The Martin Scorsese movie that inspired a young Austin Butler
Although the media often switches its attention from one member of the next generation of Hollywood stars to the next, one actor who has maintained his place in the limelight is Austin Butler. Having previously collaborated with supremely talented filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, Butler experienced his biggest career success yet with Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, where he played the titular popular culture icon to great acclaim.
Racking up several prestigious nominations for the role, Butler received a Golden Globe as well as a Bafta for his impressive performance. Elvis definitely opened a lot of doors for the American actor, who is set to star in Denis Villeneuve’s highly anticipated sequel to Dune. Featuring alongside the likes of Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, Christopher Walken, Javier Bardem and many others, Butler’s career is undoubtedly on a meteoric rise.
During a conversation with A.Frame, the Elvis star opened up about some of the formative cinematic experiences of his life. The one movie that left an indelible mark on his young mind was directed by none other than the legendary Martin Scorsese. Although many young film fans find themselves drawn to Taxi Driver, it was Scorsese’s 1980 Raging Bull that made Butler realise the enormous storytelling potential of the cinematic medium.
When asked to recall the details of the screening, Butler said: “I went with my father when I was very young. We went to the Egyptian Theater, and that’s the first time that I saw it — on the big screen. It’s that collaboration between young De Niro and Scorsese. It’s just incomparable the amount of talent and inspiration that I’ve felt from those films, and particularly with Raging Bull, because the dedication that he had to that part is so endlessly inspiring to me.”
The actor added: “The freedom that I see when I watch him, the subtlety that he can have, and then, moments of explosion. And it’s so incredibly dynamic. I cannot take my eyes off of him. Today, we may take it for granted more, but it’s really the first of its kind where they pause filming, and he gains that weight. So, even the physical investment that he had in that film is really inspiring. And it’s just beautifully shot. I love the music. I love the black-and-white…”
Scorsese and Robert De Niro have collaborated on multiple occasions, including his latest feature, Killers of the Flower Moon. However, there is something special about Raging Bull that brings out the best in both of them. De Niro’s vulnerable rendition of Jake LaMotta is perfectly elevated by Scorsese’s direction, constructing a remarkably complex portrait of a flawed champion.
Watch the trailer below.
