Scarface98.9
02-18-2003, 07:53 PM
This comes from Oscarwatch.com, who posted a news bit from variety.com. Unfortunately, I can't post the whole thing, since the other half is at variety.com, and to read it, you have to be a subscriber. But this is a bit going against what William Goldman said in Variety last week about how Scorsese doesn't deserve the Oscar. Read on:
Thanks to David for the info on Irwin Winkler, who wrote a letter to Variety re: Marty and Gangs:
Wearing 'Gangs' colors
By IRWIN WINKLER
So Bill Goldman feels there's something wrong with the fact that many of us in the industry want Martin Scorsese to finally win an Oscar.
In some ways, Bill's piece in Variety last week hardly needs a response. Ten noms from the Academy for "Gangs of New York," including a director nod for Marty, speak for themselves. But given the personal tone of Bill's article, I'd like to respond in a personal way.
Correct me if I'm misreading the finer nuances of his piece, but in essence, his article comes down to one thing -- Bill doesn't like Marty's storytelling in "Gangs," and doesn't feel he deserves an Oscar for this film.
He does feel Marty deserved an Oscar for two other films -- "Taxi Driver" and "Raging Bull." Well, I'd be hard-pressed to disagree with that viewpoint, as I co-produced the latter movie.
I'd also be hard-pressed to disagree with Bill's general notion -- that it's not a "mortal sin" if great directors aren't honored by the Academy. But it certainly could be construed as one of the lesser ones.
Now, I'm somewhat biased about the films of Mr. Scorsese. After all, in addition to "Raging Bull," I produced "New York, New York" and "Goodfellas," and I'm proud to count Marty as a great personal friend.
But even if that weren't the case, I'd still be inclined to say he is one of the greatest living directors, and it's perfectly legitimate to point out that he hasn't been honored by his peers.
I'd also say, hand on heart, that I think "Gangs of New York" is a tremendous achievement.
Bill seems to have problems with the number of ideas in the movie. What's it about, he asks -- gang warfare? family revenge? Irish immigration? political corruption? prejudice?
For him, the sheer number of ideas and issues raised by the movie is unsatisfactory. For me and many people, including some of the world's top critics, historians, authors and filmmakers, as well as audiences, the sheer ambition of the movie is one of the very things that is most remarkable about it.
And the skill with which Marty handles the many story threads, characters and themes, alongside the awesome technical achievements of his moviemaking, truly makes this one of the great movies for me.
Thanks to David for the info on Irwin Winkler, who wrote a letter to Variety re: Marty and Gangs:
Wearing 'Gangs' colors
By IRWIN WINKLER
So Bill Goldman feels there's something wrong with the fact that many of us in the industry want Martin Scorsese to finally win an Oscar.
In some ways, Bill's piece in Variety last week hardly needs a response. Ten noms from the Academy for "Gangs of New York," including a director nod for Marty, speak for themselves. But given the personal tone of Bill's article, I'd like to respond in a personal way.
Correct me if I'm misreading the finer nuances of his piece, but in essence, his article comes down to one thing -- Bill doesn't like Marty's storytelling in "Gangs," and doesn't feel he deserves an Oscar for this film.
He does feel Marty deserved an Oscar for two other films -- "Taxi Driver" and "Raging Bull." Well, I'd be hard-pressed to disagree with that viewpoint, as I co-produced the latter movie.
I'd also be hard-pressed to disagree with Bill's general notion -- that it's not a "mortal sin" if great directors aren't honored by the Academy. But it certainly could be construed as one of the lesser ones.
Now, I'm somewhat biased about the films of Mr. Scorsese. After all, in addition to "Raging Bull," I produced "New York, New York" and "Goodfellas," and I'm proud to count Marty as a great personal friend.
But even if that weren't the case, I'd still be inclined to say he is one of the greatest living directors, and it's perfectly legitimate to point out that he hasn't been honored by his peers.
I'd also say, hand on heart, that I think "Gangs of New York" is a tremendous achievement.
Bill seems to have problems with the number of ideas in the movie. What's it about, he asks -- gang warfare? family revenge? Irish immigration? political corruption? prejudice?
For him, the sheer number of ideas and issues raised by the movie is unsatisfactory. For me and many people, including some of the world's top critics, historians, authors and filmmakers, as well as audiences, the sheer ambition of the movie is one of the very things that is most remarkable about it.
And the skill with which Marty handles the many story threads, characters and themes, alongside the awesome technical achievements of his moviemaking, truly makes this one of the great movies for me.