Martin Scorsese: The other master

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When Richard Ohlhaber talks to other film buffs about great film directors of Hollywood in the past 50 years, there are a number of names that stand out – Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and Martin Scorsese. While each of them has carved his own niche in the industry, Coppola and Spielberg garnered much acclaim and popularity, with Scorsese’s darker take not being received too warmly by unprepared viewers.

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Scorsese initially rose to prominence with his 1976 stunner, “Taxi Driver.” It also marked the emergence of Hollywood superstar Robert de Niro and the classic director-actor partnership that would last for decades. Four years later, Scorsese scored another critical hit with the true-to-life story of pugilist Jake LaMotta in “Raging Bull.”

However, it was not until 1990 when Scorsese crafted his masterpiece “Goodfellas,” a film that had critics comparing it to Coppola’s “The Godfather,” and for a good reason. His next hit was in the mid-90s with the movie “Casino.” It was also, in many ways, perfection in filmmaking. However, the film was criticized as being too similar to “Goodfellas.”


In 2002, Scorsese had another Oscar-challenger in “Gangs of New York,” which was an epic period movie. But it was not until 2006’s “The Departed” when Scorsese finally received his much-deserved Oscar for directing, Richard Ohlhaber notes.

Richard Ohlhaber grew up in Chicago but has been living in the DFW Metroplex since 1998. Though now based in Texas, he is a true Chicago sports fan, cheering for the Bulls and the Bears. For similar reads, visit this page.

Fun facts for fans of 'The Godfather' trilogy

Movie fans and critics agree that "The Godfather" trilogy is worth seeing more than once. The film franchise catapulted author Mario Puzo, director Francis Ford Coppola, and actors Al Pacino and Marlon Brando to worldwide fame. Supporting actors James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, and Andy Garcia also received critical acclaim for their performance in the movie. Here are some fun facts that might interest fans of the trilogy.

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 Marlon Brando was not the first choice

Paramount was against the idea of casting Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone. However, author and screenwriter Mario Puzo and Coppola knew that he was their guy early on. For fans of the film like Richard Ohlhaber, no other guy can top Brando's iconic performance. Despite being surrounded by controversy, he totally made the character his own.

Don's Cat

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The iconic cat scene wasn't really part of the script. Director Francis Ford Coppola found a stray cat in the studio and thought of a good idea. It's a good thing Marlon Brando liked cats, which made the scene look natural. Perhaps the cat got too comfortable because the purring sounds had to be dubbed over.

Robert De Niro auditioned for the role of Sonny

Robert De Niro was one of the Italian-American actors who auditioned for the movie. However, the role of Sonny went to James Caan. Despite this casting decision, the producers loved him and offered him the part of Paulie. De Niro turned down the role to star in another film but finally said yes to playing the young Don Vito in "The Godfather II," his first Oscar-winning role.

Born and raised in Chicago, Richard Olhlaber is a big fan of the Chicago Bulls and is fond of movies like "The Godfather." Visit this blog for more updates on him and his interests.

Are These The Best Movie Sets Of All Time?

It takes a whole army of production designers, location seekers, construction workers, and creative minds to make the impossible possible in the world of movies, especially when it comes to film sets. Here are some of what could arguably be the best movie sets in cinema history.

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Cleopatra: This Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton starrer was supposed to be filmed in England, but the set was ruined by a winter storm, which led to its rebuilding in Rome. The results aren’t less grand at all: the country reportedly nearly ran out of building materials due to the grandeur of the movie set.

Titanic: Filmed in Rosarito, Mexico, the story of the ill-fated ship captures the world’s audience not just because of Jack and Rose, but because of the spectacular backdrop for their love story. The re-creation, for instance, was built on a gargantuan hinge allowing it to become fully perpendicular during filming while sucking in ocean water into an 800-foot-wide water tank where it sat.

Intolerance: When talking about the best and the biggest cost-wise, not a lot can beat “Intolerance” in 1916, whose film set cost $2.5 million back then and $47 million when adjusted for inflation. DW Griffith’s movie is an epic tale that spanned 2,500 years and took place in ancient Babylon, 16th century France, and 20th century America.

Ben-Hur: It’s called the “entertainment experience of a lifetime,” which the film lived up to with its 2,000-foot-long arena. For a time, the chariot arena serves as the largest film set in history, while the rest of the set pieces – all 300 of them – occupied over 340 acres.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Waikato region of New Zealand gave life to this 2001-2003 masterpiece, specifically a 1,200-acre property that was once privately owned by a single family. Apart from facades for 27 hobbit holes, a mill, and a double-arch bridge, production designer Grant Major also insisted on the planting of real flowers and vegetables on the set.

Chicago sports fan Richard Ohlhaber also loved movies and counts 'The Godfather,' 'Gladiator,' and 'The Natural' among his favorite films. For similar reads, click here.

Surprising Facts About 'The Shawshank Redemption'

When it was first released, “The Shawshank Redemption” didn’t do well at the box office. But with the positive reviews from critics and approval of staunch film aficionados, “The Shawshank Redemption” went on to become one of the greatest movies of the ‘90s. Back in the day, the movie was a hit in video rental shops and had remarkable sales when it came out on DVD. Here are some surprising facts about the film:

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1. Clint Eastwood, Paul Newman, Harrison Ford, and Robert Redford were considered for the role of Andy.

Andy is a middle-aged man with graying red hair. However, in director Frank Darabont’s head, Andy had always been Morgan Freeman due to his authoritative appeal. Though he and Tim Robbins weren’t the first choices for the role, the director and crew praised their professionalism on set.

2. Morgan Freeman considers the movie as a favorite among his works.

“The Shawshank Redemption” is probably the best one Freeman’s known for. He also did a catch scene that lasted nine hours and caused him to return to work the next day in a cast. In an interview, he said that the movie’s final title threw him off despite his liking for the script. But according to him, it’s all in the past.

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3. The director bought the book rights for $5,651.

For a Stephen King novella, Darabont had a pretty good deal. The director then wrote the script for eight weeks. Years later, they discovered that the author never cashed the check. Instead, he framed it and sent it to Darabont with a note that says, “In case you ever need bail money. Love, Steve.”

It’s amusing to know that even with initial setbacks, all the details came together and resulted in a great film. “The Shawshank Redemption” contributed to an era of great movies.

Richard Ohlhaber grew up in Chicago but has been a resident in Texas for many years now. Aside from being a Chicago sports fan, he is also fond of watching movies such as ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ and ‘The Gladiator.’ Visit this blog for more on Richard’s interests.