Summary:
- Legendary director Martin Scorsese has publicly declared that the MCU movies aren’t “cinema,” thus receiving a lot of backlash from Marvel communities.
- Despite not being very fond of the MCU, Scorsese likes Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy in particular.
- The director also slammed other movie franchises for being too heavily modified to please the audience.
Martin Scorsese, the acclaimed director behind films like The Wolf of Wall Street and The Irishman, has often stirred debate with his views on modern cinema, particularly his recent critique of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Despite his reservations about superhero films, which he famously compared to theme parks rather than traditional cinema, Scorsese holds a notable exception for Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy.
In 2019, Scorsese’s commented about the MCU not being “cinema” sparked widespread discussion, and even received a lot of backlash from dedicated Marvel fans. He elaborated on his views in a New York Times op-ed, explaining that while he respects the craft involved in such blockbuster films, he misses the emotional depth and personal themes that he associates with true cinema.
Scorsese draws parallels between MCU films and Alfred Hitchcock’s classics, acknowledging both as forms of grand entertainment but noting a lack of emotional stakes in the former.
“I’ve tried to watch a few of them and that they’re not for me, that they seem to me to be closer to theme parks than they are to movies as I’ve known and loved them throughout my life, and that in the end, I don’t think they’re cinema,” said the renowned director. So, what makes Sam Raimi‘s Spider-Man a special case for Scorsese?
It appears that Sam Raimi’s approach to Spider-Man breaks this mold for Scorsese. He appreciates how Raimi infuses his superhero narrative with the trials of Peter Parker, a good person Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, also follows this same pattern, as he has to get used to his new powers, learns to move past vengeance and forgiveness to be everyone’s hero.
“Sam Raimi’s films I like, actually. And I’m really glad that was a big success,” Scorsese remarked, appreciating Raimi’s ability to blend spectacular action with personal dilemmas, to grow out of adversity, find their inner power, and rise above evil, much like his earlier films such as Darkman and The Evil Dead Trilogy, exactly what Scorsese wants in his “cinema.
Scorsese’s praise for Raimi’s Spider-Man suggests a recognition of superhero films that prioritize character development and directorial vision, setting them apart from the formulaic nature of many modern blockbusters. This perspective aligns with Scorsese’s broader criticism of the “sanitization” of blockbuster filmmaking, where films are heavily modified through market research and audience testing to ensure they are palatable but often lack genuine artistic intent.
The director explained, “Everything in them is officially sanctioned because it can’t really be any other way. That’s the nature of modern film franchises: market-researched, audience-tested, vetted, modified, revetted and remodified until they’re ready for consumption. This applies to not only the MCU, but also other big-name franchises, such as Star Wars, Transformers, or the Fast Saga.
Raimi’s films, according to Scorsese, maintain their unique voice amid a sea of generic spectacles. They resonate because they reflect a singular vision from start to finish, not just a quest for box office success.
This distinction is crucial for Scorsese as cinema evolves, with directors like James Gunn and Ryan Coogler occasionally achieving similar feats within the MCU framework with the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogies or Black Panther. However, these kinds of movies in the MCU are exceptionally rare.
As discussions about cinema’s future continue, Scorsese’s nuanced views on films like Raimi’s Spider-Man offer a reminder of the potential for depth and artistry within even the most mainstream genres.
