Best Scorsese movie: Taxi Driver, Goodfellas or The Departed?

We discuss the merits of three of Martin Scorsese's most popular films. The Departed, Goodfellas or Taxi Driver: which is the best Scorsese movie? You can also choose other films of his.

Martin Scorsese is one of the most critically acclaimed and influential directors in modern film. Martin Charles Scorsese was born in 1942 in New York into an Italian-American family. His childhood in Little Italy served as inspiration for many of his films, which often address topics such as Italian-American organised crime and gang life. Martin Scorsese has one of the most brilliant careers in the US film industry and has often been compared to the other genius of mobster films, Francis Ford Coppola. Scorsese has demonstrated his talent not only as a director but also as a screenwriter, producer and actor. His films have won him and his actors numerous international awards. Although Scorsese is among the most nominated directors in the history of the Academy Awards (12 nominations overall in different categories), he has only won an Oscar for his film The Departed in 2006. This film won four Oscars (including Best Picture and Director). However, many think this was not Scoresese's best film and that he should have probably won the Oscar of other movies. Here, we are pitting The Departed against two of his most popular earlier films: Taxi Driver (1976) and Goodfellas (1990). Let's decide what is the best Scorsese movie.

Best Scorsese movies

• The Departed was awarded the Best Picture Oscar in 2007 and is the remake of the 2002 Hong Kong movie Infernal affairs. It tells the story of two Boston Irish young men on both sides of the law. Matt Damon plays the role of Colin Sullivan - for some considered the best role of his career - who becomes the protege of the town's biggest gangster Frank Costello, played by Jack Nicholson. Over the years Costello grooms him to become a mole inside the State Police. Leonardo DiCaprio plays policeman William Costigan, recruited to go into deep cover in Costello's gang. Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin play other supporting roles.
• Goodfellas is considered one of the best mobster movies ever. It tells the story of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), a petty criminal who after being involved in a robbery with the gagsters Jimmy Conway (Robert de Niro) and Tommy De Vito (Joe Pesci) grows up in the Mob and enjoy a life of money, luxury, but also horror and drug addiction. The film is very engaging and has several iconic dialogues and violent scenes. It captures the rise and downfall of these gangsters providing a nuanced angle on the world of American organized crime.
• Taxi Driver is a 1976 American classic, considered by critics, film-makers and the audience as one of the greatest films of all time. The film is set in New York following the Vietnam war. It stars Robert De Niro and features Jodie Foster and Harvey Keitel. The movie won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Festival. The films tells the story of Vietnam veteran and ex-marine Travis Bickle (played by De Niro). Bickle suffers from insomnia and takes a job as a taxi driver.

There are many other Martin Scorsese's movies which could be also arguably considered his best opus. This is a list with some of the best Scorsese films which demonstrate the he is not only a director of mobster movies:

• The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
• Hugo (2011)
• Shutter Island (2010)
• The Aviator (2004)
• Gangs of New York (2002)
• Casino (1995)
• The Age of the Innocence (1993)
• The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
• The Color of Money (1986)
• Raging Bull (1980)
• Mean Streets (1973)

Which is in your opinion the best scorsese film? What about his non mobsters movies, are they so good?

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