Very recently, after reading a long portrait of Scorsese, I had an irresistible desire to binge-watch several of his films. But I noticed, as expected, that they are scattered across several platforms: on Amazon Prime ‘Taxi Driver’, ‘Casino’ … and “Silence”; “Goodfellas” on HBO; in MGM “Raging Bull”; and we could continue counting.
Are there really people who have six or seven platforms? Perhaps those who devote all their free time to cinema – to the detriment of music, exercise or reading – but especially those who have the financial means. Because I’m sure the vast majority can’t afford more than two streaming platforms, and sometimes none, when it comes to poor countries like those in Latin America.
There are those who argue that what the platforms have done is democratize access to cinema. I don’t believe it. This is a fictitious democratization. What they have done is fragment audiences, deprive many of the films we would like to see, and trade the dazzling power of the big screen for the unfortunately lesser power of televisions. Denis Villeneuve, the director of “Blade Runner 2049”, complained about the latter in an open letter to “Variety” about one of his cinematic works: “Streaming can produce good content, but not films of the scope and scale of “Dune”… it is by far the best film I have ever made. My team and I have dedicated more than three years of our lives to making this a unique experience on the big screen. “The image and sound of our film were meticulously designed to be seen in cinemas.
It’s sad that the rituals around cinemas are disappearing
Before, at least, the big releases were in theaters, but we are already starting to see them happening on platforms. We also see that some great directors fail when they decide to make series for themselves, as was the case of Scorsese himself with “Vinyl”, which despite its quality caused enormous losses to HBO.
Let’s not lie: the transformation of industry – which we have no choice but to recognize and accept – is nothing other than another manifestation of the cannibalization of capitalism which absurdly multiplies consumerism. But there’s more: the platforms, with their management of the algorithm, do not extend the viewer’s possibilities, but on the contrary reduce them by only offering what suits their mode of consumption.
It is true that after a long day at work, or a rainy night, it can be a joy to watch a good film on a streaming platform and that certain series have undeniable quality. But it is regrettable that the rituals around cinemas are disappearing, which, among other things, are increasingly dedicated, to top it all off, to offering the worst entertainment.
And that we are missing out on this climate which creates the collective experience – the one which continues to exist when we attend a big concert or go to football – of going to the cinema. May we abandon ourselves to the sedentary lifestyle that the pandemic has left as a legacy, but also to this exacerbation of individualism which is the sign of our times. And don’t think I’m speaking out of nostalgia.
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