Martin Scorsese. I don't know Scorsese's personal history but he, somehow, has been able to keep his finger on the pulse of life's seedy underbelly. Well known for his gritty take on life on the streets in such films as Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas, he is the best at what he does.

My favorite of his films, by far, is his re-make of J. Lee Thompson's Cape Fear, starring my favorite and Scorsese's as well, Robert DeNiro. DeNiro stars in many of Scorsese's films because Scorsese obviously knows talent. Another one of my favorites and a great example of Scorsese's ability to spot a great actor, is Gangs of New York with Daniel Day-Lewis.

Of course, I loved Casino and The Aviator. The Departed was good too, but one I liked even more, that not many people did, was Bringing Out the Dead with Nicolas Cage. It is an offbeat film that's an acquired taste for sure, but I thought it was great.

Now, if crime and violence isn't your thing, than you probably don't care for Scorsese's movies. Still, you have to give him props for the ridiculously long list of bankable films he's made over the span of his long career.