Martin Scorsese Autor Theory

An Emmy, Oscar, Golden Globe and countless other awards litter director Martin Scorsese’s trophy case, serving as a testament to his skill and proficiency as a director (Martin Scorsese-Awards). The span of Scorsese’s work is vast and inspires many actors and directors worldwide. Many others in Hollywood unsuccessfully emulate Scorsese’s distinct imprint on film, as they fail to capture and display a trait that Scorsese has seemed to perfect: the ability to show a vulnerability in his characters through his use of thorough character development, and bleak portrayal of the world that they live in.

To depict strong protagonists Scorsese proves that his main characters are all tough and powerful early in his films. In the opening scenes of The Aviator, Howard Hughes is portrayed as rich, powerful, and wiser than those around him. This is shown through Hughes’ consistent ignoring and disobeying of movie and financial experts’ advice on the set of Hells Angels, and ultimately creating a commercial success.

In The Departed, Costigan is shown as tough early on when he sticks up for his mother on her deathbed, and when he agrees to be thrown into prison to help prove that he is a criminal. No scene, however, shows Costigan’s capacity for violence, and toughness more than when Costigan beats up two Italian mafia members, repeatedly stabbing one in the face with a coat rack, to prove that he is a criminal and not a cop.

In The Gangs of New York, Amsterdam’s toughness is shown when he is just a boy. Moments after his father dies in his arms, Amsterdam shows courage and the wherewithal to fend off the Butcher’s men just long enough to bury the knife that killed his father. He does this with the intention of using it to avenge his father’s death later on.

Once the protagonists are portrayed as tough and powerful Scorsese then begins to show their vulnerabilities. Scorsese utilizes a wide gap in time to show a weakness in his characters to help develop them. The opening...