‘Mr. Scorsese’ Is a Joy to Watch
Director Rebecca Miller discusses with GQ the process of creating the definitive portrait of the greatest living filmmaker, Martin Scorsese. The Apple TV documentary miniseries about Scorsese feels like a rare achievement.
Miller brings together key collaborators from Scorsese’s extensive career, including Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis (Miller’s husband), Leonardo DiCaprio, Robbie Robertson of The Band, his longtime editor Thelma Schoonmaker, and Margot Robbie. The only notable absence is Joe Pesci, who declined to participate. Scorsese himself contributed extensively, participating in 20 hours of interviews.
Intimate and Honest Insights
The series offers a candid look at Scorsese’s life and career. He opens up about his 1980s drug problem, his faith struggles, early experiences with the mob, fluctuating relationships with his daughters, and his wife Helen Morris’ battle with Parkinson’s disease. Beyond biography, it provides an entertaining insider’s perspective on the making of iconic films like GoodFellas, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Raging Bull.
Rebecca Miller’s Perspective
Well, I think to spend such a long time talking to this artist—it's like you are learning about his life, but you're also learning about film and all the films that influenced him. So there was almost like a going to graduate school quality about it.
In a Zoom interview, Miller explained how her extended conversations with Scorsese allowed her to unlock deep insights into both the man and his cinematic influences.
Summary
‘Mr. Scorsese’ captures the complex humanity behind a legendary filmmaker through candid interviews and contributions from close collaborators.
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