It's been a long time coming for director Martin Scorsese who for years has put out a string of great and classic films but has never been properly recognized by Hollywood until now. Last night his Boston crime thriller "The Departed" scored gold as it took home top honors as the Best Picture of the Year. Even sweeter, Scorsese's tale of corruption also bagged him the coveted Best Director statue at the Oscars.
He captured the prize that has eluded him for decades, despite having been nominated for "Raging Bull", "The Last Temptation of Christ," "Goodfellas", "Gangs of New York" and "The Aviator".
Three legendary directors, Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, and George Lucas - all friends of Marty - were on the stage together to give the award for the Best Director. When Marty's name was announced, the audience erupted and gave him a standing ovation, the loudest ovation of the evening.
"I'm overwhelmed, and also the honor of being presented by my old friends - we go back 37 years," Scorsese said. "I'm so moved... I'm so moved."
He thanked the cast, especially, "Leo DeCaprio, 6 1/2 years we've worked together.. and I hope another 12, another 15!"
Scorsese went on to thank the crew, the studio, and "that crazy script by Bill Monahan that got me in all this trouble in the first place."
"I just want to say," he continued in his rapid-fire speech, "that so many people have been wishing this for me for so many years...strangers, walking in the streets, at the doctor's office, whatever...people say to me 'You should win one! You should win one!' And I say 'Thank you' ...but I say that... friends that I've known for years have been wishing this for me and my family, and [to them] I say, 'this is for you.'"
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