Hello DeepFocusLens community, I am a fan from India here. I would just like to say that I really like your UA-cam channel, because unlike other movie critics (CinemaSins, Screen Junkies, Nostalgia Critic), your content seems more mature and thoughtful.
Tarrantino is a professional myth maker. His greatest work is getting people believe that he went straight from video store clerk to film director. He worked hard at his script writing and was involved in making small short films long before his 'debut' film. The best thing about Reservoir Dogs is it's tight structure. You should look at 'City on Fire' (1987 Ringo Lam) to see where RD was 'borrowed from...
Reservoir Dogs, Apocalypse Now, Once Upon a Time in the West and 2001 are probably the movies that made the biggest impact on me. I was blown away by all of them when I first saw them as a young adolesscent. So you're spot on with that remark.
I am only going through these film critiques as of only recently (since I first saw the Licorice Pizza review) and I finally don't agree. Pulp Fiction was one of my great theatre experiences (and one of the few that saw Resevoir Dogs in the theater) but the simplicity of Reservoir Dogs is about as great and as pure as storytelling and movies get. The directorial choices in this movie to me are jaw dropping and for me it should not always be about complex human emotions. Surface level can actually be more interesting if done as pure and as simple as this.
I have not particularly enjoyed any of his movies after KB2. Bloated, self-indulgent, overlong movies. I enjoyed the hell out of everything up to and including KB2.
Totally agree. His later films are collections of great scenes more than any complete whole. I can't really decide how I feel about Kill Bill ironically, as it is both the most extreme in this regard but also deliberately so. Inglorious is like an album that I like to skip to my favorite four or five songs with instead of listening through, and honestly the last act is just a mess. Django felt much more focused and is one I have only a few issues with, namely another messy last act. Hateful Eight I agree was really good and a return to form.
You bring up some valid points about Tarantino. On Reservoir Dogs, it reminded me of Goodfellas in the sense that it made an effort to humanize hardened criminals. To try to find that balance between their normalcy and their depraved actions. I remember when it came out and there were all these stories from Cannes of people fainting when the ear scene came up. So it already had this reputation by the time the general audience got a chance to see it. But it did show promise. It was Pulp Fiction that set Tarantino in the pantheon. In terms of his overall career, I hear what you're saying. It seems like Kill Bill was the turning point. Jackie Brown proved that Tarantino could make a thoughtful quiet character piece. And you wonder if there is this alternate universe where he chose to pursue a different path that followed the Jacke Brown promise. But then he made Kill Bill and seemed to get hooked on repackaged 70s exploitation. I agree that it might partially be a case of Tarantino with his head up his own ass, but I think it's also because those types of films are popular with audiences and he likes to make them. He's discovered a formula that combines his love of grindhouse with an innate ability to connect with film goers. I once remember somebody describing Spielberg as B-movies with A-level craftsmanship. Tarantino is Z-movies with A-level craftsmanship. Anyway, can't wait to see Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Predicting a glorious crazy mess. It should be a blast.
his best acting performance is in this movie. he's smart about not over doing himself in his performance. It's like he can't feel comfortable unless he is given time to say something obscene to create an impression on people. this kinda defines all creative types.
Good points. I think the problem with Tarantino is the same with Peter Jackson or even in ways David Lynch. It's when a director becomes the image they are portrayed as. When Tarantino becomes 'Tarantino' .
I know what you mean, but I think in the case of Lynch the expansion of his style has really changed and evolved over his career, so his recent work is just as fresh, innovative and meaningful. As much as I love Tarantino's more recent films, there doesn't seem to be as much of an artistic progression
In the ear cutting scene, the camera is moving away from the violence, showing us the background of the warehouse with the mention "Watch your head" written on the wall. Brilliant.
I think his dialogue writing has always been unique and feels like a conversation we might have with friends. Any of his diner scenes are a good example but the detail of cop bathroom story as well. Much of the story was borrowed from the HK film City on Fire and I know part of Pulp Fiction was by written by Roger Avery. His writing in True Romance, Natural Born killers, and From Dusk till Dawn were great screenplays he didn't direct. Pretty sure elmore Leonard did most of the writing on jackie brown bc it was pretty faithful to Rum Punch novel. Death Proof had great dialogue writing too. Definitely his strength but music is what makes Reservoir dogs most memorable. Hopefully Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a return to form.
His dialogue was perfect for this, as it fit the kinda glib charm one expects from gangsters in scorscese movies, and made, combined with the top tier energy each actor provided, what were thumbnail sketch characters so fascinating and entertaining to watch
Quentin Tarantino has stated that movies such as Stanley Kubrick's The Killing (1956) and Jean Pierre Melville's Le Doulos (1962) influence him in making this movie.
It's crazy I just looked at your comment. I was just thinking this. I was just thinking that I would personally rank "Jackie Brown" #2 behind "Pulp Fiction." The dialogue is so great! Pam Grier is wonderful along with Robert Forester as Max Cherry (Cherry Bail Bonds!) and of course Sam Jackson.
Yes! That is my favorite scene as well. You hear children playing, birds chirping.. All the while he is getting gasoline out of the trunk. What happens in the ware house shouldn't see the light of day. Also, it was a hard shot to do, when you go from inside to outside, you need some camera tricks for that to make it look good.
I've been revisiting a few of Stanley Kubrick's films lately and came across some of your reviews and found myself feeling a bit less lonely because you echo so many of my own thoughts. Your reviews are very insightful and this is the first and probably the last time I have ever felt or will feel motivated to subscribe to any sort of You-tube channel or make any kind of public comment. Your knowledge of films is much broader than mine. But I'll make a guess that if you love Kubrick, and Fellini then you must lover Tarkovsky and yet I can't find any Tarkovsky reviews? I'm sure you've seen Stalker, Solaris etc. If you have, please review. If you haven't you must!
Great point about the ear scene - we think we see more than we do. Reminds me very much of Scarface - the chainsaw scene - and Texas Chainsaw Massacre - another movie where we're sure we saw more than we really did. Thanks for an insightful piece.
