John Cassavetes on Martin Scorsese
by Francesco Eunchae: Martin Scorsese
John Cassavetes says making films is an obsession and very few people can put everything they have into it because they have other gods. But he thinks Marty has one God, that's films. He calls Mean Streets a magnificent film starring Bob De Niro and Harvey Keitel, describing it as beautifully done and sensitive. Cassavetes suggests viewers should see it twice, specifically noting the value of seeing it again two months later to realize how sensitive an artist Scorsese is. He characterizes Scorsese not just as a director but as a person who generates the energy behind everything accomplished in a film. Cassavetes posits that a director of Scorsese's stature effectively makes only one film. He identifies Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, and Alice as part and parcel of one film representing the way one man feels.
Transcript (en)
Making films is an obsession and very few people can put everything they have into it. They have other gods, but I think Marty has one god and that's film. Mean Streets is, I think, a magnificent film with Bob De Niro and Harvey Keitel. Beautifully done film and something that's so sensitive, so good, I think you miss it the first time as you see it. You're going to see it twice. You have to see it twice. You should see it again two months later to realize how sensitive an artist this man is. I don't think Marty is a director. He really is a person that generates the energy behind everything that is accomplished in a film. And I would think that a director of his stature only makes one film. so that who's knocking mean streets and taxi driver and Alice are all part and parcel of one film of the way one man feels.
