Scorsese

[Spandau Belly]

I found SHUTTER ISLAND to be okay, probably the better film of their previous collaborations, but just another twist movie of the week. And Leo was miscast in that one, too. He looked like a little kid dressing up as a detective for Halloween. The supporting cast did get to have some fun, though.

[TheBaxter]

Martin Scorsese to direct Ramones biopic

one of my favorite directors making a film about one of my favorite bands? sign me up!

it will be hard to top End of the Century, the documentary that came out about a decade ago, though.

[TheButcher]

‘Cortes’ Drama From Martin Scorsese & Benicio Del Toro In Works At HBO

EXCLUSIVE: HBO is taking on a pivotal moment in the history of the Americasgerolmo with Cortes, a high-profile drama series in development. It is being written/executive produced by Mississippi Burning scribe Chris Gerolmo, directed/executive produced by Martin Scorsese and executive produced by Benicio Del Toro who is interested in starring as the Aztec conqueror.

Cortes will tell the sweepincortesmontezumag story of Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, who brought down the Aztec empire; Malinche, the Mayan girl who helped him do it; and Montezuma, the Aztec leader he befriended and finally put in chains.

The subject matter has the makings of a compelling drama as Cortés’ legacy is a complex one. On one hand, he won Mexico for Spain and extended the Spanish Empire. But from the indigenous’ point of view, he was a mass murderer who spearheaded the destruction of one of the greatest civilizations of that time.

WME-repped Scorsese made his TV debut with the HBO period drama Boardwalk Empire, winning an Emmy for directing the pilot. He is directing his second HBO pilot, the untitled Rock ‘N’ Roll drama, a collaboration with Mick Jagger and Boardwalk Empire‘s Terence Winter, which explores the drug- and sex-fueled music business in 1970s New York.

[TheButcher]

Shutter Island: Why Perspective is Everything

[TheButcher]

Goodfellas: Seduction in Kinetic Cinema

[TheButcher]

Feds Look to Seize 'Dumb and Dumber To' Rights and Leonardo DiCaprio's Art
The government asserts that funding for Red Granite films came from stolen Malaysian funds and that DiCaprio was gifted artwork purchased with embezzled money. The actor has already turned over a Marlon Brando Oscar.

The U.S. government is expanding its civil forfeiture case tied to assets allegedly diverted by high-level officials in Malaysia. On Thursday, the feds filed a new complaint aimed at seizing rights to the Red Granite Pictures produced films Dumb and Dumber To and Daddy's Home. The government is asserting that tens of millions of dollars used to produce these films are traceable to foreign corruption. Additionally, the feds are eyeing gifts given to a couple celebrities, including high-priced paintings once enjoyed by Leonardo DiCaprio, now possibly in the government's possession.

Last year, a similar complaint was made in California federal court with respect to The Wolf of Wall Street, the Oscar-nominated film directed by Martin Scorsese. The film was allegedly funded with assets from a fund called 1Malaysia Development Berdhard (1MDB), then diverted into shell companies. Some of the money is said to have gone to Red Granite, run by CEO Riza Aziz, the stepson of Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak. Of $4.5 billion allegedly misappropriated, a portion went "to fund the co-conspirators' lavish lifestyles, including purchases of artwork and jewelry, the acquisition of luxury real estate and luxury yachts, the payment of gambling expenses, and the hiring of musicians and celebrities to attend parties."

In May, federal prosecutors told a California federal judge that the U.S. government was "actively discussing a potential settlement" with Red Granite Pictures. On Wednesday, court papers in the Wolf of Wall Street case were filed under seal.

Now comes new forfeiture actions.

According to one complaint, a shell company called Aabar-BVI, incorporated in Abu Dhabi, maintained approximately $1.367 billion from the 1MDB fund. In 2012, Aabar-BVI sent three wires totaling $238 million to Aziz's Red Granite bank account in Singapore. The feds next assert that dozens of transfers totaling more than $50 million were made to two accounts for Dumb and Dumber To maintained by Red Granite. Later, about $30 million in "funds traceable to diverted 1MDB proceeds" went to accounts for Daddy's Home. Some additional money is said to have come from a $50 million loan from Morgan Stanley that was secured with distribution proceeds from Wolf of Wall Street.

The feds are also eyeing other assets, including a rare movie poster of Metropolis purchased by Aziz for $1.2 million in October 2012 that was described as hanging in Red Granite's office. According to a source connected with Red Granite, the poster has already been turned over to authorities.

