Acclaimed Director And 'Monty Python' Member Terry Gilliam Hates 'Black Panther'
Criticizing Marvel
After Martin Scorsese spent a good portion of The Irishman's promotional tour (to be fair, he was asked) explaining just what was wrong with Marvel movies and what they were doing to cinema.
Monty Python member and renowned director Terry Gilliam is the latest director to trash the mega franchise while discussing the fraught production of his film The Man Who Killed Don Quixote with Indiewire. Gilliam explained:
"I don’t like the fact they’re dominating the place so much,” he said. “They’re taking all the money that should be available for a greater variety of films. Technically, they’re brilliant. I can’t fault them because the technical skills involved in making them are incredible.
If you are that powerful, you should be dealing with reality a bit more."
The Lack Of Stakes
Gilliam continued, complaining about the lack of depth in the superhero genre.
"What I don’t like is that we all have to be superheroes do anything worthwhile. That’s what makes me crazy. That’s what these movies are saying to young people. And to me it’s not confronting the reality of, you know, the quote-unquote human condition. You know what it is like to be a normal human being in difficult situations and resolving them surviving. I can’t fault them for the sheer spectacle, except it’s repetitive. You still have to blow up another city.
Where’s the gravity, where’s real gravity? Because [in superhero movies,] everything is possible. It’s the limitations that make life interesting. Okay, so your suit burns up. So you get another suit because you’re Tony Stark. It’s not enough. They dominate so much."
Controlling The Market
Gilliam also complained about the genre limiting the market for other filmmakers as well.
"There isn’t room or money for a greater range of films. You make a film for over $150 million or less than $10 [million]. Where’s all this other stuff? It doesn’t exist anymore. I make films where I’m trying to make people think. I mean, I try to entertain them enough that they don’t fall asleep on me, and they’re there to make you think and look at the world in a different way, hopefully, and consider possibilities. Those films don’t do that.”"
He Hates Black Panther In Particular
Gilliam takes a weird turn when he discusses Marvel's Black Panther, showing a particular hatred toward that critically acclaimed film.
"I hated Black Panther. It makes me crazy. It gives young black kids the idea that this is something to believe in. Bullsh-t. It’s utter bullsh-t. I think the people who made it have never been to Africa. They went and got some stylist for some African pattern fabrics and things. But I just I hated that movie, partly because the media were going on about the importance of bullsh-t."
He continued, claiming that the film "makes my blood boil." OK, Terry.
