The five-part documentary by Rebecca Miller shows that Scorsese’s life goes far beyond awards and box office success. *“Mr. Scorsese”* premieres on Apple TV+ on October 17.
Mr. Scorsese was screened at the New York Film Festival on October 4. According to Entertainment Weekly, Martin Scorsese went through a difficult period of drug use after the completion of New York, New York.
At the time, he was living with musician Robbie Robertson, composer for The Band, who was also dealing with the group’s breakup. The two were editing The Last Waltz, the documentary that captured the band’s final concert.
Shortly before his death in 2023, Robertson spoke in Mr. Scorsese about his and Scorsese’s habit of using drugs together during that time.
“It was like, ‘Damn, I’m kind of tired. I’ll take a little sniff or something. It’ll perk me up.’ Some people have an espresso…,” he said with a shrug, admitting that in the end, drugs weren’t the answer.
+Watch the trailer for “Mr. Scorsese”
“We were trying to find something. I think we were trying to rediscover the muse. The joke is always, ‘It helps me work better.’ And then, with perfect timing, he added, ‘Meanwhile, you’re dead!’”
Martin Scorsese revealed that his cocaine use combined with exhaustion led to an internal hemorrhage that nearly killed him.
He was visited in the hospital by Robert De Niro, who encouraged him to adapt the story of boxer Jake LaMotta — which became the film Raging Bull. Scorsese has said that this project ultimately saved his life.
Mr. Scorsese will be available on Apple TV+ starting October 17.
Photos: YouTube Apple TV. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
