Scorsese gives his thoughts on Tarantino’s 10-film retirement plan

Last Updated on October 27, 2023

By the time Quentin Tarantino made his debut with 1992’s Reservoir Dogs, Martin Scorsese already had 13 films under his belt. If he had stopped at movie #10 (1986’s The Color of Money), we would have never had a Hollywood where both Scorsese and QT could compete for Best Director in the same year (as happened in 2020). Heck, Tarantino hadn’t even appeared as Elvis on The Golden Girls yet! And as Scorsese has Killers of the Flower Moon (his 26th narrative feature) out in theaters now, Tarantino is about to ride into the sunset with The Movie Critic, his oft-discussed/threatened 10th and final film. So what are the 80–year-old Scorsese’s thoughts on Tarantino bowing out of the game at a mere 60, the same age he made Gangs of New York? Well, he sort of sees where he’s coming from…

Speaking with The Associated Press, Scorsese said Tarantino comes from a different artform entirely. “He’s a writer. 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.”

As for Scorsese’s continuation in the industry while Tarantino enters the world of novelizations, film criticism and even television, he pins it on his ever-growing curiosity. “I’m curious about everything still. 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.”

Scorsese released his first film (1967’s Who’s That Knocking at My Door) when Tarantino was just four, so it’s quite amusing to think that the latter will retire from filmmaking first. For what it’s worth, Tarantino has consistently cited Taxi Driver has one of his favorite films while Scorsese neglected to mention any of Tarantino’s masterpieces on his list of greatest movies of the ‘90s.

What is your favorite Martin Scorsese film since Quentin Tarantino made his debut? Give us your pick below!