As common as this gets, there is a recurring debate about the dominance of Marvel Studios in modern Hollywood, and how they are threatening the prospects for independent and art films. On top of that, well-known Hollywood directors have strongly criticized the entire franchise and the actors involved.
The controversy began with Martin Scorsese saying Marvel films are “not cinema,” Denis Villeneuve referring to them as “copy and paste,” and even James Cameron himself stating that marvel characters act like they’re in college.
Recently, Veteran director Quentin Tarantino stated that the actors in the MCU “are not movie stars, but the characters themselves”, to which Samuel Jackson rejected.
At this point, the marvel debate can’t be stopped, it’s self-sustaining now.
Now, Robert Downey Jr, the man, who has been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since its very inception, Iron Man, responded to the marvel criticism in a recent interview with Deadline.
“I think our opinions on these matters say a lot about us. I think that we are in a time and place that I unwittingly contributed to, where IP has taken precedence over principle and personality. But it’s a double-edged sword. A piece of IP is only as good as the human talent you get to represent it and you can have some great IP even if it’s coming from an auteur or a national treasure of a writer director, and if you don’t have the right kind of artist playing that role, you’ll never know how good it could have been.
He added:
I think that creatively it is a waste of time to be at war with ourselves. I think this is a time when everything is so much more fragmented now that I think you have this kind of bifurcation. Throwing stones one way or another…and I’ve had my reactions in the past when people said things that I felt were discrediting my integrity…I go, you know what, let’s just get over it. We’re all a community. There’s enough room for everything and thank God for Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water. That’s all I have to say. We need the big stuff to make room for films like Armageddon Time.”
“I’m not talking about trickle down entertainment. I’m just saying that things are always changing and I’m at a place in my life where I’ve now gone back to back, working with Chris Nolan on what was an exceptionally transformational experience for me; having been in pre-production post and bringing Sr. to market; and the next thing I’m doing is a series with my Mrs. and the director Park Chan Wook, based on a Pulitzer book called The Sympathizer. It’s already a transformative literally playing five different roles experience for me. So, I would just say, before we cast aspersions on each other… undergo your own renaissance and see if it doesn’t change your mind a little bit.”
Reinvent yourself before you decide that somebody else doesn’t know what they’re doing or that something is keeping you from doing your best, or that something is better than something else. You know, we’re in this age now where Favreau said it best: We used to try to make waves in a lake, and now we’re just trying to catch people’s attention as things are moving by quickly in a stream. I think that’ll change again, but this is just where we’re at. And to accept it and be grateful that you get to participate is the right place to start.
Do you agree with RDJ’s comments ? Comment down below.
