Bob Dylan Picks Scorsese’s Most Controversial Film as His Top Choice
Bob Dylan opens up about his top Martin Scorsese film, revealing a surprising favourite and sharing the story behind their creative connection.
There’s something special about the creative bond between Martin Scorsese and Bob Dylan. Scorsese’s love for music is well-known, and you get the sense he could’ve been a muso himself if things had gone differently. His knack for choosing just the right track for a scene is legendary—think of those classic moments in Mean Streets. But he’s also gone a step further, dedicating entire films to musicians. The Last Waltz, for example, captured The Band’s final gig and featured a stack of big names, including Dylan. Over the years, Scorsese has circled back to Dylan’s story more than once.
In 2005, Scorsese put together No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, a deep dive into the folk legend’s life and impact. He wasn’t done there, either. In 2019, he returned with Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese, another look at Dylan’s journey. Dylan’s life has inspired plenty of films, from Don’t Look Back in the late ‘60s to the more recent A Complete Unknown, starring Timothée Chalamet. But it’s Scorsese’s documentaries that really get to the heart of Dylan’s story, helped along by the fact that Dylan himself holds the director in high regard.
Mutual Respect and a Surprising Favourite
During a gig at New York’s Beacon Theatre, Dylan didn’t hold back in his praise for Scorsese.
“Martin Scorsese, he’s out there. He’s one of probably the best directors, ever.”
He then let slip which of Scorsese’s films tops his list, and it’s not one you’d expect. Dylan’s pick is the religious epic that caused a stir when it hit cinemas in 1988, with some even calling it blasphemous.
“My favourite movie, I told him before, is The Last Temptation of Christ,”
Dylan said. He even joked,
“I think he’s gonna make one for the first temptation one of these days. Right, Marty? You just got to, for me.”
The film, starring Willem Dafoe as Jesus, follows the character as he grapples with his own desires, guilt, and even lust, all while knowing he’s the son of God. It was a gutsy move to bring this story to the screen, and it’s no shock that it ruffled feathers, especially among religious groups.
Backlash and Bans
The film’s release sparked outrage, particularly from Catholic groups. In Paris, things got out of hand when a cinema showing the film was set on fire, leaving several punters injured. That’s the sort of thing that can happen when a film pushes boundaries, so it’s not surprising it was banned in a few countries for years. Scorsese had to watch as his work was censored and kept from audiences, which must’ve stung, especially knowing he had fans like Dylan in his corner.
Dylan, known for his own strong beliefs, stood by the film. It’s not really a shock that he’d go for Scorsese’s most divisive work—he’s never been one to shy away from a bit of controversy.