We’re Not Built the Same

During a recent interview with the Associated Press to promote “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Martin Scorsese was asked to weigh in on Quentin Tarantino‘s impending retirement from feature filmmaking. Tarantino has said for many years that he plans to retire after his 10th movie because he wants to leave behind a strong and tightly-curated filmography. Tarantino is now developing his 10th feature, “The Movie Critic,” which he plans to be his last.

“I just don’t know,” Scorsese said when the topic of Tarantino’s retirement got brought up. When the AP reporter asked Scorsese if he’s just built differently than Tarantino, Scorsese answered, “I am.”

“He’s a writer,” Scorsese explained. “It’s a different thing. I come up with stories. I get attracted to stories through other people. All different means, different ways. And so I think it’s a different process…I respect writers and I wish I could. I wish I could just be in a room and create these novels, not films, novels.”

“I’m curious about everything still,” Scorsese added. “That’s one of the things. If I’m curious about something I think I’ll find a way. If I hold out and hold up, I’ll find a way to try to make something of it on film, but I have to be curious about the subject. My curiosity is still there. I couldn’t speak for Quentin Tarantino or others who are able to create this work in their world.”

If Tarantino really does retire after “The Movie Critic,” he’ll only be in his 60s at the time of leaving filmmaking behind. Scorsese, meanwhile, is 80 years old and just released “Killers of the Flower Moon” to critical acclaim.

Christopher Nolan was recently asked whether he’ll take Tarantino or Scorsese’s career path, to which the “Oppenheimer” director said: “The truth is, I understand both points of view. It’s addictive to tell stories in cinema. It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s very fun. It’s something you feel driven to do, and so it’s a little hard to imagine voluntarily stopping.”

“But I also see… Quentin’s point has always been that — and he never, very graciously, he’s never specific about the films he’s talking about or whatever — but he’s looking at some of the work done by filmmakers in later years and feeling that if it can’t live up to the heyday, it would be better if it didn’t exist,” Nolan continued. “That’s a very purist point of view. It’s the point of view of a cinephile who prizes film history.”

Nolan’s take on Tarantino’s retirement differs greatly from their friend and fellow filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson.

“I know Quentin [Tarantino] likes to say, ‘I’m making 10 movies and then I’m quitting.’ But I could never do that,” Anderson said back in 2018. “I don’t know how he could say that, or how he could take himself seriously when he says that. This is what I want to do as long as I’m able to do it. As long as I’m able to do it, I’m going to do it. I think things can become peculiar when directors don’t act their age maybe, or seeing them try to keep up with the kids or trying to be hip. That’s never a good look.”

Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” is now playing in theaters nationwide from Apple and Paramount. Watch his full interview with the AP in the video below.