The actor Martin Scorsese said will “astonish us forever”
New Hollywood genius Martin Scorsese is a towering figure in the world of cinema. Although he has been relentlessly criticised by Marvel fans for his comments on superhero movies, nobody can deny that Scorsese’s extensive knowledge of cinematic history and his mastery of the cinematic medium are something to be revered. While known for his work in the crime movie genre, there is one more significant overriding theme that presides over the majority of his filmography.
Although not often attributed to the director, Scorsese is obsessed with the idea of the American dream and, indeed, human fantasies in general, with most of his movies following this train of thought. His early Palme d’Or winner, Taxi Driver, concerned itself with a fragile war veteran whose mind mixes fantasy and reality, while the beloved 1990s gangster flick Goodfellas is all about the pursuit of the American dream.
This obsession with human fantasy can be traced through much of his other work, too, from such early successes as The King of Comedy all the way through to Bringing out the Dead, Gangs of New York and Hugo. While some of his most recent works have been more rooted in reality, his last film to delve into the American dream was The Wolf of Wall Street, an odyssey of contemporary capitalism that existed in some sort of saturated fantasy hellscape where dollars were exponentially more cherished than morality.
Certainly one of his most beloved modern films, The Wolf of Wall Street is a capitalist trip into debauchery following the life of Jordan Belfort, who became a rich stockbroker only to fall for a life of corruption and crime. Recruiting the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Matthew McConaughey to star in the movie, the movie has since become one of the most defining cinematic successes of the 21st century.
While reflecting on his experiences with Scorsese, DiCaprio said: “As a young actor standing beside him during the creative process of making a movie, I discovered that just like a painting, a sculpture, music or theatre, film was just as essential, relevant, as a matter of fact, the most integral art form of our time. I felt I could truly own the term artist by working alongside him”.
Scorsese also reciprocated and praised his entire cast, with special emphasis on one particular member who dazzled him, to his utter surprise. It was none other than Margot Robbie, DiCaprio’s co-star who featured in The Wolf of Wall Street as his wife. Scorsese compared Robbie to some of the all-time greats, insisting that she deserves to be mentioned alongside the likes of Joan Crawford and Carole Lombard.
The filmmaker told Time: “Like no one else—that’s what Margot Robbie’s like. You’re asked this question a lot about actors—’What’s she like?’—and I’ve never been able to give an answer I’m happy with. With Margot, you can recall some classic precedents: the comedic genius of Carole Lombard, for her all-bets-off feistiness; Joan Crawford, for her grounded, hardscrabble toughness; Ida Lupino, for her emotional daring”.
Continuing, the director added: “Margot has all this in addition to a unique audacity that surprises and challenges and just burns like a brand into every character she plays. She clinched her part in The Wolf of Wall Street during our first meeting—by hauling off and giving Leonardo DiCaprio a thunderclap of a slap on the face, an improvisation that stunned us all”.
Even after having sung such high praise, Scorsese wasn’t satisfied and felt that the actress deserved much more credit. He declared that his comments were criminally inadequate: “This is not a complete answer to the perennial question, but it’s a start. Margot is stunning in all she is and all she does, and she will astonish us forever”.
