‘Mr. Scorsese’ Is a Joy to Watch (Unless You’re Martin Scorsese)

Director Rebecca Miller discusses with GQ the creation of the ultimate portrait of the greatest living filmmaker. The Apple TV documentary miniseries, Scorsese, offers a remarkable look at Martin Scorsese’s extraordinary career.

Rebecca Miller succeeds in gathering key collaborators who shaped Scorsese’s journey, including Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis—Miller’s husband—Leonardo DiCaprio, Robbie Robertson from The Band, his longtime editor Thelma Schoonmaker, and Margot Robbie. Joe Pesci was the only major figure who declined to join. Martin Scorsese himself participated extensively, sitting for 20 hours of interviews.

A Deep and Honest Portrait

The series reveals an unusually candid side of Scorsese. He opens up about:

His 1980s drug problem
His struggles with faith
Early encounters with the mob
Complicated relationships with his daughters
His wife Helen Morris’s battle with Parkinson's disease

Alongside these personal admissions, the documentary offers a lively insider’s view of the making of iconic films like GoodFellas, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Raging Bull.

Behind the Scenes with Rebecca Miller

Rebecca Miller said over a Zoom call, “I think to spend such a long time talking to this artist—it's like you are learning about his life, but you're also learning about film and all the films that influenced him. So there was almost like a going to graduate school quality about it.”

This approach allowed Miller to capture not only Scorsese’s personal stories but also the cinematic influences that shaped his artistry.

Author’s summary: Rebecca Miller's documentary miniseries offers an intimate and revealing look at Martin Scorsese’s life, struggles, and cinematic legacy through candid interviews with the filmmaker and his close collaborators.

GQ — 2025-11-04