Martin Scorsese
Interview By: Michael Dance
MichaelDance@TheCinemaSource.com
For many people, Martin Scorsese is the best living film director in the world. There was his legendary '70s streak of classic films, like Mean Streets and Taxi Driver, which culminated in 1980's Raging Bull, sure. But unlike many of his other contemporaries, he just kept making acclaimed films: The Color of Money. The Last Temptation of Christ. Goodfellas.
His past three dramatic films - Gangs of New York, The Aviator, and The Departed - have all been nominated for Best Picture and Best Director, with The Departed finally taking home both prizes.
Now, once again, Scorsese has churned out an exciting, beautiful film filled to the brim with Rolling Stones songs. The difference this time, though, is that it's an actual Rolling Stones concert film: Shine a Light, in theaters on April 4th. Luckily, we had a chance to listen to Scorsese's trademark mile-a-minute dialogue riffs at a press conference for the film.
"Ha, well, that's an interesting question," he begins when asked why the Rolling Stones have played such a big part in his films. "The music deals with, at times – it reminds me of when I went to see The Threepenny Opera, back in 1959, 1960 at the Theater de Lys, and how the music affected me, and what that was saying, what that play said, and the lyrics. The lyrics were so important to me in that particular play. And I grew up in an area that was, in a sense, like The Threepenny Opera [as in, a very working class area]. And I think at times the Rolling Stones music had the similar effect on me: it dealt with aspects of the life that I was growing up with around me, or that I associated with or saw, or was experiencing and trying to make sense of. And so it was tougher, it had an edge, it was beautiful and honest, and brutal at times, and powerful. And it has always stayed with me, and has become a well of inspiration to this day."
Ironically, the Stones don't play the one song in Shine a Light that Scorsese has used time and time again. "Mick said at one point...he said, 'I want you to know, Shine a Light is the only film you've made that 'Gimme Shelter' is not played in.'" He laughs heartily. "When I use 'Gimme Shelter' in a film – it's just as apropos of the world we're living in today, 'Gimme Shelter' – when I use it in a film, I don't remember that I've used it before. I say, 'Well let's use that one,' and they'll say 'Well Marty, you've used it before,' and I say, 'Well that's all right.' I keep forgetting, you know? But it's something that, well, the music has been very important to me over these years."
It's almost, he says, in his DNA. For
