This is one I'll be skipping. Along with "Whatever Works." Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese are very low down on my list of good directors. Actually, they're not on my good director list. They're on my bad director list.

"This is one I’ll be skipping. Along with “Whatever Works.” Woody Allen and Martin Scorese are very low down on my list of good directors. Actually, they’re not on my good director list. They’re on my bad director list."

Scorsese's last three movies were nominated for best picture.

>>Scorsese’s last three movies were nominated for best picture.

Let's look a little closer shall we.

GoNY – in which Harvey Weinstein's marketing muscle bludgeoned voters into giving this total disaster of a movie a whopping 13 nominations. But come the night – oh dear, oh dear, oh dear – precisely 0 wins.

The Aviator – same lavish marketing from Harvey, result, 11 noms. Come the night just one big category win for Blanchett in Supporting Actress & four forgettable tech wins. Roundly dismissed by voters for Best Picture & Director in favor of the vastly superior Million Dollar Baby.

The Departed – finally, a win for 'Marty' & his picture but there's a catch. This is a film that nobody, least of all the voters, regard as a masterpiece. But they feel it's time he was finally acknowledged even if it is for such a sub-standard piece of work as this. Plus, with one towering exception, none of the other nominees amount to much. That exception? Well, Eastwood won just a couple of years ago, so …

As for Shutter Island I really, sincerely hope it rocks but the truth is Scorsese's movies have for many years now been deeply mediocre. I know, I know, it feels almost blasphemous to say doesn't it! Unfortunately he's become a very average filmmaker & I really hope this Oscar-pandering obsession of his (& don't anybody argue with this. GoNY & The Aviator were as blatantly Oscar-bait as Oscar-bait can be. They absolutely reeked of it).

We'll see if Shutter Island represents any kind of improvement for him.

What you're forgetting with the three projects you mentioned is that they are passion projects. Gangs of New York was in the work for at least 10 years if I recall. Doubt he held out THAT long just waiting for Oscars. He's the most passionate filmmaker working today. PERIOD. Shutter Island looks to be great.

Oh…and Departed had the best ensemble in years. It's true Scorsese…a true masterpiece.

Sasha: I could argue for days as to why Million Dollar Baby is no better than The Aviator and I could take the other argument, too. The fact is, both are mediocre at best. I mostly have an issue with your description of it as being "roundly dismissed" as it did actually walk away with one more award than Million Dollar Baby did, despite losing Picture and Director (though it roundly defeated Baby for the Picture prizes at BAFTA, the Globes and the PGAs).

Also, I think your arguments against Scorsese could be altered very little and be just as applicable to Eastwood.

I think James is wrong, too, though. I don't think The Departed is a masterpiece, though I'd agree it's pure Scorsese, because pure Scorsese is always bulging at the seams, isn't it? You can always see the shadow of a what-could-have-been-so-bad movie.

Sarah- I find saying that 'nobody likes the Departed they're just lying because it's Scorsese!' is a very ignorant, bandwagon mentality. The Aviator and Gangs of New York did not win because they were, although good films, not worthy of the award; the Academy wanted to give Scorsese an Academy Award for a film that deserves it.

The Departed is precisely that. Witty, electric, superbly acted, philosophical and thought-provoking, emotionally riveting; this is what Scorsese is all about. The only reason why it gets a lot of backlash is because it is a remake. That's it. I can understand why you would dislike it, but seriously, speak for yourself.

I don't know, I thought Million Dollar Baby deserved to win in 2004. If not that, then my vote would have been for Sideways. Both were terrific.

Anyways, I would like to see Shutter Island. Hopefully it's good.

The poster looks like a poster for a horror movie.

Whoever says that scorsese movies are overrated, or not good they are just fools.Why?
because they don't know nothing.The departed is a masterpiece.Why?Just watch it.

Brad to Nick: Come on Nick, calling people names, using a double negative and not supplying any actual content doesn't really support an argument to the contrary. On top of that… "masterpiece"? I love Scorsese, but arguments such as this actually hurt your opinion.