I couldn't quite put into words exactly what is was that bothered me a little about his later work, until you put it on point: it became too self aware of its own pastiche, of its own Tarantinoism; it became a little bit of a caricature of itself, and self indulgent, or as you put it, became "masturbatory"
Thanks for discussing this. Here are my thoughts about why it resonates with me, and is in my top 10 (top 11, actually, because two films are tied for 10th) of all-time favorite films: *The pacing: Unlike subsequent Tarantino films, it's a taught, 90-some minutes. And even when the characters ramble in the diner scene, as you point out, it somehow doesn't feel like wasted time to me. *The soundtrack: My favorite Tarantino soundtrack is "Pulp Fiction," with maybe "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ..." as a close second. But this one is good, too. I love the use of "Little Green Bag" for the opening credit sequence and "Stuck in the Middle with You" for the torture scene. *The dialogue: There's a rhythm to the way those guys talk that feels right. I don't know how else to explain it. *The characters: I get a sense of complexity in Mr. White, Mr. Pink, Mr. Orange, even Mr. Blonde and Nice Guy Eddie. They don't seem like cardboard cutouts to me. I attribute that to great performances, especially by Harvey Keitel as Mr. White and Lawrence Tierney, who brings a wonderful, salty presence to Joe Cabot. *The shock value: I saw this after "Pulp Fiction" and the ear bit still made my jaw drop. *The sense of style: Love the black suits, skinny ties and shades, even though I know bank robbers wouldn't dress that way. Thanks for letting me ramble a bit. Shawn R., Mo-Mutt Music (and movie buff)
Here is my personal ranking of Tarantino's films as a director...wondering what your ranking would be? 1. Reservoir Dogs 2. Pulp Fiction 3. Inglourious Basterds 4. Jackie Brown 5. (tie) Kill Bill 1 & 2 6. The Hateful Eight 7. Django Unchained 8. Death Proof
Well articulated discussion of both the film and Tarantino in general. Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction are his only two that I feel are classics. Perhaps, as you say, it’s the nostalgic reminiscence of our first viewing and it’s impact at the time. There was so much promise following those two films that just never came to fruition, imo. Granted, it’s hard for someone to top such great freshman and sophomoric efforts, but I haven’t been as impressed since. The phrase you coin of his “trigger finger” is spot on, almost a laziness, void of the great tension building you describe in is early works. Inglorious Bastards had some of that and is not a bad film, but he slipped big time with the Kill Bills and especially Django, which I just did not connect with at all. Always appreciate your critical analysis and the random throwback discussions you do are very cool!
Hey, i'm also obsessed with David Lynch. You should watch; A tale of two sisters (the korean original), Perfect Blue, Paprika and The Tenant. I'm sure you will like them.
I always felt that the most "violent" scene--that is, the scene that most assaults the viewer in terms of visuals and audio--is that hard cut to Buscemi's character Mr. Pink running down the sidewalk just after the robbery, shoving people out of his way and hollering, into the quick shoot-out and peel out in the car. I also think it's interesting that you repeatedly refer to this as a heist movie. I never considered it as such despite the planning and the fact that they get the goods, possibly only because we never see the actual heist. To me this is really more about characters and dialogue with the heist as the reason for them to be talking and interacting with each other. It's great to get a different perspective that I'd never considered for a movie that came out more than 20 years ago. I will also say that the most horrifying scene is when Mr. Blonde leaves the warehouse to get the gas can out of his trunk. We go from a torture and murder situation to sunshine, traffic, dogs barking, kids yelling, and just general city life. He grabs the can and goes back in. So in a very David Lynch type way, the "normal" life of "normal" people surround and cover crime and violence and cruelty like ivy on the side of a building. And then the camera pulling away from the ear cutting scene is like Scorsese in Taxi Driver when Travis is on the phone with Cybill Shepherd after the movie theater scene, a nice homage if that's the case.
And yeah, it plays more as Greek Tragedy taking place in the ruins of a heist to me, a heist set up to be tragic for all it's participants except 1, and for him ends up coming the most pain & (i hesitate to call such police fate tragic but since it fits theme) tragedy
Reservoir Dogs is by far my favorite Tarantino movie. I fricken' love Mr. White and Mr. Orange :) Pulp Fiction is a GROSSLY overrated movie in my opinion, it's certainly not a bad movie by any means but so many people claim it as the best movie ever made when it's nowhere near that caliber...
LOVE the thoughtful and insightful approach you take when reviewing any movie, it's so worthwhile 😊 would really like to see a review of Jackie Brown, which I have come round to thinking is his best film - is this just me?
Tarantino returns the visceral entertainment to cinema. He was/is a deep fan of DePalma which should be obvious. Much of Tarantinos portfolio doesnt appeal to me but Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is one of the best of cinema to come out in the last several years.
I just watched this the other day! My favorites were Chris Penn and Tierney. Great characters. I agree with you how ham fisted his dialog can be. Btw, have you reviewed Hateful 8? I just saw that recently for the first time and am still processing. I really didn't like the Tim Roth character. Keitel seemed more honorable given the rules of the game
That was basically the movie's main point - ironic tragedy of the more honorable gangster being doomed due to said honor,and it causing him to continually save/look out for a planted undercover police with no honor at all
Interesting take on his style and career, never heard somebody have such a critical and ultimately negative opinion of his films. Reservoir Dogs was my first experience with him and really with more adult artistic films in general, it was a DVD my dad was just getting rid of(I think blurays had just come out), so I asked if I could keep it(way too young at the time to watch a R rated movie normally) and eventually watched it on my own. It was one of the first movies to really inspire me to want to know more and look deeper for unique and challenging movies as a teenager. So I'm very biased in my view of Tarantino, I think he's an icon. One of the most unique characters working today. I do agree in some sense with what you're saying, I just find his style despite the flaws you mention almost endlessly entertaining. This negative opinion of him does make me want to rewatch his stuff I haven't seen in many years just to see if my view has changed. I haven't seen Reservoir Dogs in probably a decade at this point and I always felt like I needed to give Jackie Brown a second chance so maybe I'll get around to doing that before his next film comes out to get some perspective. Good review as always.
I think you should give Tarantino's work a deeper look sometime. Despite his pastiche filmmaking aesthetic and unabashed relishing of genre excess, his films are actually incredibly layered and subtle in regards to characters and themes. He doesn't talk about his films much as though they're "serious" works of art, but that's all part of the trick, as he sneaks in all his themes via subtext and innuendo, rather than blunt symbolism or heavy-handed character arcs. Inglourious Basterds is by far, one of the most daring, intelligent, misunderstood films of the last decade.
it's very condusive to most people's attention span. you really can intuitively tell the size and acustics of warehouse and it becomes a metaphor about the mind and how we hide our own dark nature to others.
