Taxi Driver (1976) - Martin Scorsese

A good Scorsese film, but got a little confusing and Robert De Niro doesn't shine as much as he usually does. Sadly.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Raging Bull (1980) - Martin Scorsese

This is the finest boxing film I have ever had the good fortune of watching, ever. Joe Pesci: perfect! Robert De Niro: fantastic! All the fight scenes in the ring look fake as anything, but the one between the two LaMotta brothers is really realistic; is this on purpose? I think yes: it's Scorsese's way of showing that this is the one that matters. The bouts are done with no ulterior motive other than selfish. The fights between two brothers is unplanned, and therefore the most important.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Goodfellas (1990) - Martin Scorsese

Everyone's favourite Ray Liotta film. Even if it is Ray Liotta's film, Joe Pesci steals the show as the lovable psychopath Tommy 'How'm I funny?' DeVito, even bagging him an Oscar for his work. Purely a brilliant film, and the ending is superb; it really makes you question how you feel about the protagonist, who Ray Liotta does play down to a tee. Scorsese has done it again.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Shutter Island (2010) - Martin Scorsese

Aside from his short, The Big Shave (1968), I think this may be the first Scorsese film I have ever watched. I know: bad film student, but a brilliant movie to introduce me to Scorsese's work. It was stunning, and the twists and turns were perfectly done by Scorsese in his own mise en scene style. I look forward to more of the same, the dramatic mix up of style and auteurship when I watch his others.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★