so far @Eric Feels Pretty.  I'm pretty sure Goodfellas will be number one, and that would be fine and dandy with me.

[Eric Atreides]

The plan for the top 5 will be in a couple days, AKA when I finish getting the Spider-Man weekend thread up. I know it's another couple day's worth of delays, but I promise the wait will be worth it. And hey, you now get to take some time to predict what you think the top 5 will be. The winner gets my love and affection as a prize, which is truly the greatest gift of all. Hope you guys are having fun with this!

[baumer]

1) Goodfellas

2) Raging Bull

3) You talkin to Me?

4) Wolf of Wall Street

5) The Departed

[titanic2187]

A bit surprised by how high age of innocence rank, even before silence and shutter island. I always thought the age of innocence is the lesser known or talked about Scorsese's film,  

[TheDude391]

19 minutes ago, titanic2187 said:

A bit surprised by how high age of innocence rank, even before silence and shutter island. I always thought the age of innocence is the lesser known or talked about Scorsese's film,  

It used to be but in recent years it’s been re evaluated more (I think the criterion release helped).

[Eric Atreides]

Sorry for the long delay, but I'm hoping to get this done today. So let's begin.

[Eric Atreides]

#5

Raging Bull (1980)

142 pts, 20 lists

"Go get 'em, champ."

 

 

#1 placements: 1

#2 placements: 1

#3 placements: 1

Top 5 placements: 7 

Top 10 placements: 8

Box Office: $23.4 million

Rotten Tomatoes: 94%

Metacritic: 89

Awards: 2 Academy Awards and 6 nominations, 2 BAFTAs and 2 nominations, 1 Golden Globe and nomination, 2 National Board of Review Awards and 2nd Place for Top 10 Films, #24 in AFI's Top 100 Movies, #4 in 2007 list

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: "“Raging Bull” is the most painful and heartrending portrait of jealousy in the cinema--an “Othello” for our times. It's the best film I've seen about the low self-esteem, sexual inadequacy and fear that lead some men to abuse women. Boxing is the arena, not the subject. LaMotta was famous for refusing to be knocked down in the ring. There are scenes where he stands passively, his hands at his side, allowing himself to be hammered. We sense why he didn't go down. He hurt too much to allow the pain to stop."

 

BOT User Review: "DeNiro's performance is undoubtedly the movie, but I also love Joe Pesci lot in this.I think it's a great movie, one of Scorsese's bests. Gripping and honest, with great acting performances all around." - @Sam

 

Its Legacy: Hailed as the best film of the 1980s. Oft considered one of the greatest movies ever and Scorsese's magnum opus. Kickstarted the careers of Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty. Became the first film to be selected in its first year of eligibility in the National Film Registry. Earned an unauthorized sequel, The Bronx Bull, in 2006. Gave Joe Pesci a paycheck.

 

Commentary: Essentially the more intense, more violent sibling to Rocky, Raging Bull is a film that kind of snuck up on people, despite the awards success it received. Its violent content and starring a character full of rage, anger, and destruction was not a lot of people’s cup of tea when it first debuted. But in just a couple short years, Raging Bull remained victorious, with many, including critics like Roger Ebert, citing the film as one of, if not the best film of the 1980s. And who can blame them?

 

With a stellar cast, including future stars like Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty, Raging Bull serves as both a pulsating, invigorating sports title and a fascinating character study of a man consumed with rage and jealousy and how it destroys his relationships with his wife and family. It’s a rare sports film that people interested in the sport can get a lot out of, if not more than sports fans.

 

Martin Scorsese has never been a sports fan, let alone a boxing fan, yet his understanding on Jake Lamotta still rings true and appeals to anybody, regardless of interest in the subject matter or not.

 

 

[Eric Atreides]

#4

The Departed (2006)

157 pts, 23 lists

"Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe fuck yourself."

