It's Not Just You, Murray!

Out of his earlier works, I would say Italianamerica is my favourite, but this short film is just as important.

Not to be compared with his more serious works, Scorsese's short film is a comedy piece where we are introduced to the life of a small time hood - Murray, who is oblivious to the fact that even his best friend is betraying him. This gives way for some interesting set pieces.

This film could have been a start of Scorsese's interaction with mob life. The ideas of male bonding etc, are used here, and will later be seen in Mean Streets in 73. Mean Streets was also influenced by I Viteloni by Fellini - so if you are interested in Scorsese's work, and how it came to be, watch that film.

If you are a Scorsese fan, you must see this - as it helps you understand his later works. Also recommended : Italianamerica/Big Shave/what's a nice girl like you doing in...

See some Truffaut to - for technique.

Martin was already 22 or 23 when this short was made at NYU. One has to wonder how he was able to score such elaborate sets for this film. I mean interiors couldnt have all been filmed at NYU, no?

You also have to wonder what happened to teh actors who never worked again and how they feel that he's still making money off this movie and they arent.

It's a really well made short although the story gets old quicker than the 15 minutes it takes to finish watching the film.

I guess It's Not Just You, Murray! Would count as Scorsese's first crime film, even though it's pretty light on the crime overall and feels more like a broad comedy. Still, I found it to be a fairly fun, is scattershot watch. Another key first is this is, I believe, the first time Scorsese put his mother in a role in one of his films, and she's responsible for some of this short's funniest moments.

I wasn't expecting it to turn into a Federico Fellini parody or homage; it felt a bit like they didn't know how to wrap things up in just 15 minutes. But the bulk of this short film is pretty entertaining, and also succeeded in making me laugh a handful of times - Scorsese's knack for comedy has always been underrated.

Murray has done ok for himself. Expensive ties, shoes, cars the self aggrandizing Murray admits he could not have done it without Joe. Problem is Joe and his wife have this thing for each other.

Martin Scorsese's influence and go to territory over the next half century reveal themselves early in this well shot amusing student film. The Fellini (Germi less so) influence is a blatant but impressive homage while some of the imagery and characterization could fit smoothly into Raging Bull. Populating his filmography with Little Italy good fellers and wise guy mainstays Murray and his "good friend" Joe would be the prototype for decades to come. Here they have a sly charm but the single cuckold theme can only go so far in this overall well mounted little short.

I attend NYU, and was lucky to be shown a print of this short. The movie is entirely innovative, and does have some of Scorsese's trademark themes, such as crime and, of course, his mother. The story centers around a man and all the horrible things his friend Murrary does to him.

This movie is, however, uncharacteristically funny for a Scorsese film. It is very similar to an early Woody Allen movie, such as Bananas, in that regard. It also contains some nods to avant garde cinema, such as Goddard or Fellini, especially in the last scene.

All in all, a fabulous little movie that shows inclinations of things to come from Scorsese~