Rank/thoughts one these hidden gems from Scorsese?

Can't stay off my keyboards for 30 seconds without being tempted.  Fuck.

And I agree with Tommen.  These are not as popular because they aren't really that great.


1. Mean Streets - Definitely the best film on this list.  Even though it's good in different ways than Taxi Driver or Raging Bull is.  It's like an ode.  Inspired from Scorsese's youth growing up, I would imagine... as much as Goodfellas was part of his deep sensibilities.  You can tell why Wong Kar-wai was highly influenced by this, Chungking Express is like Mean Streets, but probably even better examples of that from his filmography alone.  8, (more like a 7.75, I think an 8 is rather generous.)

2. Cape Fear - I know everyone shits pieces of brown on it, but I really liked it.  I put this in his top 10, but I guess most people's top 10 from him consists of a couple of fillers.  Call it that if you want.  This certainly doesn't feel like it distinguishes itself from the common commercial violent thrillers of that era.  And it... doesn't really.  But still, it's a lot of fun, if the pulpy kind of fun.  I dig the cast.... even Lange and Lewis (who was even nominated), give me Nolte and DeNiro going at it anyday.  7.5

3. The King of Comedy - Good... that's it.  Some 70isms and some 80isms.  Not sure how this became a mini-classic, it doesn't hold up at all for me.  I'm not interested in the old days of late night talk shows.  But my subjectivity aside, this is a very ordinary film, some dated standards of celebrity idolatry.  Starting to think some people just call everything Scorsese does good.  Sorry, for who I may piss off , the only thing I got out of this was decent enjoyment, pretty weak satire.  7

4. Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore - 70isms to the max. Essentially it's a mom and kid story which non surprisingly stars Ellen Burstyn, "Mrs. Mom" of the 70s. It's enjoyable enough, but it's essentially an early short film given full-feature length. Submit to the student section.  7

5. After Hours - Entertaining, subtle pulp.  Not blatant pulp by any means, but there's a hint of it.  It doesn't really add up to much but this guy gaily bar-hopping at night.  Well.. I guess he's diner-hopping but still.  It's way too fluffy and insignificant, and Scorsese's use of cutesy swing music is starting to get annoying.  His cutesy swing sensibilities is the antithesis of heavy and meaningful shit here.  Not all films have to be deep, but doesn't seem like there's a point here for me. 7 (more like a 6.5 I guess)

6. The Color of Money - Hollywood has always been fond of Newman.  There's gonna be some attempts to capture the 60s glory days of Newman in any decade, this was simply the 80s version.  A forgettable version, however.  6

I think "Bringing Out the Dead" deserved a mention here.

Well, there are only 4 Scorsese films I would call "failures" - as in I'd say they are not worth seeing - Cape Fear, Casino, NY, NY and GONY. The last 2 are honorable failures to me - I think they have good intentions that sort got away from him and overran him.

I thought The Aviator is impeccably made, the very best thing about The Departed is the energy he brings to it and Shutter Island is a trick film, but is a pretty entertaining one time watch. So I feel he's in control of all of the things happening there and that's the definitive attribute when I think of him, he stays on point.

Coppola and Scorsese were very similar in the first half of the 90s - each made a horror film (remakes, both), each made a gangster movie (2 in Scorsese's case), each was accused of ripping themselves off, becoming boring, cashing in etc. Casino is his Godfather III - although Casino to me is a far lesser film, I know that's arguable to say the least, but .........

Scorsese in that early part of the 90s was more commercially successful than he'd ever been in his career - and I think he had problems adjusting to that and what it meant for him. The film he made in-between those two was a work he loved (and a film I like) - The Age of Innocence - and could actually be read as a story about Scorsese himself - he's Newland Archer in a lot of ways - caught between two worlds.

After Hours - Funny and kinda creepy. Features one of my favorite performances ever from Griffin Dunne.

The King of Comedy - Hilarious and prescient

Mean Streets - The movie that more or less made Robert De Niro a star. Little rough around the edges but still damn good.

Cape Fear - Fuck the haters. I thought this was a blast

The Color of Money - Kinda weird that this is the movie that finally got Paul Newman his Oscar, but it's fine I guess.

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore - I haven't really warmed up to this one yet. Burstyn is great, but something about it keeps me at arms length.

uhhh where's The Age of Innocence

After Hours - Hilarious brilliant twisted dark comedy. I enjoy this so much. - 10

The King of Comedy - Great look at a compulsive obsessive, and his attempts to become famous. Possibly DeNiro's best performance, Lewis is also fantastic as well - 9.5 / 10

Mean Streets - Good crime mob movie that might be the "ultimate Scorsese" film in some ways. I do think he mastered this sort of concept later however. - 8

Alice Doesn't Live Anymore - Decent depressing downbeat drama. - 7.5 / 10

The Color of Money - Falls short of The Hustler, but it's a good follow-up to that film. - 7.5 / 10

Cape Fear - I really enjoy this. DeNiro and Nolte are both really good, and there's some legit exciting moment. Paycheck Scorsese, but it works. Wouldn't call it a hidden gem however, up until The Departed it was Scorsese's most successful film. - 7 / 10

In fact I'd argue that most of these films aren't "hidden" gems, so much as they're not talked about as much as his essential films.