Martin Scorsese Reacts To Being The Most Oscar-Nominated Director Of All Time

Summary

• Martin Scorsese is the most nominated living director in Oscars history with 10 Best Director nominations, surpassing the previous record of 9 nominations.
• Scorsese’s response to his record-setting achievement is humble, focusing on his pleasure in seeing his film resonate with audiences and praising his creative collaborators.
• Despite his many nominations, Scorsese has only won the Best Director Oscar once before, and his biggest competition this year is Christopher Nolan, who already won at the Golden Globes.

Martin Scorsese has shared his thoughts on receiving more nominations than any other living director in the history of the Oscars. For the 96th Academy Awards, Scorsese received a Best Director nomination for his work on Killers of the Flower Moon, marking his tenth Best Director nomination. The previous record was shared by Scorsese and Steven Spielberg at nine nominations apiece. The Best Director nod is among the 10 Oscar nominations for Killers of the Flower Moon.

While being interviewed on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Scorsese was congratulated on Killers of the Flower Moon‘s numerous nominations and his individual record-setting achievement. Watch Scorsese’s reaction below:

Scorsese’s response is humble and focuses less on himself and more on his pleasure in seeing Killers of the Flower Moon resonating with audiences. He also praises his creative collaborators, many of whom were nominated, and their invaluable contributions to the film. Read Scorsese’s response:

For this particular film too, it’s so exciting. But more than that, because the picture means so much to me, and it took a number of years for gestation. I mean, you look back. Ten nominations over the years. I honestly don’t know how that happened. I don’t know, because you never make films for awards. You make the film the best way you can make them. I’m very pleased that so many people have been nominated for the film, including Robbie Robertson, his wonderful score and the song they have in the film. This is something very special. Lily Gladstone, of course. Amazing. And Bob de Niro too. I’m sad about Leo. I would’ve liked to have seen him in there as Best Actor, but his presence is there; it’s pivotal to the picture and the work.

Will Martin Scorsese Win Best Director This Year?

Now that Scorsese has been nominated, the question is whether he will win the Oscar for Best Director this year. Despite his many nominations, Scorsese has only won once before, for the 2006 film The Departed starring Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Scorsese’s competition this year is Justine Triet for Anatomy of a Fall, Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer, Yorgos Lanthimos for Poor Things, and Jonathan Glazer for The Zone of Interest. All the films nominated in this category are also up for Best Picture.

Scorsese’s directing in Killers of the Flower Moon is exceptional and among the best in his storied career. As evidenced in his comments, he worked on this project for many years to make sure he got it right and told a story that did justice to the deeply important and sensitive subject. Even with a three-and-a-half hour runtime, the film is paced well and never feels overlong, which is a testament to Scorsese’s stellar direction. The greatest threat to Scorsese winning this year is Nolan, who already won Best Director at the Golden Globes.

Christopher Nolan also received a BAFTA nomination for Best Direction; Martin Scorsese did not receive a nomination.

Oppenheimer is widely considered to be the best film in Nolan’s impressive body of work, a riveting and visually dazzling work of cinema praised by critics and general audiences. With 13 nominations, it received more nominations than any other film, and is a favorite poised to do well. Poor Things being hailed as Lanthimos’ best work yet, a story that wouldn’t have worked without his unique direction, gives him a chance as well, and Triet and Glazer shouldn’t be underestimated either. Either Martin Scorsese or Nolan will likely win, although any of the nominees will be deserving of the award.

Source: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert