pursuit of success

His films obsessively examine the corrupting nature of ambition and the psychological toll of pursuing wealth and power through characters like Travis Bickle and Henry Hill.

He explores the destructive obsession with perfection and success through psychological thrillers like Black Swan and The Wrestler, revealing the mental breakdown accompanying relentless ambition.

His classic films like Sunset Boulevard and The Apartment dissect the moral compromises and hollow victories inherent in climbing the ladder of success in Hollywood and corporate America.