THE STORY – Follows the life and career of legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese.
THE CAST – Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Steven Spielberg, Brian De Palma, Margot Robbie, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cate Blanchett, Sharon Stone, Jodie Foster, Paul Schrader & Rebecca Miller
THE TEAM – Rebecca Miller (Showrunner & Director)
*This review is only of the first two episodes of the series*
As Martin Scorsese sits in his chair getting mic’d up, his eyes wander around the set. He immediately begins to playfully micromanage the crew around him, his mind naturally staying in director mode. These opening moments of Rebecca Miller’s “Mr. Scorsese” start the Apple TV documentary series on the perfect note. Told in five episodes, this expansive exploration of the celebrated filmmaker’s sixty-plus-year career, begins with his upbringing in Corona, Queens.
Miller spends much of the first episode exploring Scorsese’s childhood and the diverse personalities within his family, some of whom would later inspire characters in his films. Scorsese spares no detail about his upbringing in Corona and Little Italy, helping Miller craft a vivid portrait of the New York of his youth. As she traces his past, Miller not only illuminates the experiences that shaped Scorsese as an artist, but also captures a version of New York that feels like a distant memory of a city long gone.
What gives “Mr. Scorsese” its authenticity compared to other documentaries about famous artists is Miller’s approach. Rather than frontloading the series with celebrity testimonials about Scorsese’s career, she prioritizes interviews with childhood friends and early NYU peers, some of whom became longtime collaborators. These conversations are interwoven with found footage from each era of his life, along with home videos and family photos. Miller even animates Scorsese’s childhood drawings, including his storyboard for “The Eternal City,” a Roman epic he conceived at age eleven, revealing early glimpses of the visionary filmmaker he would become.
While “Mr. Scorsese” follows a familiar biographical structure, Miller manages to infuse it with moments of playful flair that give the material warmth and personality. A standout example is the introduction of Robert De Niro, not only as a defining presence in Scorsese’s life but also as an onscreen interview subject. Other notable voices such as Steven Spielberg, Thelma Schoonmaker, and Leonardo DiCaprio appear in the first two episodes, with more expected in the rest of the series.
For someone already well-versed in Scorsese’s life, “Mr. Scorsese” may not offer many surprises. Stories like his youthful desire to become a priest or his conversation with John Cassavetes after the failure of “Boxcar Bertha” are familiar to longtime fans. Yet, despite retreading well-known territory, the documentary is impeccably crafted and deeply engaging. It serves as the perfect entry point for young cinephiles discovering Scorsese’s legacy for the first time.
Miller also reveals how Scorsese’s frustrations and ambitions shaped specific creative choices in films like “Taxi Driver” and beyond. Whether she ultimately uncovers a deeper emotional current remains to be seen, but her portrayal of Scorsese as both a relentless artist and a man from Queens is compelling. For those of us who could listen to Scorsese tell his stories endlessly, every moment feels like time well spent.
Miller’s affection for her subject mirrors the audience’s reverence, capturing the joy of simply sitting before a living monument of cinema. “Mr. Scorsese” could run for five episodes or twenty, and it would still be captivating. Either way, Miller gives viewers exactly what they came for: a rich, affectionate portrait of one of the greatest filmmakers who ever lived, and that’s more than enough.
THE GOOD – A more than thorough examination of one our all time great filmmakers, filled with a wide variety of testimonials featuring those closest to Scorsese’s childhood to some of his greatest collaborators.
THE BAD – For some there may be nothing noteworthy due to much of Scorsese’s life being known to many who are already fans of his work, yet it’s still charming to listen to all over again.
THE EMMY PROSPECTS – Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series
THE FINAL SCORE – 7/10
