“Mr. Scorsese” Is a Joy to Watch (Unless You’re Martin Scorsese)
Director Rebecca Miller spoke with GQ about crafting a portrait that captures one of cinema’s greatest living artists. The Apple TV documentary miniseries “Scorsese” feels almost miraculous in its depth and candor.
An All-Star Cast of Collaborators
Miller assembled a striking lineup from across Martin Scorsese’s storied career: Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis (Miller’s husband), Robbie Robertson, longtime editor Thelma Schoonmaker, and Margot Robbie. The only notable absence is Joe Pesci, who chose not to join.
The Man Behind the Camera
Scorsese himself participated extensively, sitting for nearly 20 hours of interviews. In these sessions, he spoke with rare honesty about his battles with addiction in the 1980s, his crises of faith, early entanglements with the mob, evolving relationships with his daughters, and his wife Helen Morris’ struggle with Parkinson’s disease.
A Journey Through Cinema
The series doubles as an energetic look behind some of Scorsese’s most iconic works, from GoodFellas and The Wolf of Wall Street to Raging Bull. It stands as both intimate biography and vivid film history lesson.
Rebecca Miller: “To spend such a long time talking to this artist — it’s like you’re learning about his life, but also about film and all the works that shaped him. It almost felt like being back in graduate school.”
Author’s Summary: Rebecca Miller’s “Scorsese” blends deep reflection and cinematic nostalgia into a rare, illuminating portrait of a master still hungry to create.