Martin Scorsese s obsession with sin and redemption, conflict and violence runs through much of his work. This essential guide to Scorsese explores his career from his early student works, including It s Not Just You, Murray!: through his personal examinations of his Italian American heritage in Mean Streets, Italianamerican and Goodfellas: the extreme violence of Raging Bull, Taxi Driver and Cape Fear: and the religious themes from a director who originally wanted to be a priest of The Last Temptation of Christ and Kundun. Including all Scorsese s films up to Gangs of New York, this is a comprehensive study of the work of this widely respected film maker. Also covering his influences, the controversy surrounding his films, exhaustive music lists and long-time collaborations, this is an extensive analysis of the most consistently passionate, committed and inventive film director of the last thirty years.