THE POPCORN REEL EDITOR'S DESK - a weekly word about the movies
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MARTIN SCORSESE: WILL THE ACADEMY PLEASE GIVE THIS MAN AN OSCAR?
Monday, September 18, 2006


                                                                                                            
 

One of the world's greatest directors, Martin Scorsese has made some of the most powerful and passionate films, motion pictures indelible on the conscience of millions the world over.
For years his knowledge of film and use of terrific actors has constantly kept the film world on its collective edge with both curiosity and admiration.  From the 1970's and for 25 years after that, Robert De Niro featured prominently in his films ("King of Comedy", "New York, New York", "Taxi Driver", "GoodFellas", "Cape Fear", and "Casino").  Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Sharon Stone, Jodie Foster, Samuel L. Jackson, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Liza Minnelli and so many others have starred in or appeared in his films.  Year after year however, in the United States, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences ("AMPAS") seem to have shied away from rewarding his work (specifically for best director or best picture) with the golden statuette. 

True, Mr. Scorsese is not a Hollywood entity -- he like Woody Allen stays away from the West Coast tinseltown limelight.  His work on film however, speaks for itself, and speaks loudly.

Nominated for "GoodFellas", "Gangs of New York", "The Aviator" among other films (for best director and best picture), Scorsese has come up empty-handed each time.  Maybe the forthcoming "The Departed" (a film based on the Hong Kong film trilogy "Infernal Affairs") will finally change all of that.  The film, which PopcornReel.com will spotlight over the next few days, is full of star actors, some of whom have the Hollywood cache to lobby hard for Mr. Scorsese as well as for the film itself.  Jack Nicholson, who has the nickname "Hollywood Jack" is one of the film's many stars, and well-liked and respected in the industry.  Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon (Oscar-winner for "Good Will Hunting), Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Mark Wahlberg and others including Ray Winstone, star in the film, which opens on October 6.

Hopefully for such a great film mind, the Academy (even before the nominations for this year's films are unveiled in February 2007), will think about presenting Mr. Scorsese the Oscar he so richly deserves.                                                                                                                       

Sincerely,
 

Omar P.L. Moore
Editor
The Popcorn Reel
www.popcornreel.com