Personally, I think that Scorsese is the greatest living film-maker. I love most of his work, but I have to disagree upon considering "The Age of Innocence" his finest film, since it looked to me like a XIX Century version of "Barry Lyndon" with no irony in it. You observation about Robert De Niro is absolutely true! I thought the same things myself! (Did I ever told you that my hometown is about 30 miles far from the hometown of De Niro's great grandparents?)
Thank you, Umberto, for your observations on Scorsese. For me, he is the one great living American filmmaker, The Age of Innocence his masterpiece so far, with Goodfellas close behind. Speaking of ethnicity as we were, it is interesting to me that his "hero" in Goodfellas is Irish and in Casino Jewish, but both are played by Italian-American actors.
Martin Scorsese is reputed a 'big' everywhere, no matter the culture (except for Tibet, I guess). Personally, I think that Italian people nowadays see him simply as a great film-maker (or an exceptional entertainer, in some cases), without feeling no harm for the typical references to the hostile environment of Little Italy and the gangsters, etc. This is probably due to the fact that we are aware that films like "Mean Streets", "Raging Bull" or "Goodfellas" are referred to a certain part of the Italian-American minority that was having hard times in a multi-cultural confederation like the US. Given the relative cultural distance from this ethnical minority, as you have correctly specified before - we just enjoy this films like great examples of story-telling and nothing more. [Please, feel free to asking me other questions if you feel that my answer was not exhaustive.] ;)
Since there is obviously a difference between Italian-American and Italian, I am interested in how the work of an artist like Scorsese is accepted in Italy and in how his work is perceived by you, Umberto. Only a few of the movies on your list deal with Italian-Americans (a group I was married into for many years), so it is clear that there is more than ethnicity in his pictures that appeals to you. I know this is a tall order, but I would appreciate any thought you have on this. Bob
