Marvel fans call Francis Ford Coppola a 'bitter old curmudgeon' after he slams MCU as 'despicable'
Martin Scorsese isn’t the only acclaimed director coming out against Marvel movies.
Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola of The Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now fame echoed Scorsese’s criticism of blockbuster comic book films while speaking to journalists in Lyon, France after being honored with the Prix Lumière on Friday, per the Agence France-Presse news agency and France 24.
“When Martin Scorsese says that the Marvel pictures are not cinema, he's right because we expect to learn something from cinema, we expect to gain something, some enlightenment, some knowledge, some inspiration,” the 80-year-old Coppola told reporters.
"I don't know that anyone gets anything out of seeing the same movie over and over again,” he added.
"Martin was kind when he said it's not cinema. He didn't say it's despicable, which I just say it is."
The comments from Coppola — who, according to The Hollywood Reporter, also told Lumière Festival attendees of his filmmaking methods and getting fired from Patton because of Burt Lancaster — come after Scorsese dismissed Marvel films as “not cinema,” prompting outcry from Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn and others. Last week, during the BFI London Film Festival, the man behind Goodfellas and The Irishman stood by his criticism, telling the media that “theme park films” had “invaded” movie theaters.
“Theaters have become amusement parks,” he said, per The Hollywood Reporter. “That is all fine and good but don’t invade everything else in that sense ... That is fine and good for those who enjoy that type of film and, by the way, knowing what goes into them now, I admire what they do. It’s not my kind of thing, it simply is not. It’s creating another kind of audience that thinks cinema is that."
As with Scorsese, Coppola’s anti-Marvel remarks have stirred up film buffs, with some complaining that he “hasn’t been relevant in 40 years.”
“Francis Ford Coppola said Marvel movies are ‘despicable’ but he also directed Godfather Part 3 and peddles $11 bottles of ‘Coppola’ wine out of gas stations so maybe take that s*** with a grain of salt,” read one tweet.
in today’s news renowned filmmaker and boomer francis ford coppola stands on a hill and yells at cloud about his hate for marvel movies. “i will personally strangle robert downey jr” he says. most people passing by don’t care, though one witness threw a rock at him, which he ate.
— elver galarga (@josueisbaby) October 20, 2019
Sorry gentlemen, struggling to stay relevant by being a bitter old curmudgeon and complaining about successful movies is just sad. https://t.co/rfgtFDhin7
— Christopher Rondina (@Ghostboy67) October 20, 2019
You know, the man who directed "Jack" doesn't have much of a moral high ground when it comes to accusing other people of making despicable films.https://t.co/EyN2qNaNov
— John Scalzi (@scalzi) October 20, 2019
Bunch of old artists complain about new art, I'm shook.
— BreatheBoss (@revMikeGarcia) October 20, 2019
Okay, I respect, even like Francis Ford Coppola's work.
But he and Martin are both a couple of old white guys who are truly from a different era.
He calls Marvel's films despicable. That we can't gain enlightenment, knowledge, or inspiration from them. 1/ https://t.co/PNOWWXgKBE— Lori Hyrup ︽?︽ (@LoriHyrup) October 20, 2019
But many backed his view — or at least his right to speak out. And some relished the Godfather director snubbing the MCU despite his work inspiring films like Captain America: Civil War.
Looking forward to hearing how Francis Ford Coppola is actually just jealous of Marvel’s success and doesn’t understand the intricacies of the em cee you
(and to think nerds had a meltdown over Scorsese’s polite shrugging dismissal lol, someone call an ambulance in advance now) pic.twitter.com/TkGp0aLSPH— Freddy Freeman (@wyattyhalpert) October 20, 2019
The Russos said The Godfather influenced Civil War, the director of The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola) said Marvel movies are despicable! 😂😂😂😂😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/lyppqUugaI
— 🌷🌸🌹🌺🌻🌼 ○ Primus Interpares (@LiveLoveLupe) October 20, 2019
Looking forward to hearing how Francis Ford Coppola is actually just jealous of Marvel’s success and doesn’t understand the intricacies of the em cee you
(and to think nerds had a meltdown over Scorsese’s polite shrugging dismissal lol, someone call an ambulance in advance now) pic.twitter.com/TkGp0aLSPH— Freddy Freeman (@wyattyhalpert) October 20, 2019
Martin Scorsese: “I’ll destroy the MCU”
Francis Ford Coppola: “Hold my beer Marty” pic.twitter.com/P9K91Ckw96— HUO ??????? ?? ??? ????? (@HuoBambino) October 20, 2019
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