Directors Label: 00s Scorsese

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Not counting his part in The Concert for New York, and The Blues, his TV doc Lady by the Sea: The Statue of Liberty or his short film The Key to Reserva, what's your favorite (NOT subjectively/objectively best but personal favorite) feature-length Martin Scorsese film of the 2000s? I'm going to throw Shutter Island onto the poll because I can.

The Departed finally got him the Oscar and won Best Picture, but I don't know if that was actually his best of the decade.

Link to other Directors Label polls:

70s Woody Allenhttp://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=197515
70s Scorsese: http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=197281
80s Scorsese: http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=197354
90s Scorsese: http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=197464

[Kedd]

The Departed. Loved it. Fell asleep on Shutter Island, but not because of the movie, I was tired as hell. Paid ten bucks to sleep in an uncomfortable chair that night :nonono2:

[Xorn]

my favorite decade of scorseses work (i know i might be in the minority on this one).
I like aviator and loved departed and shutter island. gangs of new york is great too.shine a light I have no particular feelings on.

[Fourthman]

Aviator. I don't really like his other DiCaprios.

I predict Departed takes it.

[tonym]

Departed followed by Gangs of New York

[SMACK!]

I'd have to say The Departed. I know you think that Infernal Affairs was better, but I found some of the music and acting to be unintentionally funny.

[stevapalooza]

Gangs of New York and the Departed.

[Taxman]

Probably the one with DiCaprio.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

I'd have to say The Departed. I know you think that Infernal Affairs was better, but I found some of the music and acting to be unintentionally funny.

And while I enjoy The Departed, you can't tell me Jack Nicholson and Marky-Mark aren't hamming that shit up.

[CougarTrace]

This is really tough, but I have to say Gangs of New York. With Daniel Day's performance and it just being a great movie, it gets my vote as one of his best movies too

[GrandeMaestro Fünke]

I know a lot of people think The Departed is overrated, but it's one of my favorite films of all time.

[schizorabbit]

This is really tough, but I have to say Gangs of New York. With Daniel Day's performance and it just being a great movie, it gets my vote as one of his best movies too

Daniel Day Lewis was, indeed, as usual, amazing in that.

[PeterSparker]

Gangs Of New York has some great scenes, some great performances, but falls short ultimately of being a great movie.

I certainly admire The Departed, but never quite to the degree so many others do.

No Direction Home was crafted from archival footage and earlier interviews, but it is completely awesome. It's a killer documentary, and I'm so glad it exists. As a Dylan guy myself though, I still have some issues with it. I don't know how there is no discussion or performance of 'The Times They Are A Changing' in the first half for instance. But still, really cool.

So, The Aviator all the way for me, movie is a masterpiece.

[Superior Kiai]

Gangs, then The Aviator, then The Departed.

Shutter Island I liked the first time. Haven't rewatched it yet, though.

[Taxman]

Daniel Day Lewis was, indeed, as usual, amazing in that.

It's hard to believe now that Cameron Diaz was cast into something like this.

[R0cketFr0g]

Gangs of New York

[Adrian B AWESOME]

While The Departed, The Aviator and Daniel-Day Lewis' parts of GONY are all great, I can't get Shutter Island out of my head. It haunts me.

[R0cketFr0g]

While The Departed, The Aviator and Daniel-Day Lewis' parts of GONY are all great, I can't get Shutter Island out of my head. It haunts me.

Bill the Butcher will cut it out of your head.

[PeterSparker]

It's hard to believe now that Cameron Diaz was cast into something like this.
And she is not good, plus I couldn't have cared less about her character. She's just annoying.

[Blake Sims]

Definitely Gangs of New York, I love that movie. Aviator was good too, same with the Departed. I look at No Direction Home differently though.

[Mark Mavro (kryptic6)]

I voted DEPARTED because I can pop that dvd in any day and watch it all the way through, but I love that film and SHUTTER ISLAND equally.

[(akaRyanHoffman)]

I voted the Departed, which I've seen twice and liked more the second time. I have a feeling a decade from now I've seen Shutter Island a few times that it'll get the vote from me.

[Artie Pink]

(200:cool: :lol:

[totalsellout]

i went with gangs just because of the uniqueness of the movie. there are a lot of psycological thrillers, a lot of mob movies, but i have never scene anything else show that time period or that city the way gangs did.

[WhindamPryce]

Gangs, then Departed.

[Alexander Hamilton]

This is a tough one... Daniel Day Lewis makes me want to say Gangs, but the ending pissed me off.

I did love Departed, too.

Hrm...have to think on it.

