The Time James Gunn Didn’t Hesitate to Call Martin Scorsese’s $182 Million Movie Remake “Not a Great Film”

SUMMARY

• Gunn believes remakes can work side-by-side with the originals, enriching the viewing experience, as seen with Cape Fear, according to him.
• Gunn calls the film “not great” but highlights its value when paired with the 1962 original.
• Despite its commercial success and praise for De Niro’s performance, Cape Fear faced criticism for its excessive style compared to the original’s subtlety.

James Gunn has always been blunt about his opinions because he’s not the kind of person who would hold his words back to please others. The filmmaker has worked on franchises like Guardians of the Galaxy and took on some bold risks. On the other hand, we have Martin Scorsese, who is hailed as one of the best directors. 

James Gunn | Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum / YouTube

So Gunn making a remark about Scorsese’s project could potentially anger a lot of cinephiles. The latter’s name commands respect in every corner of the industry, and publicly criticizing his work could open the floodgates to hate comments.

James Gunn’s take on Martin Scorsese’s Cape Fear

Martin Scorsese | BFI / YouTube

James Gunn seems to have complicated opinions about remakes, and he put them forth in a 2001 interview with Fanboy Planet. He spoke about reimagining George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. Gunn was hesitant but found that offering a fresh perspective and honoring the original was the right way to create a remake. When the interviewer asked him to elaborate on his words he gave Cape Fear as an example.

Gunn did not mean any disrespect to Scorsese, he simply wanted to hammer in the point that the movie was not as enjoyable on its own, but when paired with the original, the experience becomes even more elevated. But still, it’s rare for filmmakers to casually critique someone like the Goodfellas director. 

Revisiting Martin Scorsese’s Cape Fear: was James Gunn right?

Robert De Niro in Cape Fear (1991) | Universal Pictures

The Martin Scorsese directorial Cape Fear had an all-star cast with industry giants like Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, and Jessica Lange. The movie was all about exploring heavy themes like vengeance, morality, and how fragile family bonds can be at times. 

The remake was reimagined through the director’s unsettling and intense lens, and despite its commercial success, there are critics who share the same sentiment as Gunn. De Niro was praised for playing Max Cady and even actors like Hugh Jackman took inspiration from this role, but the loud and excessive stylistic choices in the movie did not sit right with everyone. 

The original was subtle, which is probably what most Scorsese fans expect when they walk into a theatre to watch his movie, and like James Gunn, they weren’t as pleased with this remake. But there were still some folks who thoroughly enjoyed it, which shows that films labeled as “not great” by someone can still be of significance to others. 

Written by Sonika Kamble

Articles Published: 416

Sonika thrives on her passion for cinema, artistic expression, and philosophical exploration. Every medium of storytelling intrigues her, and she can’t help but dissect the layers to unravel the deeper meaning behind an arc or a scene. She finds contentment in playing chess, vibing to background scores, and penning the next chapter of her book. Sonika is driven by the idea of being a dutiful and responsible human who dedicates herself to a task, regardless of the outcome—a principle she’s committed to upholding at FandomWire.