‘Mr. Scorsese’ Review – The Ultimate Comfort Watch For Cinephiles

Some lives are simply too large to portray in any kind of completionist way. Martin Scorsese, especially in the world of film, certainly falls into that category. Rebecca Miller, the director of Mr. Scorsese, dared to take on this particular Herculean task. If you trace the history of his directorial achievements back to his first short film, you would end up in 1959. That is 66 years of filmmaking, and he took nearly no breaks. Prolific does not even begin to describe his output. So, it’s fitting that, even with five hours of film, Miller calls it a “portrait.” A portrait does not tell the entire story of a person, simply their face without the body. It is likely that she was aware that telling the story of Martin Scorsese is bound to leave important facets out, or on the cutting room floor.

But this is not to say that this lovely documentary is not to be recommended. Nor is it only for intense cinephiles. Miller has managed to make this documentary series approachable for novices and experts alike. Her approach is pretty standard, involving mild history and important talking heads.  It also generally moves in chronological order throughout his illustrious life and career. And, to get my own bias out of the way, Martin Scorsese is my favorite director, so I was all-in on this before it even began. That said, those spoken to, including Scorsese himself, along with other interviewees including childhood friends and Hollywood stars, are all so engaging and entertaining that the hours fly by without any real effort from the viewer. And while I enjoyed my time with it, I cannot help thinking that somehow, five hours are just not enough. There are numerous sections that feel rushed, especially as the documentary nears its end. It is possible that they assumed that the audience knew more about his recent work and deemed it less necessary to delve. But nevertheless, that speed was felt, and not in a wholly positive way. 

Given the pentalogy of chapters, Miller clearly was torn between thematic and numerical processes. Each of the segments has a particular theme (and these are very well thought out), but it is boxed in by the particular time period that it is focused on covering. Each of these themes, whether discussing faith, being a workaholic, or any number of foci, could be a 2-3 hour documentary all on its own. Of particular interest is his struggles with faith. Anyone who has a passing knowledge of the director will not be surprised by this, but the ability to connect with his childhood friends, a religious mentor, and traveling down memory lane to see Martin’s struggles with illness, his sibling rivalry, and even his familial humiliation. Scorsese’s willingness to discuss painful subjects is a gift to cinephiles everywhere, as we are given a new way in to his drive to create. 

Luckily, Mr. Scorsese has no shortage of willingness to discuss the ups and downs of his long and storied career. Yes, there are some moments of glossing over some of the flops, but it is unclear if this is avoidance or simply not remembering due to the distant past and rampant drug use. Unavoidable as it may be, it is painful when some areas of his passion are given less time than others. The World Cinema Project, for instance, is simply a footnote near the end of the documentary, and this is yet another topic that could be its own film. Scorsese, in many ways, has become a patron saint of cinema all around the world, and this was a real opportunity to highlight this work. But then again, many viewers will come to this documentary hoping simply to know more about his more well-known work.

As it is, Mr. Scorsese is a straightforward, focused review of one of the greatest artists of this generation. During the hours of footage, it becomes clear just how lucky we are to have been watching film during his lifetime. The film shows his successes, his failures, his passions, and most of all his sacrifices (and his family’s) that he has made for this art form. One cannot help but notice when watching his focus on “the lowlifes” that this, unlike the priesthood, is his true calling. Many may see it as a profession, but more than one interviewee expresses how much he loves the process, even stating that he would make movies for free. This documentary isn’t life-changing by any means, but for a fan like me, I cannot imagine enjoying five hours more than sitting on my couch, listening to Martin Scorsese talk about his cinema.

Mr. Scorsese will debut on Apple TV on October 17, 2025.