Questions and Answers

Thoughts on Quentin Tarantino’s movies?

Okay, leaving out Natural Born Killers and his brief segment of Sin City

True Romance: Eh. No amount of QT magic can overcome the sheer Tony Scott-ness of the thing. It has its moments, and an impressive cast, but I haven’t returned to it since the 90s.

Reservoir Dogs: It’s primitive when compared to everything that came next, but it’s still one of the most striking directorial debuts I’ve ever seen. There’s just enough visual style on display to suggest that he knew what he was doing, but the script is the star.

Pulp Fiction: More complex and interesting than RD, but less refined than Jackie Brown. I believe it’s the only film I’ve seen three times on a big screen, so even if I no longer see it as the pinnacle of his work, it’s the Tarantino piece I love the most. (“That’s pride, fuckin’ with ya.”)

Four Rooms: His segment was largely forgettable. Tim Roth seemed like he had fun, though.

From Dusk ‘Til Dawn: Like everything he collaborates on with Robert Rodriguez, it’s full of promise, but never quite comes together. (If I’m wanting to watch a trashy blood-sucker movie, I’ll opt for John Carpenter’s Vampires instead. And if I’m wanting to watch a John Carpenter movie, I’ll watch Prince of Darkness or They Live instead of that.)

Jackie Brown: To this day, JB is still QT’s most mature film. He gives Pam Grier and Robert Forster an opportunity to be complicated, interesting old people, steadfastly refusing to turn their characters into the kind of over-the-top cartoons he writes so well. (Meanwhile, Sam Jackson and Deniro ably hold up the cartoon side of things. “Who’s that?” “That’s Beaumont.” “Who’s Beaumont?” “An employee I had to let go.”)

Kill Bill: As a whole, very good, and definitely his most visually appealing film(s). But it’s also the most empty, an exercise in style that is missing most of the hyper-verbal spark that lights up his best stuff.

Death Proof: His —intentionally— weakest effort, only notable for Kurt Russell’s gleeful performance, and the outstanding stunt work. I can really only recommend it to die-hard genre fans and foot fetishists.

Inglorious Basterds: The most fun you can have watching Nazis die. I’m willing to listen to counter-arguments, but I’d call it Brad Pitt’s first really good performance in any film. And Diane Kruger is pretty.

Django Unchained: For long stretches, it’s incredibly good… but it lags toward the end, like he couldn’t bring himself to edit out the unnecessary bits. Also his most boring, pointless acting performance in any of his films. (My favorite QT cameo is from Robert Rodriguez’s Desperado.)

The Hateful Eight: Kurt Russell in cranky-old-man mode! Jennifer Jason Leigh getting the shit beat out of her! (No woman takes on-screen abuse like JJL.) Walton Fucking Goggins! (I need to rewatch The Shield and Justified with The Idiots… I know neither of them has watched the latter, and their moms wouldn’t have let them watch the former when it aired.) I’m hesitant to call it His Best Film, but it’s in the running for the top spot, combining all the narrative gimmicks, wordplay, and balls-out performances of his best work.