[Fake Pat]

I know it's nit-picky, but that last shot in Departed takes it right out of the running for me.

Think I gotta go with Gangs of New York.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

I'm surprised at the amount of love Gangs is getting. Even though it's an "epic," it feels like such a pedestrian affair from Scorsese. Maybe its because the film has such a brilliantly bombastic opening from Neeson and DDL (that's what I call him since we tight, we met once when I was watching Hotel for Dogs for an 8th time at an executive preview) and then just completely drops off the planet in regards to quality and just drags. And then Bono shows up for a ridiculous credit sequence song that has no place in the film. It's just a mess.

BUT I understand the reason most people enjoy it is DDL (remember, Hotel for Dogs) which I have no problem with.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

I know it's nit-picky, but that last shot in Departed takes it right out of the running for me.

Think I gotta go with Gangs of New York.

The last shot of Gangs is equally if not moreso hackey. It's like "Motherfuckers! It's Bono! Look how the city changed! You just watched a Scorsese film, BITCHES!" instead of the understatements of the past or like The Aviator.

[Alexander Hamilton]

I know it's nit-picky, but that last shot in Departed takes it right out of the running for me.

Think I gotta go with Gangs of New York.

What was the last shot? Can't remember...

It's funny how we're both turned off of different films for similar reasons, though.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

What was the last shot? Can't remember...

It's funny how we're both turned off of different films for similar reasons, though.

It's a shot of a rat.

[Alexander Hamilton]

It's a shot of a rat.


Okay.. Yeah... Think I forgot that on purpose... But, looking back, it is pretty funny.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

It's not nearly as bad as people make it. It's a weak symbol/metaphor, sure, but people (like, sorry but you brought it up dude, Fake Pat) think it obviously destroys the film, which it doesn't. If you're going to have problems with The Departed, at least call out Nicholson's engaging yet incredibly inconsistent performance.

[Alexander Hamilton]

It's not nearly as bad as people make it. It's a weak symbol/metaphor, sure, but people (like, sorry but you brought it up dude, Fake Pat) think it obviously destroys the film, which it doesn't. If you're going to have problems with The Departed, at least call out Nicholson's engaging yet incredibly inconsistent performance.

Now that I know what Pat is talking about, it's not the same beef I have with the of Gangs. In Gangs, the entire film was a giant build to a climax that never came. I feel like I've seen that type of storytelling work in other films, but it really killed it for me in this case.

[dankiely]

i've never been able to figure out why the departed was so popular. the movie was mediocre and nickleson's performance was way over the top. and the ending was a complete waste. the whole movie led up to a typical asian film F you to the audience ending

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Now that I know what Pat is talking about, it's not the same beef I have with the of Gangs. In Gangs, the entire film was a giant build to a climax that never came. I feel like I've seen that type of storytelling work in other films, but it really killed it for me in this case.

Oh, I agree. Visually, the film is stunning, but the narrative is a complete wreck.

[yeamon]

I'm often in the minority when the discussing his films, but not only do I think "The Aviator" is Scorcese's best, I think it's one of the best films I've seen. I love every minute of it.

[Fake Pat]

It's not nearly as bad as people make it. It's a weak symbol/metaphor, sure, but people (like, sorry but you brought it up dude, Fake Pat) think it obviously destroys the film, which it doesn't. If you're going to have problems with The Departed, at least call out Nicholson's engaging yet incredibly inconsistent performance.

I don't think it "obviously destroys the film". There's plenty I still like about it. I'd say it's way better than a ton of movies, there's just some tough competition here.

It's admittedly nit-picky and not something I can I can make a strong objective argument around. It's just that for some reason that one stands out for me.

[Blake Sims]

I completely forgot about the ending of Gangs, that was pretty lame. Still a good movie. The rat in the Departed isn't a big deal for me. And Nicholson's performance was over the top, but so much fun!

[Fake Pat]

I completely forgot about the ending of Gangs, that was pretty lame. Still a good movie. The rat in the Departed isn't a big deal for me. And Nicholson's performance was over the top, but so much fun!

The goofy performances are absolutely my favorite thing about the Departed.

Particularly Baldwin. God, I love insane Boston accents.

[Blake Sims]

The goofy performances are absolutely my favorite thing about the Departed.

Particularly Baldwin. God, I love insane Boston accents.

He was really good in that. Except for him just disappearing near the end.

[Fygar]

I'd rank them as such (without seeing No Direction Home and Shine a Light):

The Departed
Gangs of New York
The Aviator
Shutter Island (This may move up with repeat viewings)

I think The Departed is pretty much perfect and deserves the Oscar it won. It's highly engaging each time I've watched it.

