Scorsese gets his Oscar

Unless you have been living in a bubble for the past week you won’t have failed to notice the usual furore surrounding the film industries biggest night of the year.

It is hardly surprising that the Oscars create such a buzz. For the burgeoning readership of Heat magazine the Oscars offers a chance to watch ‘stars’ flaunt around, possibly embarrassing themselves, without the refuge of their blacked out Escalade to escape from the media’s all seeing eye. For others – myself included – its a welcome break from Gillian McKeith’s ‘You are fat, stop eating’ and the like; whilst also providing the opportunity to watch the world’s super egos squirm in front of the camera, while they smile and begrudgingly applaud their gushing rivals woeful acceptance speech.

This amiable pretence is undeniably the ultimate acting test that any Oscar nominee can face, and there is one man in particular who is more rehearsed in the art than anyone else. Fortunately, however, Martin Scorsese could leave his – much practiced – fake smile and clapping routine at home this weekend, as he finally grasped the one award that has eluded him for his entire career. His long awaited Academy Award for Best Director.

Throughout the history of the ceremony, the Academy Awards panel have frequently lavished praise on, retrospectively, average offerings, whilst allowing many talented individuals to leave empty handed. Scorsese, of course, has become the embodiment of this injustice, with many brilliant and enduring films slipping through the Oscar net.

How ironic then, that his long awaited award for Best Director wasn’t for a project contrived from passion, but a Hong Kong remake aimed at the mass audience. Another Oscar winning film destined to be forgotten? Unlikely. The Departed is after all a great film, but clearly overshadowed by the brilliance of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull.

With hindsight, these are of course the films that should have won him Oscars. But before we begin damning the academy to hell for not recognising Scorsese’s brilliance until now, let us not forget that the Academy Awards team have also been responsible for ruining the careers of many talented individuals with their treacherous awards. Orson Welles received Best Director for his masterpiece Citizen Kane at only 26, but despite his blossoming potential he ultimately perished in the Hollywood spotlight. So it could be conceived that were it not for his unappreciated talent, Scorsese may never have had the desire and drive to create the remarkable catalogue of films we now know and love?

Perhaps, akin to Nortradamus, the Oscars panel were insightful enough to recognize that Scorsese’s plight would fuel his creativity and ultimately lead to his unparalleled film directing success. Now, at the age of 64, they have finally allowed him to retire with his long awaited Academy Award.

Believe what you will, ultimately it isn’t important. Martin Scorsese has finally been honoured with the praise he deserves, and whilst his film making years may be drawing to a close, his talent lives on in his many outstanding contributions to the industry.

Martin Scorsese’s top 5 unquestionable classics

1. Raging Bull
2. Taxi Driver
3. Mean Streets
4. Goodfellas
5. Casino

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