Cinemagoers were in for a rare treat recently as titan directors Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese engaged in a post-screening discussion following a viewing of “Killers of the Flower Moon”. This was no ordinary cinematic conversation, but a deep-dive into their legendary film experiences.
Emulating the Greats
As reported by Gregory Ellwood for The Playlist, Spielberg pointed out the longstanding collaboration between Scorsese and Robert De Niro. The duo, who’ve worked on 11 films together, are three films shy of equalling the impressive record set by John Ford and John Wayne―14 film collaborations. Spielberg urged Scorsese and De Niro to strive for three more collaborations.
Legendary Duo: Bobby D and Leo D
Spielberg also highlighted Scorsese’s frequent collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio, known fondly as “Leo D”, marking his sixth on-screen time with Scorsese. Spielberg humorously pointed out Scorsese’s long-standing partnership with De Niro, alias “Bobby D”, was 11 films deep―three more and they’d be tied with John Ford and John Wayne’s record.
Wrapping up the night, Spielberg bestowed Scorsese with the acknowledgement he richly deserves, calling him “the master of our medium”.
Scorsese: The Uncontested Master
In the grand scheme of filmmaking, Martin Scorsese’s unsurpassed directorial prowess leaves no room for competition. Francis Ford Coppola’s praise for Scorsese as the “greatest living director” echoes the sentiment of many. While there are other remarkable directors still gracing the silver screen, none quite parallel Scorsese’s unparalleled filmography.
Close in proximity to Scorsese’s mastery are Spielberg, Coppola, Lynch, PTA, Malick, Coen, Eastwood, Allen, Polanski, Almodovar, Haneke – true giants in the realm of film.
Masterpiece or Not?
While the hype around “Killers of the Flower Moon” is palpable, calling it Scorsese’s masterpiece might be an overreach. There’s no denying the film’s quality. However, the revolutionary impacts of Scorsese’s seminal works such as “Goodfellas” and “Taxi Driver” are hard to outshine. Nevertheless, with Oscar season on the horizon, it looks like Scorsese is gearing up for some serious competition.
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