Martin Scorsese may direct one or two more films

The filmmaker discusses his passion and his own mortality in a captivating GQ portrait.

“We must save cinema!”, gets carried away Martin Scorseseasked once again about Marvel’s blockbusters by GQ. “The danger of these films is what they do to our culture, he continues. Because there are going to be generations now who will think that films are just that, that that’s what a film is. They already think so, in fact! This means we must fight back harder. And it has to come from within. This must come from the filmmakers themselves. And there you will see the Safdie brothers, and you will have Chris Nolan etc… Do you know what I mean? We must attack from all sides. Strike from all sides and don’t give up. Let’s see what you have in your stomach. Go for it. Do it. Go reinvent cinema. Don’t just complain! Because it’s true, we must save cinema!”

Almost 81 years old, and just before unveiling his historical thriller Killers of the Flower Moon to the public, the director of Freed is still as passionate about the 7th art. He explains during this long portrait to what extent cinema has helped him in his personal life. To overcome illness (he suffered from asthma attacks as a child), to overcome his loneliness (to communicate with his actors, his technical team, etc.), but also to think about the world around him, to create and learn to let go. Which leads him to talk about his age, about growing older as an artist, a creator.

Very aware of his imminent death, Martin Scorsese explains that he would still like to direct a film or two: “If I still have the energy, God willing, I’d like to do two more. Maybe one, and that’s it, okay? That’s all I can do. Keep going until until I’m no longer capable of it.”

Referring to the manufacture of Killers of the Flower Moon, a film which required him to spend many months of filming, then post-production, notably alongside his editor Thelma Schoonmaker, who worked on his most acclaimed works, he touchingly recounts having seen the final result as a simple spectator. And enjoyed it.

“I’m of a certain age now, as they say. And so I think about my family, about a lot of things. And I had to see the whole movie (i.e. 206 minutes, editor’s note), because I had to check his mix. I knew it was going to take time. Before launching it, I asked myself: ‘How will I do ? Will I be able to stay focused?’ Then it started and… I looked at him. I don’t know how it happened, but… You know, I’ve been living with this project for six years, since 2017. I’ve been carrying it all this time. And there’s something about this movie… Quite simply… I loved it.”

Cannes 2023 – Killers of the Flower Moon, the impressive funeral song by Martin Scorsese

Words that remind what he said about Silencealready a historical fresco filled with strong themes and violence, which he had tried to film for years before finally being able to stage it, in 2016.

He also recounts here having slammed the door of Warner Bros in 2006, disappointed that a studio producer asked him to decline his film Infiltrators in saga or series. When there was talk of changing the story to be able to make another film in the same vein with Leonardo DiCaprio or Mark Wahlberg, he refused.

“Winning an Oscar for this film (even two: best feature film and best director, the first of his career, editor’s note) encouraged me to make another studio filmhe later regrets. It was Shutter Islandproduced by Paramount, this time. “Actually, I would have been better off not shooting it to make Silence in place”, he adds.

Shutter Island is, however, far from being a failure: it was appreciated by readers of Dennis Lehane’s book, as well as by the public who love thrillers in general and by fans of Leonardo DiCaprio. But we understand that as he gets older, Martin Scorsese only wants to devote himself to essential projects, films that matter to him.

What could be his last two achievements? He recently mentioned the idea ofa new film about Jesusand there he reveals that he started working on Homethe adaptation of a novel by Marilynne Robinson, with Todd Field, the director of Tar. But that was before the writers’ strike broke out. “How long will I be able to tour by myself? he then asks himself. I’m going to be 81.”

Killers of the Flower Moon will be released in theaters on October 18. Here is its trailer: