Is Martin Scorsese America?s greatest living director? It?s open to debate, but most movie buffs would agree that he?s created a body of work that is astonishing in its consistency and depth. Scorsese?s films contain many grand themes ? organized crime, male insecurity, spiritual and moral uncertainty ? and they?re executed with a level of artistic panache and intimate detail that few can match. Scorsese has exerted a profound influence on many important directors, including Quentin Tarantino, Spike Lee, and John Woo. And with apologies to Lee and Woody Allen, Scorsese is perhaps the greatest cinematic chronicler of New York?s distinctive social landscape.

While he?s considered one of the most important filmmakers to emerge in the 1970s, the 2000s have found Scorsese enjoying yet another fertile period, one that culminated with The Departed, for which he was granted his first Best Director Oscar. With his latest, Shutter Island, hitting theaters Feb. 19, we?ve decided to take a closer look at some of Scorsese?s most important films. However, rather than rank them by Tomatometer, we chose the movies that we feel best define the man?s art and stylistic breadth.

So join us for a tour of Scorsese's career -- a journey that will take us from the Bronx to Vegas, from Tibet to Boston, with plenty of interesting scenery along the way.

Written by Tim Ryan