In terms of your question over whether Tarantino's influence has been a good thing or not, I really think it's a bad thing. Pulp Fiction was a huge influence on critics, fans and filmmakers who followed shortly after. However, these aforementioned people had little appreciation for the essential triviality and shallowness of the film and Tarantino's extremely droll, postmodern sensibility in general. Pulp Fiction does work as a well wrought stylistic exercise and game playing with pulp, B movie genre tropes, and it definitely captures the era of droll, affect-less postmodern existence of the generation it was aimed at when it came out, but it is limited by the lack of truly distinctive characters (all tropes and stock figures who all talk in ways similar to Tarantino, and are only distinguishable by superficial differences), the glibly ironic and adolescent tone and treatment of such characters and material and a general usage of novelty and pastiche quotation marks in place of true depth and meaningful innovation (except when it flips and lazily decides it wants to do more at the very end, in an extremely contrived, affected way). The fact that so many people singled out the (mostly surface level) pleasures and qualities of the film at the expense of all these other drawbacks and limitations, shows how so few people are incapable of recognizing and accessing art in it's totality.
Yes, I agree. Some times I feel like Tarantino's characters have become have just become cartoons. It's like if Scorsese stopped at Mean Streets for his character development. Not a great example and maybe I shouldn't compare. But for me it's kind of drag because now his movie making is so stylized. Now it's just watching a Tarantino movie . I hate to say it his movies have lost the luster they used to have. Inglorious Bastards was the beginning of the end for me.
I do remember how much you loved Inglourious Basterds when it came out that was the first review i saw of yours i cant believe its been ten years since ive been following you. I agree in the sense that he could have been something more. I personally love Kill Bill some of it is very stylistic but i do feel it has some depth at the end. I do remember that you did not like Django Unchained and i know you liked The Hateful Eight i did really enjoy that as well. I hope Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is going to be great. Im sure your going to. I respect your opinions because you have a great love and knowledge of film. Ive watched many films youve recommend over the years. Keep up the good work Maggie
The comments about Tarantino's 21st century films will lead to a much bigger conversation and debate that may never end. Here's my take: the independent wave of the 90s was over. Super hero and franchise films already started filling theaters. Small movies were were bringing in fewer movie-goers. And Tarantino's ambitions changed. As that first decade of the new century progressed, Tarantino listened to audiences at Judd Apatow films and saw the films that were performing the best. Death Proof (his smallest and perhaps most grounded film of the 21st century) was a flop, and is arguably his worst movie (don't get me wrong, it's a great hangout movie). All proof to me that Tarantino and the world had passed by his smaller LA crime films. I love those films, and it would have been cool to see Tarantino continue to write films like that for other directors. But as a director, Tarantino had to move on. And Kill Bill, Bastards, Django, etc. did great at the box office. I flirt with the idea of becoming a film critic myself, but I am hesitant for multiple reasons, one being criticisms like this (about Tarantino's 21st century films). This criticism fails to acknowledge the business of movie making in the 21st century and the artist himself. Audiences need to look in the mirror and realize one of the reasons cinema is being cheapened is because we don't want leave the house. Smaller films are typically better when directed by young directors with a youthful voice. The grandiosity of his later films may feel too packed and risk not being consistent. I agree, but in my opinion, they walk that tight rope end to end and come out standing tall on the other side of the pit. My biggest criticism of his last two films (Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time...) is the disjointedness in the writing going from the middle to the end. Despite 2 hours and 45 minutes, the resolution of each film still feels rushed. I still love the characters. I still have a blast with the two films. The experience of the film is not ruined. Plus, I argue that many of the elements are executed so much better than he would have in the 90s. The more risks you take as a filmmaker, the more flaws your movies will be vulnerable to. I'm glad she continues to make this point; I agree that the consistency suffers with his later films, but I don't agree with the dismissal of those films as great films.
When I first saw RD way back in the day, the thing that made it memorable for me was it's willingness to be brutal in action & portrayal with the cops. Most movies I'd seen up to that point, even ones similar in tone and genre, would never dare go so far as to portray police in such a helpless and loser's manner. The opposite in fact usually, where police characters would usually get some romanticization or glorification that'd elevate them above whatever criminals were portrayed in a movie. In this though, you had Mr Pink spraying his pistols in cops faces every chance he got while always staying a step ahead of them, MrBlonde kidnapping one during a shootout like the cop was the most helpless clown coward ever, and the main character undercover pig was so far up his own asshole living out his gangster to busting gangster power fantasy dreams, he couldn't be bothered to pay attention to a single bit of the practical advice his supposed mentor gangster was continuously giving him so he'd have his best chance to survive. He got gut shot the first move we see him take during the heist, and by a grandma too. The rest is him being literally carried, weeping, guilttripping and trying to get over on the career criminal he still looks down upon, but who has shown himself both the more honorable and competent at every step taken in the movie. I'll always have a soft spot for Tarantino just cuz he was willing to show how he really felt about police, in such stark and visceral terms, as one of the major points of the first movie he filmed
Think of how PTA's career evolved compared to Tarantino's. So much growth in PTA, so much regression in Tarantino. I gotta disagree about Hateful 8 though. That one was his most self indulgent turd to date. At least Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was a step in the right direction.
Keitel as Mr. White: "Who cares what your name is?" Buscemi as Mr.Pink: "That's easy for u to say you're Mr. White u have a cool sounding name..so if it's no big deal to u to be Mr. Pink u wanna trade?"
I've only seen two of your videos, but both have that copy of Watchmen, with the letters printed backwards. I have the same copy... so, idk, I feel like you're through the looking glass or something, lol. (I get the image is reversed, just saying that's what I'm staring at when I look at these videos... then I look at my copy on the shelf, then back at your backwards-copy, etc.) EDIT: I completely agree about Tarantino being a better director. He co-wrote Pulp Fiction--arguably his best--with Roger Avary. I've always wondered what his films would look like if he'd continued to collaborate with Avary.
It's a shame you don't have the biggest following of any movie reviewer. You give the most insightful reviews of anyone on UA-cam (I guess it's just that people are stupid).
