In January’s Most Anticipated Films of ‘09 post, I had Martin Scorsese’s “Shutter Island” at number 9. Below Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds.” Below Guy Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes.” Below (comparatively) modest entries by two of Marty’s most prominent would-be imitators.

I’m taking this opportunity to make a formal apology.

Meanwhile, a few thoughts on the most influential American filmmaker of his era:

1.) “Gangs of New York,”  “The Aviator,” “The Departed” and “Shutter Island” have essentially accomplished for Leonardo DiCaprio what “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull” and “Goodfellas” did for Robert De Niro.

Here’s a bad sports analogy: Think of Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Neither of the latter two has won NBA titles without the former, and as a result both stars owe much of their Hall of Fame-caliber careers to Jackson’s prowess as a head coach.

(Hey, comparing Robert De Niro and Michael Jordan makes sense, right? On second thought, unless you’re a die-hard DiCaprio devotee, Leo-Kobe won’t hold under closer inspection. At least not yet. But you get my point.)

Scorsese and De Niro in 1976 (left); directing DiCaprio in 2004 (right)

2.) Since 2002, Martin Scorsese hasn’t been the Martin Scorsese of old …

… but it’s hardly for reasons you might think. I myself have been guilty in the past for accusing Scorsese as a Hollywood conformist (read: sell-out) for his last three feature films, but I’ve since realized my own naivete. What we’re essentially witnessing is the evolution of a master: astute, timely and marvelously played out.

From the auteur responsible for once-in-a-decade masterworks (”Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” “Goodfellas”) to the helmsman of sprawling commercial feats like “The Aviator” and “The Departed,” the aspect that stands out the most about Scorsese is his ability to evolve with the times. With each new work, he maintains a standard of excellence rivaled by few of his contemporaries: the obsessive perfectionism, the unparalleled dedication to tone and rhythm and perhaps most of all, the burning passion for a medium that he single-handedly revolutionized.

Martin Scorsese, through the years.

3.) Mark Ruffalo, Michelle Williams, Max von Sydow and John Carroll Lynch together in a Scorsese picture?

I’m counting down the days to October. Starting now. Who’s with me?