 

 

#1 placements: 1

#2 placements: 1

#3 placements: 4

Top 5 placements: 11 

Top 10 placements: 6

Box Office: $291.5 million

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

Metacritic: 85

Awards: 4 Academy Awards and 1 nomination, 6 BAFTA nominations, 2 National Board of Review Awards and #4 for Top 10 Films of the Year, 1 DGA Award, 1 WGA Award, 1 Golden Globe Award and 5 nominations, 1 Grammy Award nomination, 1 MTV Movie Award

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: "It is intriguing to wonder what Scorsese saw in the Hong Kong movie that inspired him to make the second remake of his career (after "Cape Fear"). I think he instantly recognized that this story, at a buried level, brought two sides of his art and psyche into equal focus. We know that he, too, was fascinated by gangsters. In making so many films about them, about what he saw and knew growing up in Little Italy, about his insights into their natures, he became, in a way, an informant."

 

BOT User Review: "A fucking goddamn modern classic." - @Deep Wang

 

Its Legacy: Brought Infernal Affairs more recognition to Western waters. Earned him the Best Director Oscar he deserved ages ago. Was Scorsese's highest-grossing film until Shutter Island. Brought the story of Whitey Bulger to light before Johnny Depp had the chance. Had a sequel in development that never got made. Gave Anthony Anderson a paycheck.

 

Commentary: The Departed is one of the rare Hollywood remakes of a foreign-language title that’s actually good. Scratch that, some may say it’s better than its source, Infernal Affairs. With an undercover cop going into the Irish Mob and a mafia member serving as a mole in the police department, it’s one of the most fascinating crime stories one could think up. And this leads into a wild, high-octane thrill ride with twists and intrigue that keeps you guessing, as well as an ensemble cast so good you almost forget that charisma vacuum and hate crime committing asswipe Mark Wahlberg is in here...almost.

 

It was Scorsese’s biggest hit until Shutter Island four years later and is largely regarded as Scorsese’s best film in his 2000s tenure. For many of the 20 and 30somethings here on the forums, this was probably one of the first films that introduced them to the world of Scorsese. And The Departed, which is also famous for giving Martin the Best Director Oscar he arguably should have gotten decades ago, is a wonderful introductory point. It’s no wonder it ranked this high.

 

 

[Eric Atreides]

Plan is to unveil the top three later tonight when I get back from Spider-Man. Hope you guys are happy with the top 5 so far!

[narniadis]

19 year old me seeing an R rated film for the first time in theaters and it was Departed... back in the BOM days when the forum was as a whole really looking forward to it.... perfect introduction to Scorcese. 

[Jake Gittes]

46 minutes ago, narniadis said:

19 year old me seeing an R rated film for the first time in theaters and it was Departed... back in the BOM days when the forum was as a whole really looking forward to it.... perfect introduction to Scorcese. 

 

I'd just turned 13 and it was one of the first ones I managed to get into by myself. Was very likely my first Scorsese. Pretty wild experience needless to say.

[Eric Atreides]

Apologies once again for getting this out so late, but now I'm finally getting out the top three. Thank you all for your patience!

[Eric Atreides]

#3

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

160 pts, 21 lists

"As a rich man, when I have to face my problems, I show up in the back of the limo, wearing a $2000 suit and a $40,000 gold fuckin' watch."

 

#1 placements: 2

#2 placements: 4

#3 placements: 3

Top 5 placements: 15

Top 10 placements: 3

Box Office: $392 million

Rotten Tomatoes: 79%

Metacritic: 75

Awards: Five Academy Award nominations, 4 BAFTA nominations, 1 Empire Award and 1 nomination, 1 Golden Globe Awards and 1 nomination, 1 Grammy Award nomination, 2 MTV Movie Awards and 6 nominations, 2 National Board of Review Awards

 

Critic Review: "A very fast three hours, Wolf is a fascinating, revolting, outlandish, uproarious, exhilarating and exhausting master work on immorality." - Betsey Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

 

BOT User Review: "This is not just the best film of the year, it is unquestionably one of the best films I've ever seen.  Every scene, every shot, every performance is about as good as it gets.  Standing out of course are DiCaprio and Hill.  Hill transforms himself in this film but DiCaprio gives the best performance of his career." - @baumer

 

Its Legacy: Martin Scorsese's highest-grossing film. The Scorsese film the youths can get behind. Resurfaced the story of Jordan Belfort. Hit with controversy and backlash one after the other. Made Margot Robbie a superstar. Scorsese's first digital film. First film distributed entirely digitally. Featured the most "fucks" in a narrative movie until 2014's Swearnet: The Movie. Gave Kyle Chandler a paycheck.