I know you have reviewed a Charlie Kaufman movie in the past and I'm pretty sure you have seen this movie before, but I wanted to ask if you could review Being John Malkovich?
He did say once that he realized Jackie Brown was “for middle-aged people” and it scared him. He thereafter opted to deliberately court younger viewers.
I haven't heard that but I did hear him say that if he had made Jackie Brown he was 50 years old everyone would have said "oooh look at this mature Tarantino", and he wanted to make it right after Pulp Fiction just to prove he could make it when he was younger
I don't understand how you feel like hateful 8 was a return to form when all that film did for me was remind me that Tarantino has gotten to full of himself, especially regarding how his characters always have to be so over the top.
Given that most servers make about $3 - $4 per hour I think it's ridiculous. When I waited tables in college, (late 90's) I made $2.13 per hour plus tips. Obviously, tips accounted for about 90% of my income.
I think I understand what you mean and what you don't like about most of his movies after Jacki Brown. You like his movies when he makes them immersive and you can get lost in the story. But later it's too Meta and he does a lot of things that he knows he can ony get away with because he's so aware of a kind of immaturity and worship that he has found in popular culture. But hey you got to admit that he does it his way. It's his art even if it does become like a masturbatory cartoon,;he has nerve. 100 years from now people will see some of those scenes and say WTF and even if it isn't good filmmaking it certainly will be impactful.
Tarantino is a WRITER/director lol. His movies are DIALOGUE driven. He don't tip. Whadya mean ya don't tip? He don't believe in it. Shaddup. Whadya mean ya don't believe in it? C'mon, cough up a buck ya cheap bastid--I paid for your goddamn breakfast! Alright, because you paid, I'll do this, but normally I wouldn't do it. Never mind what you would NORMALLY do.
I have to say I disagree with your stance on Tarantino. I think his best work was from the 2000s and later and he’s arguably the best director of the 21st century.
There is a goof in this movie, the scene when Harvey Keitel dan Steve Buscemi smoking at another room? Harvey Keitel never actually light the cigarette, he just pretend to be smoking
Did u mention that there was another writer in Pulp Fiction. Which may be a reasons why it is so much better than his other very formulaic movies. With the exception of Pulp Fiction, the rest of his films are crap.
Your review is absurd. The film "Reservoir Dogs" itself is a study in creating loyalty bonds between characters, and the film explores the little groups that form, with their loyalties, like Orange and White, Pink and White, Pink and Blonde, Blonde and Eddie, Eddie and his father, and so on. All these loyalty groups create little engines for each scene, and the dynamics of the film are about how loyalty shifts, and how ethics shifts with shifting loyalty. The most significant moment in the movie isn't when the policeman's ear is cut off and then when he is doused with gasoline and about to be set on fire, it's when he admits that he knew Mr Orange was a policeman, and allowed himself to be tortured without even a second thought to giving him up. This loyalty-to-the-death is shared with Mr. White, who also dies for Mr. Orange, and the change in Mr. Orange at the end is to respect the sacrifice and to return a little bit of that loyalty back. There is nothing shallow or purely stylistic in any of Tarantino's films. They are deep explorations of human issues in ways only genre can do. Your analysis of Inglourious Basterds is also shallow. The film is one of the best descriptions of the German mentality during the War, precisely because it isn't trying to be historically accurate. Just as Django Unchained is such an accurate depiction of American slavery precisely because it isn't historically accurate.
You can't see the forest through the woods, meaning just because you've exposed yourself to so many different types of filmmaking doesn't discredit this movie. Yet you seem to be inferring that. It just seems like you are sick of the overexposure of Tarantino and therefore have a biased against his stuff now. It's fine but if you call yourself a film "critic" and then harp on this film attempting to humanize criminals, which I think it definitely does, then i don't really trust your judgment. Unsubscribed.
I like seeing older movies like this reviewed just out of the blue. Instead of just the latest stuff coming out
"Out of the fuckin' blue?!?!?"
- Nice Guy Eddie, 1992
"Are you gonna bark all day, little doggie, or are you gonna bite ?" (Mr. Blonde)
"Can you say that again?!" "I didn't catch it" (Mr. White)
Ya hear that? (wiggles cop's ear)
"YOU KILL ME IN A DREAM, YOU BETTER WAKE UP AND APOLOGIZE!!!!" (Mr. White)
lol Best quote ever.
Hello DeepFocusLens community, I am a fan from India here. I would just like to say that I really like your UA-cam channel, because unlike other movie critics (CinemaSins, Screen Junkies, Nostalgia Critic), your content seems more mature and thoughtful.
Tarrantino is a professional myth maker. His greatest work is getting people believe that he went straight from video store clerk to film director. He worked hard at his script writing and was involved in making small short films long before his 'debut' film. The best thing about Reservoir Dogs is it's tight structure. You should look at 'City on Fire' (1987 Ringo Lam) to see where RD was 'borrowed from...
Reservoir Dogs, Apocalypse Now, Once Upon a Time in the West and 2001 are probably the movies that made the biggest impact on me. I was blown away by all of them when I first saw them as a young adolesscent. So you're spot on with that remark.
Once upon a time in the west is my favorite movie!
I am only going through these film critiques as of only recently (since I first saw the Licorice Pizza review) and I finally don't agree.
Pulp Fiction was one of my great theatre experiences (and one of the few that saw Resevoir Dogs in the theater) but the simplicity of Reservoir Dogs is about as great and as pure as storytelling and movies get.
The directorial choices in this movie to me are jaw dropping and for me it should not always be about complex human emotions.
Surface level can actually be more interesting if done as pure and as simple as this.
'Reservior Dogs' was probably one of the baddest movies to watch back in '92', along side with 'The Bad Leuitenant'.
This new wave of Quentin Tarantino is "meh" is fascinating to me. Not all his stuff is gold but the guy is a real talent.
I have not particularly enjoyed any of his movies after KB2. Bloated, self-indulgent, overlong movies. I enjoyed the hell out of everything up to and including KB2.
Totally agree. His later films are collections of great scenes more than any complete whole. I can't really decide how I feel about Kill Bill ironically, as it is both the most extreme in this regard but also deliberately so. Inglorious is like an album that I like to skip to my favorite four or five songs with instead of listening through, and honestly the last act is just a mess. Django felt much more focused and is one I have only a few issues with, namely another messy last act. Hateful Eight I agree was really good and a return to form.
