‘Mr. Scorsese’ is the best behind-the-scenes reel you’ll ever get to see of the famed director

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Streaming services have given us a lot of interesting content, but the sheer number of celebrity documentaries is especially noteworthy. In the past, famous people shared their life stories through authorized books or long magazine articles. Now, it feels like every celebrity is digging up old photos and videos and openly sharing their personal experiences on camera, encouraging their friends to do the same.

From Michael Jordan to Selena Gomez, countless celebrities have been the subject of documentaries. These films explore a wide range of topics – from personal struggles and cultural impact to the glamorous lives of the rich and famous. However, the quality and purpose of these documentaries vary greatly, ranging from serious investigative journalism to purely self-promotional projects.

Rebecca Miller’s new Apple TV series, “Mr. Scorsese,” launching Friday, offers a deep dive into the life and work of the legendary director Martin Scorsese. Over five hours and five episodes, the series explores his remarkable career and the many influences – from his personal life to broader cultural and spiritual themes – that shaped it, and sometimes nearly led him off course.

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I was reading an interview with this incredible 81-year-old director, and it really struck me. He was talking about the ten years he spent in Los Angeles, and how making movies became a way for him to really explore who he was and strive to be a better person. And get this – his next project is going to be a film based on the teachings of Jesus! It sounds like a deeply personal and fascinating undertaking.

“Mr. Scorsese” often feels like an extended, incredibly star-packed collection of behind-the-scenes conversations. Director Martin Scorsese and his frequent collaborators – including names like Robert De Niro, Steven Spielberg, and Leonardo DiCaprio – talk about his career and how much they respect his work. The length of the film, and how deeply these relationships run, reveal a lot, and it’s genuinely enjoyable – like a really good bonus feature. It’s especially charming to see Scorsese with old friends and to hear interviews with his parents, including a sweet moment of his mother, Catherine, making meatballs.

This documentary starts by taking us back to Spike Lee’s childhood in New York’s Lower East Side. Growing up with asthma meant a lot of time indoors, and he vividly remembers watching the world from his family’s apartment window. Interestingly, he connects this early experience to his signature filmmaking style, particularly his use of high-angle shots. But it wasn’t just the view – the local movie theaters, being the only air-conditioned places he could access, were a true lifeline. He actually jokes that he’s grateful for having asthma because of the refuge those theaters provided!

Growing up surrounded by violence and local gangsters, Scorsese turned to the Catholic Church for comfort. He even thought about becoming a priest, but after being asked to leave seminary school, he realized he preferred making movies. He’d been creating stories since childhood, starting with drawings and later collaborating with friends to bring them to life.

Throughout the series, Martin Scorsese’s personal struggles with faith are a recurring theme – questioning whether he’s a saint or a sinner, and if anyone can truly be one without also possessing the qualities of the other. While now 82 and appearing relaxed and charming – even embracing social media with his daughter Francesca – Scorsese was once a fiercely ambitious and demanding filmmaker. He could be volatile and difficult to work with, gaining notoriety long before his recent public disagreements about the direction of blockbuster movies.

Martin Scorsese’s career, spanning from 1967 to today, reflects the evolution of American film. It showcases the peaks and valleys of independent cinema, the diminishing influence of film critics, how movies like “Taxi Driver” changed the use of violence on screen, and the growing impact of religious conservatism, particularly in response to films like “The Last Temptation of Christ.”

Once the documentary gets past the basic intro to Scorsese’s life, it really settles into a journey through his filmography. It basically walks you through his major works in order – and it doesn’t shy away from acknowledging that not everything he’s done was a hit. We’re talking about films like “Mean Streets,” “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” “The King of Comedy,” “New York, New York,” “The Age of Innocence,” “Gangs of New York,” “Casino,” and “The Departed.” It’s a really comprehensive look at his evolution as a filmmaker.

While some Martin Scorsese fans might be disappointed that certain films like “Hugo” and his television work aren’t included, the author focuses on understanding where Scorsese’s talent *comes from* rather than simply listing everything he’s done. The book is filled with fascinating stories and perspectives from those who know Scorsese best – including his editor, frequent actors like De Niro and DiCaprio, and even the real-life people who inspired parts of his films, like the character Johnny Boy and the famous meatball scene from “Mean Streets.” These insights more than compensate for anything the book might leave out.

What’s particularly interesting is what’s *not* included in this biography. Rebecca Miller, an actor, novelist, and director – and wife of Daniel Day-Lewis – made a 2017 documentary about her father, playwright Arthur Miller. So, it’s not unexpected that “Mr. Scorsese” feels very collaborative, and often leans towards being overly respectful. While Miller doesn’t appear on screen, her voice can be heard occasionally during what are described as interviews – though they’re more like gentle prompts. Scorsese clearly leads the storytelling about his own career, and even when Miller encourages him to elaborate, he remains firmly in control of a narrative centered almost entirely on his work.

A particularly moving moment in the series comes when Domenica Scorsese, Martin’s daughter, recalls working with him on “The Age of Innocence,” where she had a small part. She explains that being on set with him felt safe and unexpectedly comforting. She describes her father as a guiding light – when he was involved in a film, she felt secure, but his absence from that creative space was keenly felt.

Martin Scorsese has three daughters from different marriages, and they all appear in the documentary “Mr. Scorsese.” While the older two admit their father wasn’t always present or easy to deal with, they only share warm and respectful memories of him. The filmmakers clearly weren’t interested in creating a critical or negative portrayal.

Scorsese doesn’t dwell on personal therapy like some filmmakers do in documentaries. He openly, but briefly, mentions his past struggles with drugs, anger, and spiritual doubts from the 1980s. However, he avoids detailed discussion of his personal life, including his five marriages and relationships with his daughters.

Those curious about his personal life will have to piece things together from hints – his ex-partner Isabella Rossellini shared that he once had violent outbursts, destroying their home, and was surprised to see his behavior on video – and from his movies themselves.

Miller doesn’t try to distinguish the artist from his creations, and the film “Mr. Scorsese” demonstrates that, in this case, the two are inseparable.

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2025-10-16 13:37