The Netflix series Pretend It's a City is all about Fran Liebowitz and is great on that merit. She's darkly funny and cynical in that sentimental New York way and explains the city as well as anyone alive right now. But it's also about Martin Scorsese who is kind of its co-star. Authors showing up their works is increasingly a feature of creative projects with very mixed results. Nothing can ruin an otherwise good piece like an overbearing author wanting to insert their point of view gratuitously (something I know firsthand.) But seeing Scorsese here setting up shots, nodding along, and asking questions is so great. Besides humanizing Liebowitz and providing a sympathetic audience, he's from a similar generation and background so she doesn't have to explain the context of what she's saying. Plus he has the greatest laugh. Hearing Martin Scorsese breaking up is now one of my new favourite things. It's one of life's joys.