Mr. Scorsese Review: Understanding Martin Scorsese through his own story

‘Mr. Scorsese’ is an extremely personal documentary that feels less like a traditional interview and more like an unfiltered conversation, where nothing is off-limits.

‘Mr. Scorsese,’ directed by Rebecca Miller, began streaming on Apple TV from 17th October and features interviews with Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Thelma Schoonmaker, Steven Spielberg, Brian De Palma and Paul Schrader.

‘Mr. Scorsese’ is an extremely personal documentary that feels less like a traditional interview and more like an unfiltered conversation, where nothing is off-limits.

An intimate portrait of a legend

From his childhood in Little Italy, Queens, to his towering success as a filmmaker, the five-part series (each an hour long) traces the evolution of Martin Scorsese in remarkable detail. It allows viewers to understand how his upbringing, faith, and experiences shaped the director who created classics like ‘Taxi Driver’ and ‘Raging Bull,’ and his lifelong obsession with ‘The Last Temptation of Christ.’

By the time you finish watching, it not only deepens your appreciation for his cinema but also gives a clearer sense of the man behind the camera. It’s an unmissable chronicle of a filmmaker whose personal and professional lives often collided to create timeless art.

Beginnings in Little Italy

The series opens with Scorsese’s childhood in Manhattan’s Little Italy, a crime-infested neighbourhood that profoundly influenced his early worldview. He talks about his close-knit family—his parents and his protective brother, who was involved in liquor smuggling. As a young boy, he began sketching storyboards and shooting short films, driven by an obsession with cinema. His time at New York University gave him direction and discipline, leading to his first short film, which brought him recognition.

Soon after, he made ‘Who’s That Knocking at My Door’ and ‘Boxcar Bertha.’ Though neither found box-office success, they marked him as a filmmaker to watch. When ‘Mean Streets’ and ‘Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore’ released, Scorsese had officially arrived as one of American cinema’s boldest new voices.

The turbulent 70s

The documentary devotes considerable time to ‘Taxi Driver,’ a film that defined Scorsese’s reputation as a fearless storyteller. He recalls his battles with the producers over violent scenes, even contemplating stealing and burning the original print in protest. His creative frustration reached a breaking point with ‘New York, New York,’ a personal project that failed commercially and plunged him into drug addiction.

Living with musician Robbie Robertson, he spiralled so deeply that he nearly lost his life. It was during his hospital stay that Robert De Niro handed him the book that became ‘Raging Bull’—a story that, in many ways, mirrored Scorsese’s own redemption.

Collaborations and creative bonds

The series also explores his remarkable partnerships with Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, the two actors who have most frequently interpreted his vision. Through interviews with De Niro, DiCaprio, and Daniel Day-Lewis, viewers get rare insights into the making of classics like ‘Goodfellas,’ ‘Casino,’ and ‘Gangs of New York.’

Scorsese calls Gangs of New York an “incomplete film,” admitting there was much more he wished to explore. DiCaprio’s anecdotes about ‘Shutter Island’ and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’—from emotional strain to sheer creative joy—reveal the mutual trust that defines their collaboration. Together, these moments underscore Scorsese’s ability to bring out raw, unforgettable performances.

Also read: Martin Scorsese sets 'What Happens at Night' with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence

Love, loss, and legacy

The final episode turns inward, focusing on Scorsese’s personal life—his five marriages, his relationships, and the quiet domestic realities behind the legend. His current wife, Helen Morris Scorsese, is shown in frail health, confined to a wheelchair due to Parkinson’s, while his third wife, Isabella Rossellini, offers thoughtful reflections on their differences.

These personal segments balance the grandeur of his cinematic journey with vulnerability and truth. The series closes with Scorsese reflecting on his ongoing projects and his enduring fascination with faith, guilt, and storytelling. It’s both a farewell and a continuation—an artist still questioning, still creating, and still looking for meaning in the flicker of film.

Rating: 4/5