While Marvel Studios has been attracted prestigious filmmakers likeRyan CooglerandChloe Zhaoto its ranks over the last few years, one lauded director who won’t be venturing into the MCU is living legendMartin Scorsese. The iconic filmmaker and film historian was asked his thoughts on the Marvel Cinematic Universe recently, and he, uh, is not crazy about them.
Speaking toEmpire(viaScreenRant), Scorsese admitted he doesn’t view Marvel movies as cinema:
“I don’t see them,” revealed Scorsese. “I tried, you know? But 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.”
Respectfully, I’ve gotta disagree here. I mean when it comes toThor: The Dark WorldorIron Man 2, Scorsese’s got a point. But films likeBlack Panther,Spider-Man: Homecoming, and evenAvengers: Endgameelegantly thread genuine emotional stakes throughout the blockbuster spectacle. Heck,Black Pantheris one of the most potent and probing chronicles of race in America in recent memory—and it’s a superhero movie!
By his own admission Scorsese doesn’t see Marvel movies, so it’s possible he simply hasn’t seen the latter—and frankly much better—installments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so perhaps he’s unaware of how the limits of the genre are being stretched. Or maybe hehasseenBlack PantherandAvengers: Endgameand just doesn’t like them—which is fine too. Like what you like, and I’m not about to tell Martin Scorsese, one of the foremost scholars on the history of cinema, that he’s “wrong” about superhero movies.
To go one further, I don’t think serious film fans even actuallywantScorsese to potentially direct a superhero movie. There are limitations within the genre of course, and as good as films likeEndgameandSpider-Man: Homecomingare, you don’t necessarily feel likeonlyThe Russo BrothersandJon Watts, respectively, could have directed those films. On the flip side, what isThe Wolf of Wall Streetwithout Scorsese’s masterful handle on tone and theme? Who’s making movies likeSilence? The guy is a singular talent, so I personally am 100% fine with him steering clear of superhero movies and continuing to do his own thing.
We, as consumers of entertainment, then get to enjoy both. So Martin Scorsese doesn’t like Marvel movies. He’s certainly not the only one, and his dislike of the franchise shouldn’t hinder your enjoyment of either the MCU or Scorsese’s films.
Speaking of which, Scorsese’s doing just fine. His latest epicThe Irishmanis drawingrave reviewsandis a major Oscar contender.
