Scorsese by Ebert (Hardcover)

by Roger Ebert (Author), Martin Scorsese (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Ebert, film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, is an unabashed fan of Scorsese, whom he considers the most gifted director of his generation. To prove it, he's compiled his reviews of every Scorsese film—beginning with I Call First in 1967 to his latest, Shine a Light. Along the way, Ebert pays special tribute to five masterpieces, including Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Mean Streets, which he calls one of the source points of modern movies. These three films in particular, Ebert argues, reflect Scorsese's ongoing preoccupation with sex and guilt, themes fueled by a Catholic upbringing and his childhood in New York City's Little Italy. Citing the director's strong collaboration with actor Robert De Niro and screenwriter Paul Schrader, Ebert says all three men seem fascinated by the lives of tortured, violent, guilt-ridden characters, usually men who cannot relate to women, such as Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver or Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull. Of special note are interviews with Scorsese over a 25-year period, in which the director candidly discusses his body of work. (Oct.)
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From Booklist
Ebert, indisputably America’s most prominent film critic, wrote the very first review of a movie by Scorsese, arguably the nation’s foremost director, when he praised I Call First (later renamed Who’s That Knocking at My Door?) after a 1967 festival screening. As Ebert continued to follow the young director’s career, the unlikely affinity of the critic from downstate Illinois for the filmmaker from Manhattan’s mean streets became evident. That connection is on display in this volume collecting Ebert’s contemporary reviews of all of Scorsese’s features as well as a half-dozen recent reconsiderations and 11 interviews conducted over the past four decades. Ebert lavishes expected praise on such acknowledged masterworks as Taxi Driver but evinces less enthusiasm over misfires like Kundun. As demonstrated by the essays in his Great Movies collections, five of which reappear here, Ebert is best writing about works that fully engage him. His enthusiasm and conviction are obvious here; accordingly, this is some of his best stuff. --Gordon Flagg

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 314 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226182029
• ISBN-13: 978-0226182025
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #363,405 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scorsese became one of the greatest Artists of the 20th... And Ebert knew it from the beginning, September 20, 2008

By	Jeff Fyke "Jeff" (Flint, MI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One thing Ebert shares with his subject is burning passion. Ebert has reviewed films for over 40 years while Scorsese has made films for that long. What has sustained them is a passionate love of movies. Ebert called it from the beginning and Scorsese fulfilled his early promise. From Mean Streets to Taxi Driver, from Raging Bull to Goodfellas, From Casino to The Aviator - Scorsese has forged brilliant cinema that will be an integral part of the foundation of 21st century film (in which he continues to participate himself).

This book is a testament to the skill of both of these avid film fans and shows that Roger Ebert is still a necessary man with much work yet to do.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Master's Work Examined by a Master Moviegoer, October 28, 2008

By	Brian Litton - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As much as Roger Ebert clearly loves the films of Scorsese, he is able to remain objective in his criticism. His writing is easy to read, like talking to a friend. He is able to highlight a theme through all of the films of Scorsese, as a true admirer of movies and their makers. For any fans of Roger Ebert and/or Martin Scorses, this book is wonderful.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good but padded..., November 11, 2008

By	Peter Barach "movie gourmet" (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book includes Ebert's reviews of Scorsese's films, more recent reconsiderations of some of the movies, and transcripts of interviews with Scorsese. All of this material is interesting, thoughtful and thought-provoking, and well written. However, the book has been padded with "introduction" chapters that tell you exactly what you'll find in the reviews and reconsiderations, sometimes using almost exactly the same words. This is unfortunate because in effect you will have already read what follows before you read it.

If you haven't seen all of Scorsese's movies, it might lead you to seek out the ones you haven't seen. If you have, it might lead you to follow in Ebert's footsteps and "reconsider" them by watching some of them again.