• Considered by many to be one of the greatest film directors of his era, Martin Scorsese was nominated for best director five times before receiving an Academy Award for The Departed in 2007. The Departed also won him best director awards from the Golden Globes and the Director's Guild of America. Scorsese's debut feature film, Who's That Knocking at My Door, was released in 1967.

  Scorsese signed on in May of 2009 to direct a biopic of Frank Sinatra. Several actors being considered to play the lead role in the film are Johnny Depp, James Franco and Leonardo DiCaprio.Kansas Star: Frank Sinatra's biopic (May 21, 2009)

• 1. Full name: Martin Marcantonio Luciano Scorsese
  2. Born: November 17, 1942
  3. Birthplace: New York City, New York
  4. Italian-American descent
  5. Roman Catholic
  6. Has been married five times
  7. Considered becoming a priest before studying film at New York University
  8. Was a film studies instructor at NYU, where he taught Oliver Stone and Spike Lee
  9. Won a best director Golden Globe for Gangs of New York in 2003
  10. Scorcese and his family members appear in cameo roles in many of his films
  11. Often works with Robert DeNiro
  12. The Rolling Stones' music is featured on many Scorcese movie soundtracks
  13. 1997: Received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute
  14. Founded the World Cinema Foundation
  15. President of the Film Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to film preservation
  16. Debut Feature Film: Who's That Knocking at My Door (1967)

• Recurring Themes

  Although his films take place in various settings and explore a variety of topics, his main characters are often desperate individuals struggling to find and maintain their identities within an oppressive social structure. An Italian-American Roman Catholic himself, many of Scorcese's movies touch on themes of redemption and guilt, machismo and include scenes of graphic violence.

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