In Martin Scorsese’s movies, dialogue defines character. Every line has a purpose and a meaning that is individualistic and befitting of the character’s personality. Through their truths and their lies, their explanations and revelations, Scorsese’s characters reveal something new about themselves every time they speak.
The distinctiveness of human beings and the power of individuality are crucial to Martin Scorsese’s movies. Even when his characters behave in unpredictable ways, they never stray from their personas, while their dialogue always remains strongly in adherence to who they are as human beings.
Scorsese has directed a long list of films across genres and decades. He has worked with some of the finest actors to have graced the movie business.
Now, let’s take a look at nine of the most iconic lines from his movies.
9 Incredible Lines From Martin Scorsese’s Movies
Here is a list of nine unforgettable lines from Martin Scorsese’s films.
1) “You Talkin` To Me?” – Taxi Driver (1976)
Perhaps the most iconic line from the movie – “You talkin’ to me?” might also be the most commonly recited line from Martin Scorsese’s career as a filmmaker. The improvised line brilliantly captures Travis Bickle’s state of mind, his loneliness, and growing angst against certain elements in society. Shot in a manner that exemplifies Bickle’s isolation, this line serves as a remarkable example of a line that defines a character.
2) “Funny How? Funny Like I’m A Clown? I Amuse You?” – Goodfellas (1990)
Few moments in crime cinema history blend humor and menace as well as Joe Pesci’s iconic “Funny how?” scene in Goodfellas. What starts as a compliment towards Pesci’s Tommy soon transforms into a thoroughly enjoyable scene of discomfort, eventually culminating in what is now recognized as one of the funniest moments from the film.
3) “He Ain’t Pretty No More.” – Raging Bull (1980)
While many of the finest quotes from Raging Bull are said by Robert De Niro’s Jake LaMotta, this one is spoken by Tommy Como, a mobster. Before this fight, LaMotta’s wife talks about Tony Janiro as a “good-looking” fighter, quickly triggering his insecurities that frequently extend far beyond the boxing ring. LaMotta brutally disfigures Janiro, prompting the mobster to say this line, which quite certainly is one of the most underrated lines from the movie.
4) “I Don’t Want To Be A Product Of My Environment. I Want My Environment To Be A Product Of Me.” – The Departed (2006)
This line is Frank Costello’s (Jack Nicholson) opening declaration that sets the tone for the film and perfectly defines his character. Costello isn’t just a mob boss; he is a bully who grooms young men to make them a part of his undercover network inside the police force, and this line accurately represents his way of life.
5) “Which Would Be worse – To Live As A Monster Or To Die As A Good Man?” – Shutter Island (2010)
Teddy Daniels’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) concluding question is the most tragic scene from the movie and one of the most tragic moments from all of Martin Scorsese’s films. The line forces audiences to confront the dark psychological ambiguity of the film, which centers around helping DiCaprio’s character accept his devastating reality. Has he been cured? Or is it impossible to cure him?
6) “As Far Back As I Can Remember, I Always Wanted To Be A Gangster.” – Goodfellas (1990)
The casual, almost pedestrian nature of this line makes it one of the boldest opening declarations in crime film history. Not only does it explicitly explore the film’s subject head-on, but the fact that it appears in an opening voice-over makes it all the more powerful. Just like every other great Scorsese line, it brilliantly defines Henry Hill as a person by wasting absolutely no time.
7) “It Is What It Is.” – The Irishman (2019)
While on the surface this line sounds very simplistic, it holds a profound meaning about the unavoidable nature of death. It recurs at important moments in the film, but each time, it carries heaviness and dread in the way that it is said, reminding us, in its own way, that actions have consequences.
8) “Loneliness Has Followed Me My Whole Life.” – Taxi Driver (1976)
This line is a part of Travis Bickle’s diary narration in which he confesses his inescapable isolation. Perhaps the most literal description of his state of mind, coming directly from Travis himself, this line is direct, honest, and painfully representative of a lonely mind.
9) “The Telephones Aren’t Going To Dial Themselves.” – The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) uses this line to motivate his staff by focusing on the basics: cold-calling. Throughout his tenure as their boss, Belfort remains an inspiring figure. As perfectly captured in this scene, Belfort’s speeches do not rely on complex business ideals; they speak the tongue of the people.
Summing It Up
Each of these lines has one quality in common – they are perfectly representative of the character who says them and, in many ways, also define their state of mind. Across decades, Martin Scorsese’s characters have given us some of the most iconic moments in film history. While these are just a few, there are many more we could find, be entertained by, and learn from, with certainly even more on their way through his upcoming works.
Which, according to you, is the most unforgettable line from a Martin Scorsese film? Tell us in the comments below.