Ever since Martin Scorsese likened Marvel films to "amusement parks" and said they weren't cinema seven LONG weeks ago, everyone seems to have an opinion on the subject. Everyone from Jon Favreau, to Franics Ford Coppola, to my Great Aunt Petunia feels the need to chime in. Scorsese even wrote a extremely well thought out New York Times op-ed piece that further clarified his comments. However, one person, or should I say pair, we hadn't heard from were Anthony Russo and Joe Russo. The Russo brothers of course directed this year's AVENGERS: ENDGAME which went on to become the highest grossing film of all time. And now the duo have broken their silence on the Marvel/cinema debate.
While doing press for the upcoming 21 BRIDGES, which the pair produced, the Russo brothers shared their thoughts publicly:
"Ultimately, we define cinema as a film that can bring people together to have a shared, emotional experience. When we look at the box office [of] Avengers: Endgame, we don't see that as a signifier of financial success, we see it as a signifier of emotional success. It's a movie that had an unprecedented impact on audiences around the world in the way that they shared that narrative and the way that they experienced it. And the emotions they felt watching it. The other way to think about it, too, is nobody owns cinema. We don't own cinema. You don't own cinema. Scorsese doesn't own cinema."
I have to say that the Russo's make a strong case here. As someone who saw the film in theaters I can categorically say that the movie had an emotional impact. People were cheering often and loudly and half the room was sobbing when Tony Stark died. You can't tell me a film like that doesn't carry emotional weight or impact. The Russo brothers are also absolutely correct when they say no one owns cinema. Ultimately trying to define what constitutes "real" cinema is a fruitless endeavor. The truth is it's all cinema.
However, I would like to point out that I don't think Scorsese hates Marvel films or is trying to be some gatekeeper of cinema. If you read his op-ed piece he's really lamenting the studio system as it is today. It's a system that pre-packages and field tests films so they are delivered in the safest way possible and edges out movies like THE IRISHMAN.
Although I'm glad that Scorsese's comments have sparked such intense discussion, I'm ready to move on. At this point we are beating a dead flerken and the tendency for the conversation to degenerate into name calling serves no one.
21 BRIDGES opens nationwide November 22.