Martin Scorsese, the visionary director renowned for his masterful storytelling, stands resolute in his vision for Killers of the Flower Moon. Based on David Grann’s eponymous book, the film vividly recounts the haunting events surrounding the Osage Nation murders in the 1920s.
The upcoming Apple TV Plus saga, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone, promises an immersive experience at an impressive three hours and 26 minutes.
In anticipation of the film’s theatrical debut this month, Scorsese tackles its extended duration in an interview with Hindustan Times. Much like James Cameron’s stance on the runtime of Avatar: The Way of Water, Scorsese underscores that the era of binge-watching TV series has made lengthy movies a more manageable affair. Read Scorsese’s insightful take below:
“In the case of Killers of the Flower Moon, it should be seen on the big screen. Are we intending to make a blockbuster? No, we’re making a movie, which should watched on the big screen. Other pictures I made? Maybe not. Sometimes, it’s the strength of the picture too, if it plays well on a smaller screen, that’s interesting.
“Killers could play on a small screen, but in order to truly immerse yourself, you should take out the time. People say it’s three hours, but come on, you can sit in front of the TV and watch something for five hours. Also, there are many people who watch theatre for 3.5 hours. There are real actors on stage, you can’t get up and walk around. You give it that respect, give cinema some respect.”
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Typically, shorter films are more financially viable, allowing for more screenings per day. However, recent successes challenge this norm.
The ideal runtime depends on the film’s unique storytelling needs. Killers of the Flower Moon is lauded as a cinematic masterpiece, justifying its longer duration. Martin Scorsese believes this shouldn’t deter audiences from the theater experience.