You bring up some valid points about Tarantino. On Reservoir Dogs, it reminded me of Goodfellas in the sense that it made an effort to humanize hardened criminals. To try to find that balance between their normalcy and their depraved actions. I remember when it came out and there were all these stories from Cannes of people fainting when the ear scene came up. So it already had this reputation by the time the general audience got a chance to see it. But it did show promise. It was Pulp Fiction that set Tarantino in the pantheon. In terms of his overall career, I hear what you're saying. It seems like Kill Bill was the turning point. Jackie Brown proved that Tarantino could make a thoughtful quiet character piece. And you wonder if there is this alternate universe where he chose to pursue a different path that followed the Jacke Brown promise. But then he made Kill Bill and seemed to get hooked on repackaged 70s exploitation. I agree that it might partially be a case of Tarantino with his head up his own ass, but I think it's also because those types of films are popular with audiences and he likes to make them. He's discovered a formula that combines his love of grindhouse with an innate ability to connect with film goers. I once remember somebody describing Spielberg as B-movies with A-level craftsmanship. Tarantino is Z-movies with A-level craftsmanship. Anyway, can't wait to see Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Predicting a glorious crazy mess. It should be a blast.
his best acting performance is in this movie. he's smart about not over doing himself in his performance. It's like he can't feel comfortable unless he is given time to say something obscene to create an impression on people. this kinda defines all creative types.
Good points. I think the problem with Tarantino is the same with Peter Jackson or even in ways David Lynch. It's when a director becomes the image they are portrayed as. When Tarantino becomes 'Tarantino'
.
I know what you mean, but I think in the case of Lynch the expansion of his style has really changed and evolved over his career, so his recent work is just as fresh, innovative and meaningful. As much as I love Tarantino's more recent films, there doesn't seem to be as much of an artistic progression
Mr Orange is by far the most complex character in the film.
I still reckon Jackie Brown is his best film. It’s so great.
Tarantino is lucky to have people like you review his work. Very perceptive & integrated review.
my favorite Tarantino is Jackie Brown
YES, YES, YES! By far and a mile. Nothing before or(especially) after imo has come even remotely close.
My top 3 movies of all time. 1. Heat (1995) 2. Pulp Fiction (1994) 3. The God The Bad And The Ugly (1966)
Life must be good. You look like you're aging backwards.
Thanks for reviewing one of my childhood favorites. You definitely have your own opinion.
In the ear cutting scene, the camera is moving away from the violence, showing us the background of the warehouse with the mention "Watch your head" written on the wall. Brilliant.
I think his dialogue writing has always been unique and feels like a conversation we might have with friends. Any of his diner scenes are a good example but the detail of cop bathroom story as well. Much of the story was borrowed from the HK film City on Fire and I know part of Pulp Fiction was by written by Roger Avery. His writing in True Romance, Natural Born killers, and From Dusk till Dawn were great screenplays he didn't direct. Pretty sure elmore Leonard did most of the writing on jackie brown bc it was pretty faithful to Rum Punch novel. Death Proof had great dialogue writing too. Definitely his strength but music is what makes Reservoir dogs most memorable. Hopefully Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a return to form.
His dialogue was perfect for this, as it fit the kinda glib charm one expects from gangsters in scorscese movies, and made, combined with the top tier energy each actor provided, what were thumbnail sketch characters so fascinating and entertaining to watch
Loved what you said at the end about Tarantino regressing, the quality of his films truly plummeted after the 90s
Quentin Tarantino has stated that movies such as Stanley Kubrick's The Killing (1956) and Jean Pierre Melville's Le Doulos (1962) influence him in making this movie.
Jackie Brown is underrated. It's my favourite Tarantino movie
It's crazy I just looked at your comment. I was just thinking this. I was just thinking that I would personally rank "Jackie Brown" #2 behind "Pulp Fiction." The dialogue is so great! Pam Grier is wonderful along with Robert Forester as Max Cherry (Cherry Bail Bonds!) and of course Sam Jackson.
Gosh the opening song with the green bag, makes them look badass. You should check out Persepolis.
Yes!
That is my favorite scene as well.
You hear children playing, birds chirping.. All the while he is getting gasoline out of the trunk.
What happens in the ware house shouldn't see the light of day.
Also, it was a hard shot to do, when you go from inside to outside, you need some camera tricks for that to make it look good.
I've been revisiting a few of Stanley Kubrick's films lately and came across some of your reviews and found myself feeling a bit less lonely because you echo so many of my own thoughts. Your reviews are very insightful and this is the first and probably the last time I have ever felt or will feel motivated to subscribe to any sort of You-tube channel or make any kind of public comment. Your knowledge of films is much broader than mine. But I'll make a guess that if you love Kubrick, and Fellini then you must lover Tarkovsky and yet I can't find any Tarkovsky reviews? I'm sure you've seen Stalker, Solaris etc. If you have, please review. If you haven't you must!
Great point about the ear scene - we think we see more than we do. Reminds me very much of Scarface - the chainsaw scene - and Texas Chainsaw Massacre - another movie where we're sure we saw more than we really did. Thanks for an insightful piece.
I couldn't quite put into words exactly what is was that bothered me a little about his later work, until you put it on point: it became too self aware of its own pastiche, of its own Tarantinoism; it became a little bit of a caricature of itself, and self indulgent, or as you put it, became "masturbatory"
Thanks for discussing this. Here are my thoughts about why it resonates with me, and is in my top 10 (top 11, actually, because two films are tied for 10th) of all-time favorite films:
*The pacing: Unlike subsequent Tarantino films, it's a taught, 90-some minutes. And even when the characters ramble in the diner scene, as you point out, it somehow doesn't feel like wasted time to me.
*The soundtrack: My favorite Tarantino soundtrack is "Pulp Fiction," with maybe "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ..." as a close second. But this one is good, too. I love the use of "Little Green Bag" for the opening credit sequence and "Stuck in the Middle with You" for the torture scene.
*The dialogue: There's a rhythm to the way those guys talk that feels right. I don't know how else to explain it.
*The characters: I get a sense of complexity in Mr. White, Mr. Pink, Mr. Orange, even Mr. Blonde and Nice Guy Eddie. They don't seem like cardboard cutouts to me. I attribute that to great performances, especially by Harvey Keitel as Mr. White and Lawrence Tierney, who brings a wonderful, salty presence to Joe Cabot.