 

Commentary: It’s funny to think this now, but way back in Christmas 2013, 8 years ago (Man, time really has flown), The Wolf of Wall Street wasn’t warmly regarded. Many audiences were repulsed by this three-hour debauchery on display. The film was way too sexy, way too self-indulgent, way too vulgar, way too extreme, and seemingly glorified the behaviors and actions and lifestyle of Jordan Belfort. That Belfort’s fraudulent actions, lust for women, and obsession with cocaine were seen as epic and cool and exciting. And yeah, the insanity found within this long as sin movie was not the wholesome fun a lot of unsuspecting folks wanted for Christmas.

 

Of course, the narrative changed very fast. The people who knew what they were getting into loved it. Really loved it. And almost overnight, Wolf of Wall Street went from a polarizing, pearl-clutching release to being hailed as one of Scorsese’s absolute bests, in a decade that was full of hits for the guy. It continued to play in packed auditoriums into the new year, propelling itself as Martin’s biggest movie ever made.

 

It’s by far the craziest, most intense thrill ride from the NYC director, which is saying quite a bit. Perfectly capturing the real life Jordan Belfort and his drug-filled experiences making it to the top of the food chain, the film is visceral, horrifying, unnerving, bizarre, untamed, and fascinating all at once, with a career-best DiCaprio and an epic storyline that is both reminiscent of the likes of Casino, yet also unlike anything else. Its raw, primal energy is one so chaotic and wild that it’s insane to think it was done by a 71-year-old man. Whether or not that’s a credit towards Scorsese’s vivid imagination and wild spirit or an indictment against the current crop of directors, you decide.

 

However, there’s more than just flash here. What’s so brilliant is that despite the depictions that many feel endorse Belfort’s sexist, drug-fueled behavior, it’s also a slam against this very lifestyle in the first place. Belfort still loses so much humanity and dignity in this destructive lifestyle, becoming more and more of an inhuman beast due to this capitalist mindset. It’s both a cathartic feeling (remember, capitalism will kill us faster than the virus will) and also a depressing look into a reality we’re still in. In the era of crypto bros, meme stocks, and Elon Musk-types, the story of Belfort is more relevant than ever, and it makes the film all the more fascinating and all the more horrifying.

 

Like Fight Club before it, Wolf of Wall Street is one of those films that a good chunk of viewers take the wrong way. But for those who get Scorsese’s true intention as an auteur, it serves as an incredible watershed moment in the man’s career and one folks will watch for years to come.

 

 

[Eric Atreides]

#2

Goodfellas (1990)

194 pts, 24 lists

"As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster."

 

 

#1 placements: 7

#2 placements: 6

#3 placements: 2

Top 5 placements: 18

Top 10 placements: 2

Box Office: $47.1 million

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

Metacritic: 90

Awards: 1 Academy Award and 6 nominations, 5 Golden Globe nominations, 4 BAFTAs and 2 nominations, Silver Lion for Best Director, Audience Award, and Bastone Bianco Award at Venice Film Festival, 1 National Board of Review Award

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: "What Scorsese does above all else is share his enthusiasm for the material. The film has the headlong momentum of a storyteller who knows he has a good one to share."

 

BOT User Review: "The best movie of the '90s after Pulp Fiction." - @The Stingray

 

Its Legacy: The arguable high point of Scorsese's career. The most famous film of his 1990s tenure. Redefined the mob/gangster movie. Hailed as one of the greatest films ever made. Joined the National Film Registry in 2000. Influenced The Sopranos. Ranked #94 on AFI's Top 100 Films, #92 in the 2007 edition. #6 on Empire Magazine's Top 500 Films of All Time. Saw a scrapped television series in development. Namedropped in Bee Movie. Gave Ray Liotta a paycheck.

