masculinity and ambition

His films obsessively examine masculine ambition, ruthlessness, and the corrupting pursuit of power through characters like Travis Bickle and Henry Hill.

He explores toxic masculinity and self-destructive ambition in films like *Birdman* and *The Revenant*, where men battle ego and survival instincts.

His gritty dramas dissect masculine ambition within institutional systems, examining how men pursue power and status in corrupt structures.