
Martin Scorsese
The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work
Ian Nathan(Author)
White Lion Publishing
Published on 6. November 2025
Book
Hardback
176 pages
978-1-83600-643-5 (ISBN)
Description
Discover the genius of Martin Scorsese - one of cinema's greatest storytellers.
For over 50 years, Martin Scorsese has been one of cinema's most celebrated directors. From a Catholic kid in Manhattan to a legendary filmmaker, he's shaped Hollywood with masterpieces such as Taxi Driver, Goodfellas and The Irishman.
But what makes a Scorsese film unique? His stories explore power, morality, and human nature, blending raw emotion with intellectual depth. Whether reinventing noir, musicals or crime dramas, his work captures the pulse of America and the Italian-American experience.
This book dives into all 26 of his films, breaking down his signature themes, iconic collaborations with Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, and his place in film history. A true movie fanatic and preservationist, Scorsese continues to push boundaries - proving that cinema isn't just entertainment, it's an art form.
For over 50 years, Martin Scorsese has been one of cinema's most celebrated directors. From a Catholic kid in Manhattan to a legendary filmmaker, he's shaped Hollywood with masterpieces such as Taxi Driver, Goodfellas and The Irishman.
But what makes a Scorsese film unique? His stories explore power, morality, and human nature, blending raw emotion with intellectual depth. Whether reinventing noir, musicals or crime dramas, his work captures the pulse of America and the Italian-American experience.
This book dives into all 26 of his films, breaking down his signature themes, iconic collaborations with Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, and his place in film history. A true movie fanatic and preservationist, Scorsese continues to push boundaries - proving that cinema isn't just entertainment, it's an art form.
Reviews / Votes
"...a delight for fans of the director and readers interested in how a life in the film industry can be a rollercoaster of a ride." -- Raymond Benson * CinemaRetro * "Nathan has written fine books on the works of Christopher Nolan and Wes Anderson, as well as an appreciation of the Mad Max series. Scorsese might be his finest work yet, specifically Nathan's analysis of The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon." -- Christopher Schobert * The Film Stage * "Martin Scorsese: The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work is another brilliant release from Ian Nathan's series. From the page once can feel the influence of New York or the criminal allure of a gangster's life from Nathan's words just as much as those elements leaped from Scorsese through celluloid time after time." -- Ryan Young * The Reel Vision * "another handsome, deeply researched volume from Ian Nathan, whose coffee table books have become something of an art form in themselves... As a physical object, the book feels like a celebration. As a piece of film writing, it is lively, thoughtful and richly detailed. And as a portrait of an artist still shaping the language of cinema, it succeeds beautifully." -- Dave Lancaster * Cinemas Online * "...offers a highly engaging and easy-to-read overview of Scorsese's career, successfully highlighting his genius beyond the crime genre and exploring his pivotal collaborations." -- David Garrett * Horror Review * "...a considerable and always fascinating effort that fans will likely want to revisit over and over again." * Pop Culture Guy * "...Nathan skillfully chronicles Scorsese's wide-ranging oeuvre as unique in American movies, with plentiful color images from the films underscoring his points." -- Kevin Filipski * Film Festival Traveler *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Quarto Publishing PLC
Illustrations
colour photos
Dimensions
Height: 255 mm
Width: 222 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
1122 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83600-643-5 (9781836006435)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
11/2025
White Lion Publishing
€18.49
Available for download
Person
Ian Nathan, who lives and works in London, is one of the UK's best-known film writers. He is the author of nine previous books, including Alien Vault, the best-selling history of Ridley Scott's masterpiece, Terminator Vault, Tarantino, Tim Burton, The Coen Brothers and Anything You Can Imagine: Peter Jackson and the Making of Middle-earth. He is the former editor and executive editor of Empire, the world's biggest movie magazine, where he remains a contributing editor. He also regularly contributes to The Times, The Independent, The Mail on Sunday, Cahiers Du Cinema and the Discovering Film documentary series on Sky Arts.
Content
INTRODUCTION
LITTLE ITALY
What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (1963)
It's Not Just You, Murray! (1964)
The Big Shave (1967)
REEL LIFE
Who's That Knocking at My Door (1969)
Boxcar Bertha (1972)
Mean Streets (1973)
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)
GOD'S LONELY MAN
The sublime darkness of Taxi Driver (1976)
SAVED BY CINEMA
THE DARK ARTS
New York, New York (1977)
Raging Bull (1980)
The King of Comedy (1982)
TEMPTATIONS
After Hours (1985)
The Color of Money (1986)
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
New York Stories - Life Lessons segment (1989)
WISEGUYS
The magnificent, deadly lifestyle of Goodfellas (1990)
ACTING UP
THE PARADOX
Cape Fear (1991)
The Age of Innocence (1993)
Casino (1995)
Kundun (1997)
AMERICAN DREAMS
Bringing Out the Dead (1999)
Gangs of New York (2002)
The Aviator (2004)
The Departed (2006)
ILLUSIONISTS
Shutter Island (2010)
Boardwalk Empire (2010)
Hugo (2011)
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Silence (2016)
KEEPING IT REAL
THE LONG GAME
The Irishman (2019)
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Future projects
SOURCES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
LITTLE ITALY
What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (1963)
It's Not Just You, Murray! (1964)
The Big Shave (1967)
REEL LIFE
Who's That Knocking at My Door (1969)
Boxcar Bertha (1972)
Mean Streets (1973)
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)
GOD'S LONELY MAN
The sublime darkness of Taxi Driver (1976)
SAVED BY CINEMA
THE DARK ARTS
New York, New York (1977)
Raging Bull (1980)
The King of Comedy (1982)
TEMPTATIONS
After Hours (1985)
The Color of Money (1986)
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
New York Stories - Life Lessons segment (1989)
WISEGUYS
The magnificent, deadly lifestyle of Goodfellas (1990)
ACTING UP
THE PARADOX
Cape Fear (1991)
The Age of Innocence (1993)
Casino (1995)
Kundun (1997)
AMERICAN DREAMS
Bringing Out the Dead (1999)
Gangs of New York (2002)
The Aviator (2004)
The Departed (2006)
ILLUSIONISTS
Shutter Island (2010)
Boardwalk Empire (2010)
Hugo (2011)
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Silence (2016)
KEEPING IT REAL
THE LONG GAME
The Irishman (2019)
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Future projects
SOURCES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS