manfestival
Member
this is like choosing between xbox and ps4? makes me so moist
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Martin Scorsese vs Steven Spielberg - who has the best filmography?
- Thread starter Fevaweva
- Start date
- Status
ViewtifulJC
Banned
Spielberg.
I think the post-2000 period pushes Berg ahead for me. Scorsese has gotten into a mode where he makes these fat overlong movies that have some brilliant stretches, but never fully satisfy. I don't think any of them are on the level of Munich or Minority Report, as fun as Catch Me If You Can, as interesting as A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Even Berg's semi-biopics are better, I'll watch Lincoln over The Aviator again any day of the week. I haven't loved any of Scorsese's film since 1990.
Also, unpopular opinion alert, Taxi Driver is the most overrated Scorsese film of all-time. All praise to Marty and De Niro for trying their best to overcome Schrader's obnoxious screenplay thats far too interested in siding with Bickle. There's nothing here about 70s pre-Giuliani New York or the codes and conducts of violent masculinity that Mean Streets didn't already do better. And its ending is awful.
Also also, Spielberg has Jaws, which is the greatest movie of all-time. So ya know, there's that too.
I think the post-2000 period pushes Berg ahead for me. Scorsese has gotten into a mode where he makes these fat overlong movies that have some brilliant stretches, but never fully satisfy. I don't think any of them are on the level of Munich or Minority Report, as fun as Catch Me If You Can, as interesting as A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Even Berg's semi-biopics are better, I'll watch Lincoln over The Aviator again any day of the week. I haven't loved any of Scorsese's film since 1990.
Also, unpopular opinion alert, Taxi Driver is the most overrated Scorsese film of all-time. All praise to Marty and De Niro for trying their best to overcome Schrader's obnoxious screenplay thats far too interested in siding with Bickle. There's nothing here about 70s pre-Giuliani New York or the codes and conducts of violent masculinity that Mean Streets didn't already do better. And its ending is awful.
Also also, Spielberg has Jaws, which is the greatest movie of all-time. So ya know, there's that too.
LeadenStride
Member
I haven't really enjoyed most Spielberg movies that much, so Scorsese wins in my book, although I'm not a big fan of his filmography either. Taxi Driver is an excellent movie though.
Hasphat'sAnts
Member
Kundun is pretty trash.
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
This puts into words something that I've always felt but had a hard time expressing. His best movies to me are the ones that overcome that or avoid it altogether. My favorite of his movies are Catch Me if You Can and Schindler's List, which avoid sentimentality pretty much. Well, and the action movies, but I rate those lower in general even when I love them.
NerdEyeBlind
Member
Gritty adult filmography? Scorsese
Childish wonder filmography? Spielberg.
Both are great. Which is better can vary based on my mood that day.
Childish wonder filmography? Spielberg.
Both are great. Which is better can vary based on my mood that day.
Hasphat'sAnts
Member
What's safe about Taxi Driver and Raging Bull?
The QBComics
Member
If I had to choose, Spielberg. If only because some of my favorite films of all time were by him. Raiders and Jaws are so goddamn good.
That said, Scorsese is a master.
That said, Scorsese is a master.
L
Lord Virgin
Unconfirmed Member
Nola....owh. Uhm.
Scorsese. Don't really enjoy Spielberg movies that much tbh.
Scorsese. Don't really enjoy Spielberg movies that much tbh.
SpideySenses
Member
First reaction was Scorsese because he's Scorsese but looking through the lists, I actually think it's Spielberg. Martin at his best is amazing but outside of his comfort zone with something like Hugo, I think it's a definite step down in comparison to Spielberg's variety of work.
~Devil Trigger~
In favor of setting Muslim women on fire
Martin by far imo
TheLostBigBoss
Banned
Scorsese.
Is it even an argument?
Is it even an argument?
True Savior
Member
Steven peaked with Jaws.
Marty has the trident Taxi-Raging-Goodfellas which absorbs most directors filmographies , including Steven.
Marty has the trident Taxi-Raging-Goodfellas which absorbs most directors filmographies , including Steven.
ManUnkindH
Member
This is not even a contest. Of course Scorsese!!!
teruterubozu
Member
No A.I.?
Spielberg is way more diverse. I like Scorsese but he makes "Scorsese" films and I have to be in the right mood.
Spielberg is way more diverse. I like Scorsese but he makes "Scorsese" films and I have to be in the right mood.
I'd argue he peaked with Jurassic Park or Saving Private Ryan. Actually it's a testament to the quality of his career that you can point to multiple movies and say he peaked there.
Triggerhappytel
Member
I agree with this. I know Scorsese is probably the more intellectually stimulating filmmaker overall, but I prefer Spielberg's films and I much prefer watching them.
