Martin Scorsese: All the Films: The Story Behind Every Movie, Episode, and Short by Oliver Bousquet, Arnaud Devillard, and Nicolas Schaller drops in bookstores on Tuesday, March 3rd, courtesy of Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. We here at Conskipper got an advance look at this massive and thorough examination of the works and process of one of the greatest directors of all time, and we are thoroughly impressed by the breadth of knowledge and supporting evidence and images contained within. Martin Scorsese All the Films asserts itself as the definitive book on the filmmaker, and an important addition to the bookshelves of fans and film schools alike.
As the title suggests, Martin Scorsese: All the Films is an examination of the entire career of Martin Scorsese. No stone is left unturned when it comes to even the smallest of projects, and the authors lovingly dedicate skillful attention and dedication to all of the director’s works. The book follows a clear format throughout, which makes it easy for the reader to digest the material in between readings. Through this format, the reader is given many opportunities to track Scorsese’s methods over the course of his different periods, and the authors also include beautiful pages of comparison shots over time. The images don’t just stop with stills from his movies; there are incredible behind-the-scenes moments captured on film that have never been seen before in any other publications.
There are some consistent segments throughout the book which are particularly enjoyable for readers. These include “Where’s Marty?”, a bit focused on identifying the directors cameos in his own films, “Jukebox”, an examination of a particular song in a movie, and “For Scorsese Addicts”, a section dedicated to various pieces of trivia related to a particular project. Through these additions, the reader ends up learning so much more about the films, the people who made them, and the life and times of the world in which they were made. It also keeps a friendly and informal tone going throughout the book in spite of the serious academic research which clearly went into its development. That’s what makes this book a good read for both a higher level film class and an informal book club amongst movie lovers.
While I couldn’t help but be most eager to read about my most beloved Scorsese films such as The King of Comedy, Taxi Driver, and Casino, I found myself deeply engaged in the chapters on other films like The Age of Innocence and Hugo as well. The authors do such a great job of revealing so much about each and every production that it causes the reader to go back and reexamine some projects which they may have initially overlooked. Throughout my reading of the book, I made a list for myself of films and shorts I want to revisit now that I know more about them and can see how they fit into the Scorsese’s overall filmography.
The book itself is generously sized and its pages display both text and images with clarity. It’s basically textbook-sized, which also supports the academic nature of the book. I like its sturdy hardcover format, and it somehow manages to not feel too heavy in the hands in spite of its size. The pages are matte finished and they feature pictures with quite a solid range of dynamic colors. Everything in this printing looks and feels like a top tier production. It’s the kind of book readers will want to have out on a coffee table to be able to thumb through or reference on a movie night.
If you are a fan of cinema, Martin Scorsese is essential learning. And there’s no better way to get the entire story than by reading Martin Scorsese: All the Films. At just over 500 pages, there’s something in this book for everyone who wants to know more about some of the most important films of our time and the man who made them.