*The shock value: I saw this after "Pulp Fiction" and the ear bit still made my jaw drop.
*The sense of style: Love the black suits, skinny ties and shades, even though I know bank robbers wouldn't dress that way.
Thanks for letting me ramble a bit.
Shawn R., Mo-Mutt Music (and movie buff)
The dialogue fits the glib gangster charm archetype pioneered by scorsese perfectly
Here is my personal ranking of Tarantino's films as a director...wondering what your ranking would be?
1. Reservoir Dogs
2. Pulp Fiction
3. Inglourious Basterds
4. Jackie Brown
5. (tie) Kill Bill 1 & 2
6. The Hateful Eight
7. Django Unchained
8. Death Proof
Ok I’m sure you know this but its just a bloody and violent remake of The Killers. A far superior film.
Good point about Michael Madsen as Mr. Blonde. Great points about the torture scene, too. Shawn R., Mo-Mutt Music
Tarantino's Top 5 Films
1. Pulp Fiction
2. Inglorious Basterds
3. Death Proof
4. Jackie Brown
5. Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs
Inglorious Basterds
Pulp Fiction
Jackie Brown
Kill Bill
Imo
1. Inglorious Basterds
2. Pulp Fiction
3. Django Unchained
4. Reservoir Dogs
5. Hateful 8
Well articulated discussion of both the film and Tarantino in general. Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction are his only two that I feel are classics. Perhaps, as you say, it’s the nostalgic reminiscence of
our first viewing and it’s impact at the time. There was so much promise following those two films that just never came to fruition, imo. Granted, it’s hard for someone to top such great freshman and sophomoric efforts, but I haven’t been as impressed since. The phrase you coin of his “trigger finger” is spot on, almost a laziness, void of the great tension building you describe in is early works. Inglorious Bastards had some of that and is not a bad film, but he slipped big time with the Kill Bills and especially Django, which I just did not connect with at all. Always appreciate your critical analysis and the random throwback discussions you do are very cool!
Hey, i'm also obsessed with David Lynch. You should watch; A tale of two sisters (the korean original), Perfect Blue, Paprika and The Tenant. I'm sure you will like them.
A tale of two sisters is fantastic
Paprika was made by David Lynch? Last i checked it wasn't....
@@LoverOfManyArts No not made by David Lynch, but the ones i recommended are very similiar in the aspect of the surrealist style :-)
I always felt that the most "violent" scene--that is, the scene that most assaults the viewer in terms of visuals and audio--is that hard cut to Buscemi's character Mr. Pink running down the sidewalk just after the robbery, shoving people out of his way and hollering, into the quick shoot-out and peel out in the car. I also think it's interesting that you repeatedly refer to this as a heist movie. I never considered it as such despite the planning and the fact that they get the goods, possibly only because we never see the actual heist. To me this is really more about characters and dialogue with the heist as the reason for them to be talking and interacting with each other. It's great to get a different perspective that I'd never considered for a movie that came out more than 20 years ago.
I will also say that the most horrifying scene is when Mr. Blonde leaves the warehouse to get the gas can out of his trunk. We go from a torture and murder situation to sunshine, traffic, dogs barking, kids yelling, and just general city life. He grabs the can and goes back in. So in a very David Lynch type way, the "normal" life of "normal" people surround and cover crime and violence and cruelty like ivy on the side of a building. And then the camera pulling away from the ear cutting scene is like Scorsese in Taxi Driver when Travis is on the phone with Cybill Shepherd after the movie theater scene, a nice homage if that's the case.
Yup, iconic stuff right there
And yeah, it plays more as Greek Tragedy taking place in the ruins of a heist to me, a heist set up to be tragic for all it's participants except 1, and for him ends up coming the most pain & (i hesitate to call such police fate tragic but since it fits theme) tragedy
Reservoir Dogs is by far my favorite Tarantino movie. I fricken' love Mr. White and Mr. Orange :)
Pulp Fiction is a GROSSLY overrated movie in my opinion, it's certainly not a bad movie by any means but so many people claim it as the best movie ever made when it's nowhere near that caliber...
Brilliant dialogue, visceral story-telling. Definitely not for everybody.
LOVE the thoughtful and insightful approach you take when reviewing any movie, it's so worthwhile 😊 would really like to see a review of Jackie Brown, which I have come round to thinking is his best film - is this just me?
Tarantino returns the visceral entertainment to cinema. He was/is a deep fan of DePalma which should be obvious. Much of Tarantinos portfolio doesnt appeal to me but Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is one of the best of cinema to come out in the last several years.
I just watched this the other day! My favorites were Chris Penn and Tierney. Great characters. I agree with you how ham fisted his dialog can be. Btw, have you reviewed Hateful 8? I just saw that recently for the first time and am still processing.
I really didn't like the Tim Roth character. Keitel seemed more honorable given the rules of the game
That was basically the movie's main point - ironic tragedy of the more honorable gangster being doomed due to said honor,and it causing him to continually save/look out for a planted undercover police with no honor at all
Interesting take on his style and career, never heard somebody have such a critical and ultimately negative opinion of his films. Reservoir Dogs was my first experience with him and really with more adult artistic films in general, it was a DVD my dad was just getting rid of(I think blurays had just come out), so I asked if I could keep it(way too young at the time to watch a R rated movie normally) and eventually watched it on my own. It was one of the first movies to really inspire me to want to know more and look deeper for unique and challenging movies as a teenager. So I'm very biased in my view of Tarantino, I think he's an icon. One of the most unique characters working today. I do agree in some sense with what you're saying, I just find his style despite the flaws you mention almost endlessly entertaining. This negative opinion of him does make me want to rewatch his stuff I haven't seen in many years just to see if my view has changed. I haven't seen Reservoir Dogs in probably a decade at this point and I always felt like I needed to give Jackie Brown a second chance so maybe I'll get around to doing that before his next film comes out to get some perspective. Good review as always.
It would be really interesting if you made a vid about the pastiche films. You mentioned them here. Why not talk about them? I'm curious...
