Whole lotta Scorsese goin’ on this week. Martin Scorsese is arguably the greatest American director of his generation. His latest opus, The Irishman is currently making waves on big and small screens across the country. But he’s also created a significant body of documentary work. SCORSESE NON-FICTION opens today at Film Forum, running through December 17 (full schedule below). It comprises a total of eleven films with multiple screenings. Of especial interest to me this week is A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995), which screens on Friday, Saturday and Wednesday. This nearly four-hour walk through American film history is director-centric; Scorsese defines four different types of directors: as storyteller, as illusionist, as smuggler and as an iconoclast.

My other pick for this week is Italian American (1974), a highly entertaining 49 minute visit with the director’s parents, Catherine and Charles. It’s “at home with the Scorseses,” plastic slipcovers and all. If his parents look familiar, it’s because they’ve each appeared in several of his (as well as other’s) movies.

Scorsese’s breakthrough feature film Mean Streets (1973) is also on the menu at Film Forum on Saturday.

Meanwhile, over in Queens, at The Museum of the Moving Image, the series Martin Scorsese: Four Tales Over Four Decades continues with a screening of Goodfellas (1990).

its-a-wonderful-life-3 — Clarence gets his wings in IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

And with Thanksgiving in the rearview, the Christmas classic season begins in earnest. A Christmas Story, White Christmas, Miracle On 34th St., and It’s a Wonderful Life can all be seen at multiple venues throughout the New York metro area. And once again, the headquarters for It’s A Wonderful Life is the IFC Center in Greenwich Village. The eternal Christmas classic opens today and runs every day until 12.24, with Donna Reed’s daughter Mary Owen on hand to introduce and for some Q & A.

FATHOM EVENTS

Meet Me in St. Louis 12.8, 12.11

MANHATTAN

Film Forum

SCORSESE NON-FICTION 12.6 – 12.17

A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995) 12.6, 12.7, 12.11
Feel Like Going Home (2005) 12.6, 12.10, 12.12
Italian American (1974) 12.6, 12.7, 12.9, 12.10
The Last Waltz (1978)12.7
My Voyage To Italy (1999) 12.8, 12.10
George Harrison Living In The Material World (2011)12.8, 12.9
Lady By The Sea (2004) 12.9, 12.12
Shine A Light (2008)12.9, 12.12
A Letter To Elia (2010) 12.10, 12.11
Public Speaking (2010) 12.10, 12.12
Rolling Thunder Review (2019) 12.12
Mean Streets (1973) 12.7
The King And I (1956) 12.7, 12.8
Kind Hearts And Coronets (1949) 12.6-12.12