The government also wants artwork gifted to DiCaprio, including a Picasso painting purchased for $3.28 million, a photograph by Diane Arbus purchased for $750,000 and a Jean-Michel Basquiat collage purchased for $9,191,040. The latter two works are alleged to have been given to the actor from Jho Low, a Malaysian financier and close associate of Aziz. As for the Picasso painting, it allegedly came from Eric Tan, an associate of Low with a handwritten note saying, "Dear Leonardo DiCarpio, Happy belated Birthday! This gift is for you."

The Hollywood Reporter has also learned that DiCaprio has voluntarily surrendered to the government an Oscar awarded to Marlon Brando. (More on the background of this here.) He also has turned over the art referenced above, although an application for an arrest warrant for the property has been concurrently filed. The actor, however, has no plans at the moment to turn over the substantial sum of money he received for performing in Wolf of Wall Street. (Some analysis on that topic is here.)

Also wanted for the government's collection of seized assets is jewelry purchased by Low, including a 11.72-carat heart-shaped diamond allegedly gifted to Miranda Kerr, a prominent Australian model who was once married to Orlando Bloom and is now married to Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Red Granite comments, "As we have previously disclosed, Red Granite is actively engaged in discussions with the Justice Department aimed at resolving these civil cases and is fully cooperating. In the meantime, Red Granite remains an active production company, moving ahead to complete post production work on its next feature film while developing exciting new projects."

Adds DiCaprio's spokesperson: "Last July, upon hearing of the government's civil action against certain parties involved in the making of The Wolf of Wall Street, Mr. DiCaprio's representatives — working under his instruction — initiated contact with the Department of Justice. This effort was to determine if there were any gifts or charitable donations originating from the parties named in the civil complaint, and to offer the return of any such gifts or donations with the aid and instruction of the government. Prior to the government's filing of the civil pleading today, Mr. DiCaprio initiated return of these items, which were received and accepted by him for the purpose of being included in an annual charity auction to benefit his eponymous foundation. He has also returned an Oscar originally won by Marlon Brando, which was given to Mr. DiCaprio as a set gift by Red Granite to thank him for his work on The Wolf of Wall Street. Mr. DiCaprio is grateful for the support of the government in this effort and continues to hope that justice is done in this matter."

Feds Look to Seize 'Wolf of Wall Street' Rights as Part of Malaysian Corruption Action
A complaint filed by the government discusses money to Martin Scorsese's company and who Leonardo DiCaprio thanked during the Golden Globes.

[TheButcher]

Martin Scorsese May Be Filming KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Next Year
Yes, DiCaprio's probably gonna be in it.

The current plan calls for Killers Of The Flower Moon to star Leonardo DiCaprio (obvs) and Robert De Niro (also obvs). Based on a novel of the same name by David Grann, Killers Of The Flower Moon tells the story of the FBI's first major case: a series of racially-charged murders tied to the discovery of oil on land owned by the Osage Indian nation. DiCaprio and De Niro are not yet confirmed for the roles, but come on: you know they're gonna be in it.

[Ribbons]

Doing the press-junket rounds for The Irishman, Marty had some unkind words for the recent glut of comic book movies. Twitter promptly lost its goddamn mind.

Martin Scorsese Compares Marvel Movies to Theme Parks: ‘That’s Not Cinema’

[so sorry]

Doing the press-junket rounds for The Irishman, Marty had some unkind words for the recent glut of comic book movies. Twitter promptly lost its goddamn mind.

Martin Scorsese Compares Marvel Movies to Theme Parks: ‘That’s Not Cinema’

He ain't wrong, and there's nothing wrong with that.

[Peven]

Marvel movies are fun commercials for upcoming Marvel movies which are commercials for more upcoming Marvel movies...

Marty is dead spot on and the fluffernutter comic dweebs need to get a grip and get some respect for real filmmaking as something more meaningful than spectacle movies.

[Wolfpack]

Twitter's always losing its goddamn mind.

[Ribbons]

Twitter's always losing its goddamn mind.

What's that supposed to mean, you dumb douche!?

[TheBaxter]

Twitter's always losing its goddamn mind.

Twitter never had a mind to lose.

[Wolfpack]

Twitter's always losing its goddamn mind.

What's that supposed to mean, you dumb douche!?

Dumb douche? Since when is a feminine hygiene product stupid? What, intelligent women should not want to feel fresh Down There? Patriarchy at work! Maybe I should tweet my outrage and register my disgust throughout the world. I can then revel in the likes I get from people impressed at my righteousness.

[so sorry]

Twitter's always losing its goddamn mind.

What's that supposed to mean, you dumb douche!?

Dumb douche? Since when is a feminine hygiene product stupid? What, intelligent women should not want to feel fresh Down There? Patriarchy at work! Maybe I should tweet my outrage and register my disgust throughout the world. I can then revel in the likes I get from people impressed at my righteousness.

#MeDouche