Born in Queens, New York, in 1942, Martin Scorsese seriously contemplated the priesthood but finally embraced cinema and, following Mean Streets (1973) emerged as the pre-eminent American director of his generation. Taxi Driver won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1976; Raging Bull (1980) is considered the greatest American film of its decade. During the 90s, he made GoodFellas (1990) and Casino (1995). In the past decade he has made, Gangs of New York (2002), The Aviator (2004) and Shutter Island (2010). He received an Oscar of Best Director for The Departed in 2007.