I think you should give Tarantino's work a deeper look sometime. Despite his pastiche filmmaking aesthetic and unabashed relishing of genre excess, his films are actually incredibly layered and subtle in regards to characters and themes. He doesn't talk about his films much as though they're "serious" works of art, but that's all part of the trick, as he sneaks in all his themes via subtext and innuendo, rather than blunt symbolism or heavy-handed character arcs. Inglourious Basterds is by far, one of the most daring, intelligent, misunderstood films of the last decade.
it's very condusive to most people's attention span. you really can intuitively tell the size and acustics of warehouse and it becomes a metaphor about the mind and how we hide our own dark nature to others.
reservoir dogs is a gripping story. why are people saying its lacking?
In terms of your question over whether Tarantino's influence has been a good thing or not, I really think it's a bad thing. Pulp Fiction was a huge influence on critics, fans and filmmakers who followed shortly after. However, these aforementioned people had little appreciation for the essential triviality and shallowness of the film and Tarantino's extremely droll, postmodern sensibility in general. Pulp Fiction does work as a well wrought stylistic exercise and game playing with pulp, B movie genre tropes, and it definitely captures the era of droll, affect-less postmodern existence of the generation it was aimed at when it came out, but it is limited by the lack of truly distinctive characters (all tropes and stock figures who all talk in ways similar to Tarantino, and are only distinguishable by superficial differences), the glibly ironic and adolescent tone and treatment of such characters and material and a general usage of novelty and pastiche quotation marks in place of true depth and meaningful innovation (except when it flips and lazily decides it wants to do more at the very end, in an extremely contrived, affected way). The fact that so many people singled out the (mostly surface level) pleasures and qualities of the film at the expense of all these other drawbacks and limitations, shows how so few people are incapable of recognizing and accessing art in it's totality.
I would love to hear your thoughts on Jackie Brown. The first three Tarantino films I can watch over and over, but that one is closest to my heart.
Yes, I agree. Some times I feel like Tarantino's characters have become have just become cartoons. It's like if Scorsese stopped at Mean Streets for his character development. Not a great example and maybe I shouldn't compare. But for me it's kind of drag because now his movie making is so stylized. Now it's just watching a Tarantino movie . I hate to say it his movies have lost the luster they used to have. Inglorious Bastards was the beginning of the end for me.
I do remember how much you loved Inglourious Basterds when it came out that was the first review i saw of yours i cant believe its been ten years since ive been following you. I agree in the sense that he could have been something more. I personally love Kill Bill some of it is very stylistic but i do feel it has some depth at the end. I do remember that you did not like Django Unchained and i know you liked The Hateful Eight i did really enjoy that as well. I hope Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is going to be great. Im sure your going to. I respect your opinions because you have a great love and knowledge of film. Ive watched many films youve recommend over the years. Keep up the good work Maggie
I actually never seen the movie before but after your review I bought the Blu-ray on eBay!
I would love to see you reviewing Borgman (2013) and Cache (2005)
The comments about Tarantino's 21st century films will lead to a much bigger conversation and debate that may never end. Here's my take: the independent wave of the 90s was over. Super hero and franchise films already started filling theaters. Small movies were were bringing in fewer movie-goers. And Tarantino's ambitions changed. As that first decade of the new century progressed, Tarantino listened to audiences at Judd Apatow films and saw the films that were performing the best. Death Proof (his smallest and perhaps most grounded film of the 21st century) was a flop, and is arguably his worst movie (don't get me wrong, it's a great hangout movie). All proof to me that Tarantino and the world had passed by his smaller LA crime films. I love those films, and it would have been cool to see Tarantino continue to write films like that for other directors. But as a director, Tarantino had to move on. And Kill Bill, Bastards, Django, etc. did great at the box office. I flirt with the idea of becoming a film critic myself, but I am hesitant for multiple reasons, one being criticisms like this (about Tarantino's 21st century films). This criticism fails to acknowledge the business of movie making in the 21st century and the artist himself. Audiences need to look in the mirror and realize one of the reasons cinema is being cheapened is because we don't want leave the house. Smaller films are typically better when directed by young directors with a youthful voice. The grandiosity of his later films may feel too packed and risk not being consistent. I agree, but in my opinion, they walk that tight rope end to end and come out standing tall on the other side of the pit. My biggest criticism of his last two films (Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time...) is the disjointedness in the writing going from the middle to the end. Despite 2 hours and 45 minutes, the resolution of each film still feels rushed. I still love the characters. I still have a blast with the two films. The experience of the film is not ruined. Plus, I argue that many of the elements are executed so much better than he would have in the 90s. The more risks you take as a filmmaker, the more flaws your movies will be vulnerable to. I'm glad she continues to make this point; I agree that the consistency suffers with his later films, but I don't agree with the dismissal of those films as great films.
When I first saw RD way back in the day, the thing that made it memorable for me was it's willingness to be brutal in action & portrayal with the cops. Most movies I'd seen up to that point, even ones similar in tone and genre, would never dare go so far as to portray police in such a helpless and loser's manner. The opposite in fact usually, where police characters would usually get some romanticization or glorification that'd elevate them above whatever criminals were portrayed in a movie. In this though, you had Mr Pink spraying his pistols in cops faces every chance he got while always staying a step ahead of them, MrBlonde kidnapping one during a shootout like the cop was the most helpless clown coward ever, and the main character undercover pig was so far up his own asshole living out his gangster to busting gangster power fantasy dreams, he couldn't be bothered to pay attention to a single bit of the practical advice his supposed mentor gangster was continuously giving him so he'd have his best chance to survive. He got gut shot the first move we see him take during the heist, and by a grandma too. The rest is him being literally carried, weeping, guilttripping and trying to get over on the career criminal he still looks down upon, but who has shown himself both the more honorable and competent at every step taken in the movie. I'll always have a soft spot for Tarantino just cuz he was willing to show how he really felt about police, in such stark and visceral terms, as one of the major points of the first movie he filmed
Think of how PTA's career evolved compared to Tarantino's. So much growth in PTA, so much regression in Tarantino. I gotta disagree about Hateful 8 though. That one was his most self indulgent turd to date. At least Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was a step in the right direction.
Keitel as Mr. White: "Who cares what your name is?"
Buscemi as Mr.Pink: "That's easy for u to say you're Mr. White u have a cool sounding name..so if it's no big deal to u to be Mr. Pink u wanna trade?"
What about Boggie Nights? Tarntino vs. P.T. Anderson. Both have heists.
I've only seen two of your videos, but both have that copy of Watchmen, with the letters printed backwards. I have the same copy... so, idk, I feel like you're through the looking glass or something, lol. (I get the image is reversed, just saying that's what I'm staring at when I look at these videos... then I look at my copy on the shelf, then back at your backwards-copy, etc.)
EDIT: I completely agree about Tarantino being a better director. He co-wrote Pulp Fiction--arguably his best--with Roger Avary. I've always wondered what his films would look like if he'd continued to collaborate with Avary.
Pulp Fiction better than Jackie Brown?!
Ludicrous I say, LUDICROUS!!!!
JediCardTricks I’m with you 100%
It's a shame you don't have the biggest following of any movie reviewer. You give the most insightful reviews of anyone on UA-cam (I guess it's just that people are stupid).
I know you have reviewed a Charlie Kaufman movie in the past and I'm pretty sure you have seen this movie before, but I wanted to ask if you could review Being John Malkovich?
On a completely unrelated note, I'm just very curious, have you seen the Žižek vs Jordan Peterson debate and what's your opinion of each guy?
for me greates movie of tarantino is in fact reservoir dogs
He did say once that he realized Jackie Brown was “for middle-aged people” and it scared him. He thereafter opted to deliberately court younger viewers.
I haven't heard that but I did hear him say that if he had made Jackie Brown he was 50 years old everyone would have said "oooh look at this mature Tarantino", and he wanted to make it right after Pulp Fiction just to prove he could make it when he was younger
Did you do this in one take? Amazing
I'm 1:30 in and there's already been three jump cuts, so no. Not to detract from her work, but it was very obviously edited.
Very good review on one of my top movies of all time.
Girl--you gotta write a screenplay, or maybe a film criticism book!
Probably get questions like this all the time, but have you ever seen the movie Greenberg?
I don't understand how you feel like hateful 8 was a return to form when all that film did for me was remind me that Tarantino has gotten to full of himself, especially regarding how his characters always have to be so over the top.
I mean he did make the birthday short
What do you think of Mr. Pink's philosophy on tipping?
Given that most servers make about $3 - $4 per hour I think it's ridiculous. When I waited tables in college, (late 90's) I made $2.13 per hour plus tips. Obviously, tips accounted for about 90% of my income.
@@seminole17910
Isn't your boss supposed to round your paycheck up to minimum wage if you don't make enough off tips?
One of my favorites you should do one on true romance if you haven't ,n
more tarantino reviews please!
Should be watched with "True Romance" his1st screenplay.
Can you do ''Peeping Tom''? love the this video BTW
Oh yeah. One of my favs.
deepfocuslens thank you! Love your content
I think I understand what you mean and what you don't like about most of his movies after Jacki Brown. You like his movies when he makes them immersive and you can get lost in the story. But later it's too Meta and he does a lot of things that he knows he can ony get away with because he's so aware of a kind of immaturity and worship that he has found in popular culture. But hey you got to admit that he does it his way. It's his art even if it does become like a masturbatory cartoon,;he has nerve. 100 years from now people will see some of those scenes and say WTF and even if it isn't good filmmaking it certainly will be impactful.
Tarantino is a WRITER/director lol. His movies are DIALOGUE driven.
He don't tip.
Whadya mean ya don't tip?
He don't believe in it.
Shaddup. Whadya mean ya don't believe in it? C'mon, cough up a buck ya cheap bastid--I paid for your goddamn breakfast!
Alright, because you paid, I'll do this, but normally I wouldn't do it.
Never mind what you would NORMALLY do.
The ear cutting scene in Django (1966) is a million times more violent, and better.
Have you ever seen the French film "Forbiden Games"?
the most impressive (and true) thing you are saying here is that "Tarantino became a victim to his own style"
I have to say I disagree with your stance on Tarantino. I think his best work was from the 2000s and later and he’s arguably the best director of the 21st century.
There is a goof in this movie, the scene when Harvey Keitel dan Steve Buscemi smoking at another room? Harvey Keitel never actually light the cigarette, he just pretend to be smoking
I chalk that up to the character having PTSD because later he does smoke a cigarette.
You just put into words all my thoughts. I am in owe with you.
Still my favorite Tarantino directed film.
I don't think Tarantino is trying to give any political commentary......ever. I think he's trying to make fun movies and he does that.
awesome review as always! thank you
Did u mention that there was another writer in Pulp Fiction. Which may be a reasons why it is so much better than his other very formulaic movies. With the exception of Pulp Fiction, the rest of his films are crap.
Come on,he is a great writer
You seem awfully cheerful lately 🤠
I still don't understand this movie at all
Your review is absurd. The film "Reservoir Dogs" itself is a study in creating loyalty bonds between characters, and the film explores the little groups that form, with their loyalties, like Orange and White, Pink and White, Pink and Blonde, Blonde and Eddie, Eddie and his father, and so on. All these loyalty groups create little engines for each scene, and the dynamics of the film are about how loyalty shifts, and how ethics shifts with shifting loyalty. The most significant moment in the movie isn't when the policeman's ear is cut off and then when he is doused with gasoline and about to be set on fire, it's when he admits that he knew Mr Orange was a policeman, and allowed himself to be tortured without even a second thought to giving him up. This loyalty-to-the-death is shared with Mr. White, who also dies for Mr. Orange, and the change in Mr. Orange at the end is to respect the sacrifice and to return a little bit of that loyalty back.
There is nothing shallow or purely stylistic in any of Tarantino's films. They are deep explorations of human issues in ways only genre can do.
Your analysis of Inglourious Basterds is also shallow. The film is one of the best descriptions of the German mentality during the War, precisely because it isn't trying to be historically accurate. Just as Django Unchained is such an accurate depiction of American slavery precisely because it isn't historically accurate.
😊🙏💯
It's not a girly movie
You can't see the forest through the woods, meaning just because you've exposed yourself to so many different types of filmmaking doesn't discredit this movie. Yet you seem to be inferring that. It just seems like you are sick of the overexposure of Tarantino and therefore have a biased against his stuff now. It's fine but if you call yourself a film "critic" and then harp on this film attempting to humanize criminals, which I think it definitely does, then i don't really trust your judgment. Unsubscribed.
bye! :D
Have you done a QT movie ranking video yet?