Martin Scorsese’s Surprising Film Picks: DiCaprio Triumphs Over Gadot

Martin Scorsese recently took part in a brisk game where he was asked to select his preferred film from a series of head-to-head matchups, whittling down the options until only one remained. The celebrated director, known for his discerning taste, made some unexpected decisions along the way—most notably, favouring a Leonardo DiCaprio-led title over what many consider Gal Gadot’s standout Hollywood performance.

Scorsese’s Rapid-Fire Film Face-Off

In the opening round, Scorsese opted for Birdman rather than Clint Eastwood’s classic The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. He then selected DiCaprio’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood over Gadot’s Wonder Woman, a choice that raised a few eyebrows. The next pair saw him pick 2001: A Space Odyssey instead of Catch Me If You Can, followed by The Silence of the Lambs over Mystic River.

Moving into the second round, Scorsese chose Inside Out over Frozen, Parasite over Ratatouille, Dancer in the Dark over Twilight, and Pan’s Labyrinth over Lost in Translation. From these, he narrowed the field further: Birdman triumphed over Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, 2001: A Space Odyssey edged out The Silence of the Lambs, Parasite bested Inside Out, and Dancer in the Dark surpassed Pan’s Labyrinth.

Why 2001: A Space Odyssey Stands Out

In the semi-finals, Scorsese selected 2001: A Space Odyssey over Birdman and Parasite over Dancer in the Dark. The final showdown saw him crown 2001: A Space Odyssey as his ultimate favourite. The 1968 science fiction epic, directed and co-written by Stanley Kubrick, is renowned for its realistic depiction of space travel, groundbreaking visual effects, and enigmatic themes. The story follows humanity’s discovery of a mysterious artefact beneath the lunar surface, leading to a journey to Jupiter with the help of the sentient computer HAL 9000.

The cast included Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, and Douglas Rain as the voice of HAL 9000. The film was both a critical and commercial success, earning over $69 million worldwide on a $10.5 million budget. It holds a 90% rating on the Tomatometer, 88% on the Popcornmeter, and an 8.3/10 on IMDb. Critics have praised its exploration of human evolution, technology, artificial intelligence, and the possibility of life beyond Earth. Kubrick received four Oscar nominations for the film, winning for his direction of the visual effects—the only Academy Award he would ever claim.

Mixed Reactions from the Public

Scorsese’s choices, particularly his final pick, have prompted a flurry of responses from film enthusiasts. While many understand his admiration for Kubrick’s masterpiece, others were less convinced by some of the earlier eliminations. As one user put it,

Scorsese likes Birdman?? Based, that movies always gets shit on here

while another questioned,

Over Silence of the Lambs!? I don’t think so.

There were also those who appreciated his support for less mainstream titles:

I'm here for his Dancer in the Dark love

and some who found his preferences curious:

Only iffy one is inside out over frozen. But psychology over myth is on brand for him

Other comments included,

Birdman over the good, the bad, the ugly? No way

and

Pans Labyrinth over Lost in Translation and Dancer in the Dark over Pans Labyrinth? Typical film student.

The debate continued with,

birdman over sergio leones masterpiece??? please dont let your father be this much online

highlighting just how divisive these choices proved to be. Nevertheless, it’s clear that everyone brings their own perspective to the table, and Scorsese’s selections have certainly sparked conversation.

Where to Watch the Winning Film

For those interested in revisiting the film that topped Scorsese’s list, 2001: A Space Odyssey is currently available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel.