Martin Scorsese films all have overarching themes/ vices the main character deals with which usually lead to their self-destruction

(some movies deal with similar themes, some are more obvious than others)

Themes of Scorsese films:

Taxi Driver: loneliness, social awkwardness, rejection

King of Comedy: fame, delusion

Wolf of Wall Street: greed, narcissism, materialism

Goodfellas: excitement in life, belonging

Raging Bull: rage, jealousy, sexual insecurity

Silence: faith, pride

Shutter Island: delusion, madness, trauma, memory

After Hours: paranoia, frustration

The Irishman: aging, death, mortality

Gangs of New York: revenge, tribalism

Age of Innocence: dissatisfaction, things not being as perfect as they seem, choosing dreams over reality

Hugo: curiosity, time

The Departed: ambition, betrayal

Cape Fear: guilt, revenge, morality, skeletons in closet

Bringing Out the Dead: guilt, grief, paranoia, insomnia, savior complex

Casino: hubris, greed

Mean Streets: penance, salvation, having morals in a city of crime