Scorsese says he’s openminded about Netflix film revolution

Martin Scorsese said Sunday he’s keeping an open mind about the cinema “revolution” sparked by the rise of video streaming services, as his Netflixbacked mafia epic “The Irishman” closed the London Film Festival.

The director said the rise of streaming platforms was “an even bigger revolution than sound brought to cinema” because it “opens up the original conception of what a film is” and how it should be seen.

Scorsese told reporters he thought it was still important that movies be experienced communally.

“Homes are becoming theatres too but it’s a major change and I think one has to keep an open mind,” he said.

“The Irishman” — about the reflections of a former Jimmy Hoffa associate and hitman — is due to have a theatrical run from Nov. 1 before its Nov. 27 release on Netflix.

Scorsese took the project to Netflix after other studios turned it down, partly due to its length and the expensive deaging digital effects used to make stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci appear decades younger.

Scorsese said the CGI effects, which have come in for some criticism, were simply “an evolution of makeup.”

“You accept certain norms in makeup — you know he’s not that old, she’s not that young,” he said. “You accept the illusion.”

The 209minute film is Sunday’s closing night gala for the 12day London festival.

On Saturday the festival awarded its best film prize to Colombian director Alejandro Landes’ child soldier thriller “Monos.”

The first feature prize went to French director Mati Diop’s Senegalset drama “Atlantics,” and the documentary award was won by Rubika Shah for “White Riot,” the story of the 1970s British movement Rock Against Racism.

“Fault Line” by Iran’s Soheil Amirsharifi won the short film trophy.

Joel C. Ryan / Associated Press Director Martin Scorsese, left, and actor Al Pacino pose for photographers at the photocall of the film ‘The Irishman’ as part of the London Film Festival.