Martin Scorsese's Debut Watchlist: An Exclusive Insight Into His Letterboxd Journey

The Big Picture

Martin Scorsese recently joined Letterboxd and discussed his love for double features and how they allow him to learn something new about movies.

Scorsese refers to his pairings as "companion films," emphasizing the less apparent links between them. He recently disclosed a selection of classic movies that can spark a dialogue with his upcoming film, Killers of the Flower Moon, and explored how they provide more subtle portrayals of indigenous individuals.

During a recent interview with The Associated Press, renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese confessed that he had only started reading emails this year, indicating that the 80-year-old has made significant progress in checking his unread messages. In the latest press release for the film Killers of the Flower Moon, the Academy Award winner officially joined the cinephile community Letterboxd, using the username mscorsese.

To initiate his presence on this movie-centric social network, the director made a post titled "Companion Films," where he expressed his affinity for double features. Scorsese explained that these cinematic experiences not only transport him back to his childhood, but also allow him to learn something new and gain a fresh perspective by pairing films that share certain elements. According to him, every movie becomes part of a conversation with every other movie.

Scorsese has mentioned that he frequently receives requests to associate his own films with others to uncover his inspirations or influences. However, he is not comfortable with these terms. Instead, he prefers to refer to them as "companion films," implying a less apparent link between two or more titles. According to him, the connection can be based on inspiration, the dynamics of the characters, the essence of the film, or even something more enigmatic.

Image via Freixenet Cava

Scorsese Reveals 'Killers of the Flower Moon's Biggest Influences

Scorsese handpicked five classic films from different eras, including 1914's "The Last of the Line," 1918's "The Lady of the Dugout," 1948's "Blood on the Moon" and "Red River," and 1960's "Wild River," to introduce alongside "Killers of the Flower Moon." Some entries on the extensive list are accompanied by brief intros penned by Scorsese himself, likely to ignite a sense of nostalgia among avid movie enthusiasts.

In his conversation with Letterboxd, Scorsese elaborated on how these selected movies perfectly complement "Killers of the Flower Moon" and shared subtle references he incorporated into his own films. Remarkably, Scorsese managed to unearth films that depicted indigenous people with greater complexity and nuance during a time when Hollywood rarely concerned itself with multifaceted portrayals.

You can start following Martin Scorsese on Letterboxd right now. Check out his interview below: