Quentin Tarantino

[LionelHutz]

The only problem I have with Tarantino is that he's extremely overrated..Ordinary people and critics seems to go crazy over him,which it's very annoying to real cinephiles,considering his "influences" are rarely cited.

That said his films range from very good (at least jackie brown showed he can actually get some substance out of all that knowledge about cult films) to to pointless exercises in style which are mindless fun most of the time.Again,I wouldn't dislike the guy so much if only there wasn't so much hype around him. That, and the fact that he seems to think he's god's gift to contemporary cinema!

[flyonthewall2983]

I never, ever saw anything that had Gilliam and Tarantino in the same picture, talking about the same thing. The fact that Gilliam was his champion from the beginning just blows my mind. Talk about validity!

It was interesting to see Terry on it, but I am in total disagreement with his views on True Romance. Anyone else with me on this?

[exte]

I have to say I'm quite surprised that that was the first I've ever heard of Terry Gilliam, of all people, being a part of the success of Reservoir Dogs. How come it's not mentioned on the dvd? Or the commentary? It would've been insane, just insane, if Gilliam and Tarantino did a commentary together for it... but maybe there's been a 'falling out' I don't know about?

[Antoine Doinel]

Kill Bill producer Bennett Walsh talks about two more possible sequels.

[Kenji]

So the Tarantino thread finds itself next to the Oliveira thread. One a thieving magpie, a juvenile film geek with too many films in his life and not enough life in his films, the other...; one with a gift for self-promotion, the other..... well, "who the hell is this guy Oliveira?"

Suzuki is a far more interesting director than QT. Tarantino's characters might as well have a flashing sign over their heads, "look at me i'm a cool character in a cool Tarantino film". (Er, Pulp Fiction was great fun first time round). I suppose some credit to Tarantino for at least bringing "foreign films" -if not always the greatest masterpieces- to wider attention. And for proving influence certainly doesn't equate with greatness.

[Narshty]

Suzuki is a far more interesting director than QT. Tarantino's characters might as well have a flashing sign over their heads, "look at me i'm a cool character in a cool Tarantino film".

I don't want this to turn into a truly pointless Suzuki vs. Tarantino thread, but whatever else he's good at, Suzuki is rarely a master of nuanced characterisation. Besides, you might use the same accusation along the lines of "Look at me; I'm an introspective character in a Rohmer film" or "Hey everybody, I'm a troubled passive-aggressive cultural anachronism in a Peckinpah film". For example.

I'm no die-hard fan of Tarantino, but it's awfully boring hearing the same old criticisms. There are all sorts of things I find naff in much of his work that are almost never touched upon (his handling of tone and writing of dialogue dipped massively in Kill Bill, I felt), but instead his detractors just can't stop dusting off all these moth-eaten arguments.

[margot]

Kill Bill producer Bennett Walsh talks about two more possible sequels.

They've announced all kinds of crazy "possibilities" as far as Kill Bill goes.

I'm pretty sure Tarantino is done with Kill Bill.

[Kenji]

Narshty, unfortunately we live in a world where it seems to me the same old criticisms-no less true for being repeated- are still needed as a corrective to the amount of gushing attention his films get, which becomes frustrating when directors like Oliveira are so neglected. Tarantino has certainly been a very clever and often entertaining scriptwriter- but with a brashness that could hardly be more removed from Rohmer.

[Awesome Welles]

Kill Bill producer Bennett Walsh talks about two more possible sequels.

They've announced all kinds of crazy "possibilities" as far as Kill Bill goes.

I'm pretty sure Tarantino is done with Kill Bill.

I really hope so. Tarantino needs to get on and grow up, making exploitation films is fine but the quality of his recent films has really declined he needs to go back to Jackie Brown and pull a winner out of the bag. Kill Bill was fine but when all is said and done I'm sure it will fall to the very bottom of the pile of Tarantino films.

What Tarantino has to understand about his audience is whilst a lot of them won't know or have seen a Spaghetti Western so when he makes his Dollars/Django and probably Rio Bravo influenced western incorporating all styles of Western from Spaghetti to Ford to Hawks to... to... a lot of people may groan when they see the train pulling into the station rip off shot from Once Upon a Time in the West and others might say "ha! I know where that is from!" But he must realise he can't carry on like this as the latter half of his fans will get bored and won't watch his films anymore. I do sincerely think that Tarantino is a bright guy (not to the extent of the Weinstein PR crap) and I do believe he will make some mature films some day, when he's about sixty probably...

[LionelHutz]

I do sincerely think that Tarantino is a bright guy (not to the extent of the Weinstein PR crap) and I do believe he will make some mature films some day, when he's about sixty probably...

As others have pointed out already,I think Jackie Brown was his better work,and his most mature film (one that stands on his own even without all the references and pop connections,although they're present).
Seeing how the box office failure of that film steered Tarantino towards more cool projects I have the feeling he's more interested in being in the spotlight for a while,than making a genuinely great film (which I think he's capable of).

[Andre Jurieu]

... are still needed as a corrective to the amount of gushing attention his films get, which becomes frustrating when directors like Oliveira are so neglected.

I can understand the frustration to a point, but the most tiresome characteristic of this argument is the notion and attitude that "corrective" action needs to be taken against those who have some degree of appreciation for Tarantino's work.

What Tarantino has to understand about his audience is whilst a lot of them won't know or have seen a Spaghetti Western so when he makes his Dollars/Django and probably Rio Bravo influenced western incorporating all styles of Western from Spaghetti to Ford to Hawks to... to... a lot of people may groan when they see the train pulling into the station rip off shot from Once Upon a Time in the West and others might say "ha! I know where that is from!" But he must realise he can't carry on like this as the latter half of his fans will get bored and won't watch his films anymore.

Part of the problem is that this has become the only way anyone evaluates Tarantino's movies anymore. While this method of "guess where is the reference from"-evaluation has become established and habitual, it not necessarily the only way to view his films. Everyone seems to be concentrating on the pieces rather than the whole. This is partly Tarantino's own fault because he can't seem to shut up about his influences and boast about his ability to incorporate such sequences into his films, but the audience needs to share some of the responsibility for not viewing Tarantino's films in the same way the evaluate other film-makers, since they choose to fall-back upon the "name-that-reference" perspective far too easily and too often.

[malcolm1980]

Holy crap! Quentin Tarantino's coming to my country!

TARANTINO THRILLA IN CINEMANILA

Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill) will be hitting Philippine shores in August to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award during special ceremonies in the 9th Cinemanila International Film Festival. Tarantino will be receiving the distinction for his iconic contributions to world cinema and continued support to the proliferation and promotion of Asian and independent films.

Tarantino's love for Asian films has inspired him to make use of various cinematic styles from films of the region such as wire kung-fu scenes, sword fights and stylized action scenes in his own movies. His admiration for Asian cinema has made him one of its most significant advocates; the release of Zhang Yimou's Hero and Wong Kar Wai's Chungking Express in the United States were made possible by Tarantino.

Renowned for cult favorites like Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Tarantino has won accolades and citations from various groups, including an Oscar nomination for his direction of the critically acclaimed film Pulp Fiction. In 2004, he was selected to be the head of the jury of the Cannes Film Festival.

Catch renowned director Quentin Tarantino as he graces the Festival this August. The Cinemanila International Film Festival, now on its 9th year, will have its official run from 8 to 19 August 2007. It will showcase the best of local and foreign cinema, including recent winners from the Berlin and Cannes film festivals. A special ASEAN Night celebrating the works of the region's best filmmakers will open the event on 8 August. Cinemanila will also be having a special Focus on the films of Bollywood (10 August), South Africa (11 August), and Turkey (12 August). Everyone is invited to these screenings and to the seminars and workshops.

[malcolm1980]

The poster.

I already have my ticket. He's going to do a 3 hour talk with fans.

[malcolm1980]

Talk? With or at?

I would think it's "with". He'll probably talk about film, how to break in the business, his filmmaking philosophies, his love for film in general. He's a fan of the works of Filipino directors Cirio H. Santiago and Eddie Romero plus he's very enthusiastic about Asian cinema in general.

That said, I'm very excited.

I just came back from Quentin Tarantino's talk concert (aka seminar). If you have an opportunity to see Tarantino in a public forum, do it. Especially if you love film. He is an engaging, lively speaker. Surprisingly enough, he isn't as foul-mouthed as his movies. He spoke and answered a bunch of questions for 2.5 hours and I don't think he dropped the "f" bomb more than 8 times. LOL. He's very enthusiastic about answering questions about the way he works, the films he love (especially Asian cinema) and his filmmaking philosophies. He refuses, however, to answer questions about upcoming projects (he gave no updates to the status of Inglorious Bastards).

He often references obscure foreign sub-genres and genre B-movie directors which he loves. I actually saw him get tired of speaking. Something you never see when he does talk shows.

He also shared his cinephile philosophy of discovering and watching new film from all around the world, to paraphrase: My life is pursuing my masters in film. The day I graduate is the day I die.

I agree 100%

[Antoine Doinel]

Here's a look at Tarantino in western garb as part of his cameo in Miike's Sukiyaki Western Django.

[Antoine Doinel]

Tarantino talks and talks and talks and talks in Cannes.

[Barmy]

Inglorious Bastards to be 2 films.

[Antoine Doinel]

You have got to be fucking kidding me.

[domino harvey]

No one's going to give him the money to make one big budget war film, much less two. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Highway 61]

That's what everyone said about Kill Bill. But after Grindhouse tanked, perhaps you're right.

[Tom Hagen]

No one's going to give him the money to make one big budget war film, much less two. I wouldn't worry about it.

Is Uncle Harvey finally going to tighten the pursestrings for QT? Is he done with him after Grindhouse? I seem to remember him saying that Miramax was "the house that Quentin" built, so he feels some sort of obligation to trust his judgment and fund all of his future nonsense without going Harvey Scissorhands all over his ass.

[domino harvey]

That's what everyone said about Kill Bill. But after Grindhouse tanked, perhaps you're right.

Kill Bill was one film when it got greenlit and still was only budgeted at like $50-55 million. Splitting the movies was a good decision and made back the films' costs on both opening weekends, but those films also benefited from aspects impossible to recreate again-- anticipation for Tarantino to return to his perceived "cool" roots, attractive stars performing martial arts... basically fanboy-appeasing and geek-baiting. I can't imagine this costing less than Kill Bill, and war movies are so hit or miss with audiences even without the Grindhouse failure to weigh against. I don't see this getting made in the way Tarantino is envisioning without some kind of miracle.

[rs98762001]

Inglorious Bastards to be 2 films.

Great. Two films to avoid rather than just one.

[Mr Sausage]

Hah. This is a remake of a 99 minute long movie, too.

[Belmondo]

Missed my chance to see QT in Provincetown over the weekend - he received the Filmmaker on the Edge award at the PTown Int'l Film Festival. He told the audience that he had just now finished the script for his new movie and was proofreading it on the plane ride up. His goal now is to complete the film in time to enter it at Cannes next year. Full title is: "Inglorious Bastards: Once Upon a Time in Nazi-Occupied France".
He and John Waters gave some joint interviews which I hear are quite something - they were filmed and the current idea is to show them at the next Festival.