I think the issue should be less on Scorsese's ability to make-or-break the movie, and more on other factors. Personally, I'm a fan of Dennis Lehane and feel that the Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone adaptations are wonderful. On the other hand, Lehane's Shutter Island is not on par with his other novels; with the novel as it's source material, I feel the movie's going to let us down.

@Jeff: That said, I'm still going to be there opening weekend.

Jeff: obviously you have read the book I was curious as to what problems you (or anyone else familiar with the novel) foresee in the transition from page to screen. (I have not read it but from the description it seems ripe for the screen as the story seems very visual… i.e. man hunt in a hurricane…)

As far as Martin Scorsese's talent is concerned I think it's pretty high on the list of unquestionable filmmakers. Not so much his recent work (even though Gangs, Aviator, and The Departed to me are fantastic) but he has a legacy in the business of being great. I don’t believe awards make you more than you are, often times the most deserving film in any given year won’t win the big prize because at then end of the day it’s all opinion. Take a gander at "Marty's" IMDB page and you'll see why having him (and Woody Allen for that matter) on a "worst directors list" is preposterous, even if you are not a fan of his recent filmography, which I don’t have a hard time picturing.

In response to JM's comment: so Scorsese in on your "Bad Directors" list, eh? Well, guess what? You're on my "Guys With Bad Taste In Directors" list.

Hey everyone look how cool JM is!!! He hates Scorsese. Wow…going against the grain, JM! You are sooo real. You are the type of "fan" who will like only what is not popular and then hate it when it becomes popular. In other words…no original thoughts or tastes. Must be sad being you.

why are they promoting it as teen slasher?

Martin Scorsese is my favorite director because you never know what he is going to do next. He started off stuck in mob crime films, which were all great and almost perfect movies, and then he was able to do Age of Innocence, Gangs of New York, The Aviator (about a filmmaker none-the-less, striving for excellence), The Departed and now Shutter Island. He just has a passion for filmmaking that goes beyond wanting to win awards, get loads of money or seek approval from the people who are skeptical of him. He makes films because he wants to make them. He makes them in a way that is unique. He doesn't want to be pidgeon-holed or get too comfortable. A lot of directors could use his ethics.

As for the poster, it is obviously early artwork only meant to serve as a placeholder. This probably wasn't even meant to be printed yet but was used to get some anticipation going. The synopsis alone is enough for me to sign on for this movie. To know that it is in Scorsese's hands only makes it that much better. I will see this movie right when it comes out.

i never heard of someone who thinks scorsese is one of the worst directors.
wtf is wrong with u??? did u even undersatnd those movies? have u watched closely to the little details all over them that only a genius such as scorsese could pull them up??
i truly believe scorsese is the best director ever to walk the earth. he deserved to win an oscar way earlier than he did. 1973 one of the best movies ever, mean streets wasnt even nominated even tough it was much better than the actual winner. 1976, taxi driver lost to rocky, well the academy really got it wrong this year didnt it??. 1980 raging bull, witch the FMI considers to be the 4th best movie of all time lost to a really mediocre ordinary people. 1990 the best movie of all time goodfellas lost to dancing with wolves, seriously wtf is wrog with these peole?? 1995 one of my favorite movies casino wasnt even nominated. 2002 scorses epic gangs of new york, a movie so well done and in wich the great daniel day lewis delivers a magnificent performance as bill the butcher didnt even won 1 award after being nominated for 10. 2004 the best picture was clearly "the aviator" but i think it lost to million dolar baby necause this movie was so sad and made so many people cry, still so unffair. i gess u know by now that im a big scorsese fan, ive watched all of his movies and he never dissapoints. i was so glad 2006 he finally got that award, he really deserved it, the departed is truly a masterpice. I ve waited now 3 years to see anotehr scorsese movie, so excited, definitelly shutter island is the movie i want to see the most this year
scorsese rocks!!!!!!!!!

I actually think Gangs of New York is a masterpiece. I am aware I am alone but whatever. I believe every single Scorsese film is at least 4 (usually 5) out of 5 stars (except for a few of his early works). He is still on top of his game. I believe Silence might be his next masterpiece.

If I was any more excited for Shutter Island I would throw up. I wish I could see this sooner. At least I have Tetro to hold me over.