While I prefer this film FAR more than "The Wolf of Wall Street" I do think they both include something that Scorsese has run wild with which is extended improv. Improv has always been a major part of his style going all the way back to "Who's That Knocking at my Door?" and "Mean Streets" but recently he feels even more and more compelled to allow scenes to drag on while the actors run the show.
I think it generally works in this film though I do think it's partly to blame for the film's bloated length. Specifically it hampers the blocking of a few scenes where the characters feel uncharacteristically locked into a medium or close-up for long periods of time. The first big scene between Ernest and Hale is one example that sticks out very prominently. The beat switches feel so disjointed, almost as if DeNiro was just given a to-do list of subjects and exposition to cover.
I'm sounding like a hater but I'm not. I really enjoyed the picture and think Scorsese has entered the best phase of his career with this current trilogy of internal epics (Silence, The Irishman, and now Killers of the Flower Moon). I'm just brining up this criticism of his overuse of improv because I think it's interesting that even after all these years, Scorsese still makes film with the curiosity and enthusiasm of a student, trying to push every tool to its limit.
Completely agree with everything that you said. That one earlier scene is particularly egregious, and I noticed that, too. But the Irishman was even worse, whereas this has a bit more of an intentionality.
But absolutely - his last three films are probably my favorite of his.
While I prefer this film FAR more than "The Wolf of Wall Street" I do think they both include something that Scorsese has run wild with which is extended improv. Improv has always been a major part of his style going all the way back to "Who's That Knocking at my Door?" and "Mean Streets" but recently he feels even more and more compelled to allow scenes to drag on while the actors run the show.
I think it generally works in this film though I do think it's partly to blame for the film's bloated length. Specifically it hampers the blocking of a few scenes where the characters feel uncharacteristically locked into a medium or close-up for long periods of time. The first big scene between Ernest and Hale is one example that sticks out very prominently. The beat switches feel so disjointed, almost as if DeNiro was just given a to-do list of subjects and exposition to cover.
I'm sounding like a hater but I'm not. I really enjoyed the picture and think Scorsese has entered the best phase of his career with this current trilogy of internal epics (Silence, The Irishman, and now Killers of the Flower Moon). I'm just brining up this criticism of his overuse of improv because I think it's interesting that even after all these years, Scorsese still makes film with the curiosity and enthusiasm of a student, trying to push every tool to its limit.
Completely agree with everything that you said. That one earlier scene is particularly egregious, and I noticed that, too. But the Irishman was even worse, whereas this has a bit more of an intentionality.
But absolutely - his last three films are probably my favorite of his.