 

Commentary: The ultimate mob movie. Essentially the spiritual successor to Coppola’s Godfather duology (sorry Part III), Goodfellas is an exhilarating, unfiltered look into the life of Henry Hill and his associates in a film that is full of twists, turns, and surprises. The 2.5 hours just fly by as we follow the immense rise of the mob, only for a tough, wild descent into paranoia. Detailing the changing times from 1955 to 1980 with violence, comedy, and a whole lot of style, it’s a film that feels jam-packed with goodies, with nothing else that needed to be added or removed.

 

Honestly, I don’t know what else to say about this movie. You’ve all seen it and you already know it’s good. I can’t bring anything else that every other critic (and also David Chase) has said about the film. I guess the only big surprise is that despite many citing this as Scorsese’s best, it’s only at #2. You probably know what #1 is by now, and I think, even if you prefer the other film, that this is a worthy silver medal.

 

 

[Eric Atreides]

#1

Taxi Driver (1990)

195 pts, 24 lists

"Are you talkin' to me? Well, I'm the only one here."

 

#1 placements: 5

#2 placements: 6

#3 placements: 3

Top 5 placements: 17

Top 10 placements: 6

Box Office: $28.4 million

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

Metacritic: 94

Awards: Palme D'Or at Cannes Film Festival, 4 Academy Award nominations, 1 Blue Ribbon Award, 3 BAFTAs and 4 nominations, 2 Golden Globe Award nominations, 1 Grammy Award nomination, 3 National Society of Film Critics Awards and 3 Runner-Ups

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: "This utter aloneness is at the center of "Taxi Driver," one of the best and most powerful of all films, and perhaps it is why so many people connect with it even though Travis Bickle would seem to be the most alienating of movie heroes. We have all felt as alone as Travis. Most of us are better at dealing with it."

 

BOT User Review: "FWIW the best performance of all time is in this movie..." - @CoolioD1

 

Its Legacy: Scorsese's first major hit. Made Robert De Niro a movie star. Earned controversy for violence and Jodie Foster's casting. Jodie Foster's major breakthrough. Inspired John Hinckley Jr. (unfortunately). Almost caused Martin Scorsese to quit moviemaking entirely. #47 on AFI's Top 100, #52 on 2007 edition. Joined the National Film Registry in 1994. 19th on BBC's Top 100 American Movies. Kickstarted Paul Schrader's career. "You talkin' to me?" was parodied to death, including by De Niro in Rocky and Bullwinkle. Bernard Herrmann's final score. 31st best film ever by Sight & Sound's 2012 critic's list, #5 on director's list. Gave Albert Brooks a paycheck.

 

Commentary: The battle between this and Goodfellas for #1 was insane. Every time a new list came in, the two would flip-flop from one another. And yet, just by one single point, Taxi Driver  won it all. Frankly, one list could have changed everything when it came to these rankings.

 

But that’s not a slight against Taxi Driver. It got to #1 for a good reason, and a good chunk of it comes from Robert De Niro’s performance as Travis Bickle. I know I’ve been saying “Robert De Niro’s career best” a lot in this countdown (God forbid he be such a good actor), but I really mean this here. Depicting a Vietnam veteran struggling to keep it all together, the film details a guy stuck on the edge. Unable to truly feel compassion and a connection with others, as he drives through New York in the dead of night. The deterioration of his mental state is fascinating, helped further by the world around him.

 

This New York concocted by Martin is surreal, strange, and full of odd characters and destinations, as Martin creates a film that feels almost like a wild and crazy dream, with strange, yet still understandable logic to it. This only leads to a memorable storyline that tows the line between dream and reality, with an ending that people still discuss and analyze to this day. If anything, the film’s final message, promoting mental illnesses while the world does nothing to truly fix it, is just as big, if not a bigger issue today. This has always been a constant in Scorsese’s filmography, his films still focusing on always relevant issues. And Taxi Driver, simply put, does it the best.

 

Again, like Goodfellas, I can’t really add anything else that everybody and their grandma has already said about the movie. So I think it’s fair to say that despite our own personal preferences, I think Taxi Driver is a very solid #1 that truly encapsulates what Martin has done since 1967.