Gangs of New York didn't thrill me the first time I watched it, but loved it the second time. Cameron Diaz sticks out like a sore thumb though.

I saw the Aviator on a whim on New Year's Eve the year it came out. It really blew me away because I wasn't expecting much. It hasn't lived up to that particularly viewing since then.

Shutter Island didn't fully click with me but I think it has potential to get better over time.

[PeterSparker]

While The Departed, The Aviator and Daniel-Day Lewis' parts of GONY are all great, I can't get Shutter Island out of my head. It haunts me.

It's definitely another example of how he has consistently striven to do a wide variety of films stylistically. Some more successful than others, but being the authoritative student of film he is, almost always of the highest caliber in their own right. Shutter Island is certainly at the high end of that scale.

[Ryudo]

Voted for Departed.

Shutter Island was awful.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Voted for Departed.

Shutter Island was awful.

Insert Ben Eye Roll.

[dankiely]

I'm often in the minority when the discussing his films, but not only do I think "The Aviator" is Scorcese's best, I think it's one of the best films I've seen. I love every minute of it.

definitely his best out of this group.

i'm also a big casino fan

[THWIP!]

I went with Gangs of New York. I know it has his flaws but I fucking love Daniel Day Lewis as Bill the Butcher so much that I can forgive a lot of the movie. Love Aviator though, and Shutter Island. I've only seen The Departed once and that was when it came out in the theater so I don't remember it too well but I know I hated Marky Mark in that, every time he was on screen I wanted to kill him.

Though I gotta say I love Scorsese using Alec Baldwin in supporting roles.

[THWIP!]

The Aviator was so fucking good. I think it should have won over Million Dollar Baby. I also think that DiCaprio should have won over Jamie Foxx for Best Actor, but Foxx had a shit ton of hype for that role.

[Ashwin Pande]

The Aviator.

[SMACK!]

the aviator was so fucking good. I think it should have won over million dollar baby. I also think that dicaprio should have won over jamie foxx for best actor, but foxx had a shit ton of hype for that role.

QTF

Million Dollar Baby sucked hairy man ass.

[Fake Pat]

Insert Ben Eye Roll.

If he had the script was awful, he'd be right.

[The Human Target]

I have not seen any of them.

So I vote... Adrian is a poop face.

[ilash]

I went with the Dylan doc but my second pick would have been Shutter Island.

[Doug]

The Aviator is an amazing film. Easily my favorite from Scorsese in the 00's.

[Fourthman]

The Aviator is an amazing film. Easily my favorite from Scorsese in the 00's.

"Way of the Future..."

[hamgravy]

Wow, I really do not like this decade of his work. I find much of it to be overwrought in all aspects.

If I had to choose, I would say The Departed, but even that is bloated.

Even the little I so of "No Direction Home" wasn't very good and I love Dylan.

[hamgravy]

And while I enjoy The Departed, you can't tell me Jack Nicholson and Marky-Mark aren't hamming that shit up.

Ham sandwich with ham for bread.

See also DDL in Gangs of New York and Leo in The Aviator.

Scenery-chewing and just not my taste.

[MIKE D]

The Aviator is the strongest of the DiCaprio years. Gangs was good but eneven, Shutter Island was a fun exercise, and the Departed seems, (just to me, I know), almost to be a parody of crime movies. It's certainly the only time I've felt Scorcese was on auto-pilot.

[Doug]

"Way of the Future..."

"Show me the blueprints."

[Doug]

Ham sandwich with ham for bread.

See also DDL in Gangs of New York and Leo in The Aviator.

Scenery-chewing and just not my taste.

Of all the performances to be nominated for an Oscar in The Departed I was shocked at Mark Wahlberg. I thought both Matt Damon and Martin Sheen were much better.

[Rafiennes]

I went with Gangs, it's just so freakin' mind blowingly epic. And Danny Day...c'mon.

I really enjoyed Shutter Island, but much like my thoughts on King of Comedy, Shutter would have been better in gritty black and white with the dream sequences in sharp color.

[Alexander Hamilton]

I will say that Departed is my favorite performance of DiCaprio's. Never have been a huge fan of him otherwise.

[Fourthman]

The Aviator is the strongest of the DiCaprio years. Gangs was good but eneven, Shutter Island was a fun exercise, and the Departed seems, (just to me, I know), almost to be a parody of crime movies. It's certainly the only time I've felt Scorcese was on auto-pilot.

"Head shot party!"

[Adrian B AWESOME]

"Head shot party!"

