A theme running through most recent (within the past five years or so) interviews with Martin Scorsese is about how the filmmaker laments the current state of the film industry. Particularly, the legendary filmmaker isn’t pleased with Hollywood filmmaking and the content being produced—mostly comic book films and franchise projects. But, as he explained in more depth to GQ, Scorsese isn’t upset that the superhero films exist. Instead, the filmmaker is worried about the effect those films have on the newer generations’ views about what cinema actually means.
In a long, wide-ranging GQ profile, Martin Scorsese talks about his new film, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” but he also goes deep with a variety of other topics, including the future of the cinema and the film industry. As mentioned, the filmmaker has made plenty of headlines where he has directly (or indirectly) said that Marvel films (and franchise films, in general) don’t qualify as “cinema” and they have a negative impact on the industry. Now, he’s explaining those feelings in greater depth.
“The danger there is what it’s doing to our culture,” said Scorsese. “Because there are going to be generations now that think movies are only those – that’s what movies are.”
He added, “Which means that we have to then fight back stronger. And it’s got to come from the grassroots level. It’s gotta come from the filmmakers themselves. And you’ll have, you know, the Safdie brothers, and you’ll have Chris Nolan, you know what I mean? And hit ’em from all sides. Hit ’em from all sides, and don’t give up. Let’s see what you got. Go out there and do it. Go reinvent. Don’t complain about it. But it’s true, because we’ve got to save cinema.”
It’s that c-word—“cinema”—that seems to be the lightning rod that earns Scorsese the negative comments from comic book movie fans online. It’s the idea that a filmmaker would discount other films, such as franchise films, and say they aren’t on the same cinematic level as some sort of Oscar-bait drama. So, how does Scorsese define cinema? Well, he offers up a definition by explaining why “manufactured content” doesn’t qualify.
“I do think that the manufactured content isn’t really cinema,” Scorsese explained. “But what I mean is that, it’s manufactured content. It’s almost like AI making a film. And that doesn’t mean that you don’t have incredible directors and special effects people doing beautiful artwork. But what does it mean? What do these films – what will it give you? Aside from a kind of consummation of something and then eliminating it from your mind, your whole body, you know? So what is it giving you?”
Are these explanations enough to appease fans of Marvel and DC superhero films? Or those people who love the “Fast & Furious” films? Probably not. Those folks take these films very seriously, and they would probably disagree with Scorsese’s valuation of the work. That said, regardless of your fandom, there is merit to what the filmmaker is saying. There will be generations coming now that don’t understand what the power of film can have on a person. But can that be stopped?
“Killers of the Flower Moon” arrives in theaters on October 20.