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How MARTIN SCORSESEportrays the evolution of male protagonists in his filmsJamie Autorino

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Travis Bickle Taxi DriverJordan Belfort The Wolf of Wall StreetHenry Hill GoodfellasJake LaMotta Raging BullColin Sullivan The DepartedSam Ace Rothstein CasinoTeddy Daniels Shutter IslandHoward hughes The Aviator

Use of SILENCEOne way Martin Scorsese effectively conveys the state of mind of the protagonist in his films is by his use of silence or draining out sounds. For example in Raging Bull, during one of the fights, it sounds as if there is a numbing effect, sucking out all high frequency, loud sounds emphasising that Jake La Motta has become aware of his mortality as a boxer and has come to terms with the fact he is going to lose the fight.He also uses silence in The Last Temptation of Christ when a very loud, thunderous noise is heard and is followed by complete silence to create a moment of enlightenment.

Use of SILENCEThe silence that Martin Scorsese uses in his and the way he ties them in with loud sounds is used in different ways from film to film. The silences can be used as a moment of reflection for the protagonist and can also be used emotively as moments where the audience can relate or sympathise with the characters.Silence is also used at times when the protagonist is thinking about important decisions that will ultimately affect their journey throughout the film.

Use of SILENCE

Use of FREEZE FRAMESScorsese also uses freeze frames in his films, often to tell the narrative of the main protagonist. These are used to introduce the audience to the character and allow them to understand the protagonists thought process.In Goodfellas, the story of Henry Hill's life is being narrated to us, these freeze frames serve a kinetic, as well as narrative, function. They deliver a visual punch andalso signpost moments which Scorsese wishes to call our attention to.

Use of FREEZE FRAMES

Use of slow motionAnother technique Scorsese masters is the use of slow motion in his films. This technique is another effective way of portraying the characters state of mind and perspective. It helps to elongate the scene and gives the audience to assess and make their judgments on the protagonist. It is also used in Raging Bull, throughout, during Jake La Mottas fights.

NeoRealismItalian neorealism, also known as the Golden Age of Italian Cinema, is a national film movement characterized by stories set amongst the poor and the working class, filmed on location, frequently using non-professional actors. It emerged in Italy in the 1940s.This style of film greatly inspired Martin Scorsese and we can see evidence for this in films such as Raging Bull, New York, New York and Casino. In these films, most of the filming is done on authentic locations rather than studio sets and a lot of the dialogue is done through improvisation. This helps accentuate the realism of the scene and helps to build the authentic character of the protagonists. This realism also makes it easier for the audience to empathise or even associate themselves with the protagonist.

MusicScorsese often uses diegetic music in his films. Usually the songs that are played are iconic and memorable, such as music from the Rolling Stones. He uses the song the song Gimme Shelter in Goodfellas (1990), Casino (1995) and The Departed (2006).This use of bold, upbeat and well known music in a sense glorifies the main protagonist and in a way inspires the audience, causing them to become even more engaged with the film.

Tracking ShotHe often uses long tracking shots (His most famous tracking shot is from Goodfellas (1990), following Henry Hill and his future wife Karen through the basement of the Copacabana nightclub and ending up at a newly-prepared table). A notoriously difficult shot to perfect, he has been dubbed by some as the King of the Tracking Shot.This use of a tracking shot is effective as it allows the audience to effectively follow the main protagonist on his path through the world, sharing the same experience with the protagonist and in doing so develop our understanding of his character.

Tracking shot