:lol:

[PatrickA]

I voted for Gangs, even though it never lives up to its first fifteen minutes.

That said, if I voted this afternoon I might say Aviator (saw it again last weekend and had forgotten how amazing it was) and then if I came back in the evening it might be The Departed.

Tomorrow it would be Shutter Island (which I liked more than the book- and I loved the book).

It's a really difficult choice.

[Patch]

I still think Shutter Island is too gimmicky and surreal. Surreal, in itself, is fine but an attempt at a highly emotional ending is tacked on to what looks like a day at the haunted house. It's almost like a twilight zone episode, neat enough but not great. It's Scorsese and it's better than most films-- just not my favorite Scorsese.

Aviator has memorable scenes, and great sets/direction. And a bio-pic is damn hard to pull off. I went with that.

Daniel Day Lewis was demonic in Gangs of New York. Great, scary performance but DiCaprio stepped it up for the next one.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Shutter Island's ending gets me every time. It's a film you shouldn't be watching for the twists and turns. It's working on a much deeper level than that, but you may miss it if you're just looking at the facade of it all. DiCaprio's performance in the film is sublime and utterly heartbreaking. But the ending, sitting there with Ruffalo (who is also fantastic in the flick) and there's a subtle action Leo does that chills me to the bone every time. This mixed with one of the best "found" soundtracks in recent years, I can't help but love it.

[Patch]

Shutter Island's ending gets me every time. It's a film you shouldn't be watching for the twists and turns. It's working on a much deeper level than that, but you may miss it if you're just looking at the facade of it all. DiCaprio's performance in the film is sublime and utterly heartbreaking. But the ending, sitting there with Ruffalo (who is also fantastic in the flick) and there's a subtle action Leo does that chills me to the bone every time. This mixed with one of the best "found" soundtracks in recent years, I can't help but love it.

Von Sydow reduced to a Boris Karloff imitation. Overly-dramatic camera angles (watch DiCaprio's dive into the ocean). Dream sequences that put the special effects front-and-center (crumbling ash girl). A key scene reduced to the dramatic effect of a powerpoint presentation (this is what an anagram is, please if you'll look at the chalkboard).
I don't hate this stuff-- it just doesn't help to make a film great.
Give me Taxi Driver or Goodfellas.

[Gregory]

Gangs of New York bored me. It felt like a miniseries squished into a film.

The Aviator is just the kind of period biography I enjoy.

[Fourthman]

Gangs of New York bored me. It felt like a miniseries squished into a film.

The Aviator is just the kind of period biography I enjoy.

I felt Gangs was a like a musical with all the numbers edited out.

[PatrickA]

Shutter Island's ending gets me every time. It's a film you shouldn't be watching for the twists and turns. It's working on a much deeper level than that, but you may miss it if you're just looking at the facade of it all. DiCaprio's performance in the film is sublime and utterly heartbreaking. But the ending, sitting there with Ruffalo (who is also fantastic in the flick) and there's a subtle action Leo does that chills me to the bone every time. This mixed with one of the best "found" soundtracks in recent years, I can't help but love it.

I agree with this completely.

And it is even more surprising because (spoiler from the book)
It is a different ending than the novel. In the novel, he actually does revert back. The ending to the movie is so much better and DiCaprio is fantastic in it.

[Patch]

Originally Posted by MartyMeanStreets:
These things Patch mentions, they trouble me too. He makes some very good points and I have decided to consult and collaborate with him on my next project, Who Da Man? His extensive knowledge of film and, of course, his very manliness make him a natural choice. -- M.S.

Hey, Marty-- you da man.

[SMACK!]

It's not nearly as bad as people make it. It's a weak symbol/metaphor, sure, but people (like, sorry but you brought it up dude, Fake Pat) think it obviously destroys the film, which it doesn't. If you're going to have problems with The Departed, at least call out Nicholson's engaging yet incredibly inconsistent performance.
I just watched Infernal Affairs for the first time since I saw it years ago. It was actually on TCM of all places. And yeah, it's a good movie, no doubt, but Departed is a GREAT movie.

Everything about Scorsese's is better. The music is better, the pacing is better, the overall acting of most of the cast is better, (Nicholson isn't that bad) and the characterization is much much better. There's really no characterization beyond very broad strokes in Infernal Affairs. It's just a straight forward action movie, whereas the Departed transcends the genre.

And I stand by my original assessment of the score derailing Infernal Affairs. It's just so Asian pop cheesy.

[Black Roman]

I still find the Departed to be a vastly overrated film, but hey, that's me. It's still better than the rest of his 00's work though.