A few weeks ago, director Martin Scorsese expressed his feelings regarding the success of the Marvel movies, which have dominated theaters in the last few years.
Scorsese had said:
“That’s not cinema. Honestly, the closest I can think of them, as well made as they are, with actors doing the best they can under the circumstances, is theme parks. It isn’t the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being.”
This statement created a lot of controversy and debate among movie goers, actors and directors. Some directors, like Joss Whedon and James Gunn, strongly disagreed with Scorsese’s comments while others, like Francis Ford Coppola, came to his defense.
“When Martin Scorsese says that the Marvel pictures are not cinema, he’s right because we expect to learn something from cinema, we expect to gain something, some enlightenment, some knowledge, some inspiration. I don’t know that anyone gets anything out of seeing the same movie over and over again. Martin was kind when he said it’s not cinema. He didn’t say it’s despicable, which I just say it is.”
Disney CEO, Bob Iger, was recently asked by the Wall Street Journal for his opinion on Scorsese and Coppola’s comments, and this is what Iger had to say:
“I’m puzzled by it. If they want to b—- about movies, it’s certainly their right. It seems so disrespectful to all the people that work on those films who are working just as hard as the people who work on their films. Are you telling me Ryan Coogler making ‘Black Panther’ is somehow doing something that is less than what Marty Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola has ever done on any one of their movies?
“I reserve the word ‘despicable’ for someone who committed mass murder. These are movies. I don’t get what they’re trying to criticize us for when we are making films that people obviously are enjoying.”
This debate has been going on for several weeks… and is probably not over yet.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Scorsese nailed it…too bad if hurts some Marvel feelings.
The movies are for the public.
The public decides what they want to see.
The End.
exactly
Scorsese takes the film medium too seriously at times, leaving directors like Steven Spielberg to create the more escapist fare. Of course, Spielberg, and in my opinion, the Marvel directors, show that a popcorn flick can still be flawless and important popular art; Raiders of the Lost Ark or Black Panther might not be as serious as Raging Bull, but they are still great films. Scorsese did say the Marvel movies are well-made, just that they don’t meet his personal (and to some objectable) definition of art.
But at least Scorsese has continued to make relevant and well-made films. Francis Ford Coppola, on the other hand, hasn’t made a decent movie in over 30 years. Actually, one of his last artistic triumphs may even meet his definition of despicable- a little film called Captain Eo!
Coming from the guy who made Godfather 3. Not sure it’s wise to throw stones.
How ridiculous. These types of films are able to provide commentary on humanity in a way that more realistic films cannot. They have insights on love, acceptance, and genuine human emotion and present them in a very entertaining way. What more do you need to call something cinema? Mr. Scorsese must not have actually watched these movies, or at least not very carefully. It’s just wrong headed to dismiss an entire genre out of hand.
I’ve always argued there is a difference between movies and films. Films, in my opinion, are more pretentious and pandering to a “higher class” audience (ie. Citizen Kane and its ilk.) Movies are more “low class” like the MCU genre. Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying, I would 100% prefer to go see a good movie than sit through a boring film.
As far as Coppola goes, the man that executive produced Jeepers Creepers 2 should probably not be throwing stones in his glass house.
What they seem to be trying to say without actually saying it is, “we’re really pissed that some movies are seen by more people, get more press, are more popular, and make more money than those we make”.