The Albatross
Member
I thought Scorsese going into this thread, but then I looked at a lot of Spielberg's that I forgot he did. Like others have said, I think Spielberg has a great breadth of different types of movies, and he's got several movies on his list that I am in the mood to watch any day (Jaws, Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade, ET... And even some of his recent duds, Tin Tin, Catch Me if You Can, for instance, are still enjoyable, watchable movies). On the other hand, I have to be in a certain mood to watch Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, and even Casino and Goodfellas which are too of my favorite movies.
Jaws is nearly a perfect movie as far as I'm concerned.
Jaws is nearly a perfect movie as far as I'm concerned.
HeavyMetalLover91
Member
I love both but, when The Wolf of Wall Street is in your filmography, you win. Scorsese all day every day.
Traumnovelle
Member
People who say Scorsese doesn't have much variety probably haven't seen: Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, New York, New York, The King of Comedy, After Hours, The Last Temptation of Christ, The Age of Innocence, Kundun, Hugo.
Random Fact of the Day:
My favourite Spielberg movie of all time is The Terminal:
It's a masterpiece I tell you! A MASTERPIECE!
Michael F. Assbender
Banned
How is this even a question? Spielberg directed Jaws, Raiders, Private Ryan, and Schindler's List. It's not even a contest.
There was a time when Taxi Driver was my favourite film (I still like it quite a bit) and thus Scorsese was my favourite director but I have to admit over time I have started to wonder about Taxi Driver's greatness myself. The ending (and the violence) is definitely problematic. I don't buy Scorsese's explanation of the newspaper turning Bickle into a hero being a commentary on the state of the media at the time. It's a film which is very beautiful and very ugly at the same time. A few months a go the choice for me would have been obvious but I don't quite know any more.
Seen them all and Marty still doesn't offer the same level of variety as Spielberg.
megamerican
Member
Scorsese by a mile. Hugo is his worst and that's still like a 7 out of 10. I don't love anything Spielberg has done since Empire of the Sun. He's way too schmaltzy for me.
Earthpainting
Member
Tough call. Spielberg has made more movies I dislike of the two, but at the same time he also more that I do love. Both are fantastic film makers, and who I'd prefer will probably depend on my mood.
Yeah, I feel the same. Scorsese's range isn't bad, but it doesn't stretch as wide as Spielberg's. I'm having trouble thinking of directors that can compete in that field to be fair.
I'd like to see Spielberg try a gangster film and Scorsese do a science fiction film for no other reason than perverse curiosity.
Not saying he is as good, but Ridley Scott has a pretty varied filmography.
Yep, this is where I think Spielberg wins too. Naturally I think I enjoy the stories Spielberg tells more than earlier Scorsese's grungy New York fixation, but I also think that Scorsese has succumbed to the excesses of success far more than Spielberg. I can't think of any recent movie of his I wouldn't have taken the hatchet to in editing (Gangs of New York is probably the most egregious, but Hugo and Wolf of Wall Street are close behind.)
Yep. Ridley Scott is the only other director I'd say has the same breadth and has has at least some success in bridging so many genres.
My first impression as well, such an underrated gem. Might be my favorite De Niro performance of all time.
Scorsese films hold up well over time and I'd put him ahead, he hit higher highs than Spielberg, but I also appreciate Spielberg's diversity, consistency, and catalog of likeable hits.
Strangelove77
Member
I grew up with Spielberg's 90s output as a kid, so that shit is special to me, but as an adult I enjoy Scorsese a lot more.
The Albatross
Member
Scorsese is underrated? He's regularly considered the greatest directors of all time, if not most people's greatest director of allt ime.
Spielberg is the right answer, in fact Id go as much as calling him the greatest director ever above Kubrick and the others, it's not only because of the variety, its the quality that he makes the different genres, horror thriller adventure comedy action, you'll always find a Spielberg movie in top 3 .
That said no doubt Scorsese is great ,among top 5 for sure
That said no doubt Scorsese is great ,among top 5 for sure
Toughie. Martin's highs are higher and with Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino and Taxi Driver on your CV you're heading towards Kubrick tier (Kubrick being God of American Film directors IMHO overall). On the other hand Speilberg pumps out more films and hase some terrific gems on his CV too, from perfect films like Jaws, ET, CE3K and Raiders to heavy hitters like Schindler's List.
I'd probably give nod to Martin for his better QC overall (IMO) but I'd probably give Steven the nod for some of the most perfect entertainment films to date.
Both are very, very good at the end of the day in their different ways and styles.
I'd probably give nod to Martin for his better QC overall (IMO) but I'd probably give Steven the nod for some of the most perfect entertainment films to date.
Both are very, very good at the end of the day in their different ways and styles.
tearsintherain
Member
Scorcese. Both in terms of early career where both shined, but also recent efforts - Boardwalk Empire and Vinyl for Scorcese, Under The Dome, Extant, Falling Skies (all ewwwwww) for Spielberg. The last decade clearly gives the win to Martin.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked