Italian Restaurants Ban Martin Scorsese Due to 'Goodfellas' Controversy

2023-10-22 10:09:03

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Martin Scorsese Says Italian Restaurants Banned Him Over 'Goodfellas'

Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese revealed in an interview with GQ that he faced backlash from some Italian restaurants due to his film "Goodfellas." According to Scorsese, he was "shunned" by these establishments. This incident occurred in 2015 when the owner of at least one restaurant accused Scorsese of denigrating a certain ethnic group through the movie. The portrayal of Italian Americans as gangsters in "Goodfellas" sparked controversy and led to Scorsese being denied entry into certain eateries.

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Scorsese's Experience with Italian Restaurants

During a conversation with actor Timothée Chalamet, Scorsese shared his disappointment about being banned from Italian restaurants because of "Goodfellas." The director mentioned this incident while discussing the topic of filmmaking. He expressed how some establishments refused to let him in, possibly due to the negative portrayal of Italian Americans in the crime thriller.

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The Controversy Surrounding "Goodfellas"

Based on Nicholas Pileggi's non-fiction book, "Wiseguy," which chronicled the life of mobster Harry Hill, "Goodfellas" depicted Italian Americans as gangsters. This portrayal drew criticism and upset some individuals from the Italian American community. Scorsese's use of violence in his films, including "Goodfellas," was also a topic of discussion during the interview with Chalamet.

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Scorsese's Background and Impact

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Being of Italian American descent himself and growing up in New York City's Little Italy, Scorsese explained that violence was a form of expression in his upbringing. He emphasized the distinction between a friendly slap and a serious one, as portrayed in the iconic scene from "Goodfellas" where a character asks, "You think I'm funny?" Scorsese's films often explore themes of violence, and he considers it a significant aspect of his storytelling.

The Impact on Scorsese

Although Scorsese did not disclose the names of the specific restaurants that banned him, he mentioned the incident during the 25th-anniversary celebration of "Goodfellas." At the event, he revealed that the owner of a restaurant he frequently visited with Pileggi expressed disapproval of the film's portrayal of Italian Americans and subsequently barred Scorsese from entering the establishment.

Scorsese's latest film, "Killers of the Flower Moon," is set to be released in theaters on Friday, followed by streaming availability on AppleTV+.

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