 

 

[Eric Atreides]

And now, I can finally close this. Again, I'm sorry this went on longer than expected, but I've been having issues at work and I didn't expect them to be as big of an issue as they would. Makes it hard to focus on these types of countdowns. Even so, I hope you guys loved what I wrote and I hope I got some of you to see an all-time master's finest works.

 

Super-duper extra huge thanks to @Tower @lilmac @baumer @Joel M @Ronin46 @A Star is Orm @BestPicturePlutoNash @TheDude391 @aabattery @Fancyarcher @TalismanRing @WrathOfHan @filmlover @cannastop @Rorschach @Jake Gittes @von Kenni @Jamiem @Blankments @4815162342 @MOVIEGUY @DAR @lorddemaxus @titanic2187 and @The Panda

 

Literally, without your contributions, this countdown would not happen, so I have my full gratitude.

 

And a super-duper extra huge thank you to Martin Scorsese, for continuing to do what you do best, despite all the odds stacked against you in the ensuing decades. You've given us joy and wonder through your films and we can only hope Killers of the Flower Moon will continue your hit streak.

 

And lastly, it's time to reveal what next year's countdown, December 2022, will be all about. And this time, it's actually going to be a request that was asked all the way back in 2020. So drumroll please...

 

The Coen Brothers Countdown

 

That's right folks. The duo who have given us the likes of Raising Arizona, No Country For Old Men, The Big Lebowski, Fargo, and more will get their time in the sun next year. Shout outs to the lovely and beautiful @Jake Gittes for requesting this topic, and I hope you'll like it in about 12 months. And once again, everybody who voted this year, please try and catch up and support my annual tradition. I love doing this stuff every year and I want to continue further.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read, like, and discuss the list, have a wonderful holiday, and remember that Timothee loves you!

[Ronin46]

Great job Eric. Taxi Driver number 1 is a little surpising but what a classic it is.

 

I saw it when I was a teenager and then not again until I saw it outside at The Botanical Gardens in Melbourne Australia on an outside screen laying on a  blanket with my gf at the time and having some wine. Magical experience that I wont forget. 

[TheDude391]

38 minutes ago, Eric Osborn said:

And now, I can finally close this. Again, I'm sorry this went on longer than expected, but I've been having issues at work and I didn't expect them to be as big of an issue as they would. Makes it hard to focus on these types of countdowns. Even so, I hope you guys loved what I wrote and I hope I got some of you to see an all-time master's finest works.

 

Super-duper extra huge thanks to @Tower @lilmac @baumer @Joel M @Ronin46 @A Star is Orm @BestPicturePlutoNash @TheDude391 @aabattery @Fancyarcher @TalismanRing @WrathOfHan @filmlover @cannastop @Rorschach @Jake Gittes @von Kenni @Jamiem @Blankments @4815162342 @MOVIEGUY @DAR @lorddemaxus @titanic2187 and @The Panda

 

Literally, without your contributions, this countdown would not happen, so I have my full gratitude.

 

And a super-duper extra huge thank you to Martin Scorsese, for continuing to do what you do best, despite all the odds stacked against you in the ensuing decades. You've given us joy and wonder through your films and we can only hope Killers of the Flower Moon will continue your hit streak.

 

And lastly, it's time to reveal what next year's countdown, December 2022, will be all about. And this time, it's actually going to be a request that was asked all the way back in 2020. So drumroll please...

 

The Coen Brothers Countdown

 

That's right folks. The duo who have given us the likes of Raising Arizona, No Country For Old Men, The Big Lebowski, Fargo, and more will get their time in the sun next year. Shout outs to the lovely and beautiful @Jake Gittes for requesting this topic, and I hope you'll like it in about 12 months. And once again, everybody who voted this year, please try and catch up and support my annual tradition. I love doing this stuff every year and I want to continue further.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read, like, and discuss the list, have a wonderful holiday, and remember that Timothee loves you!

Great job with the write ups, can’t wait to do the Coens next year!