Quentin Tarantino’s filmography as a director has been reduced to nine feature films (and part of another) in 32 years. It is not a very comprehensive production, but its effect on the cinema of the last thirty years is endless. The Californian filmmaker has spent hours trying to rank his films from best to worst, almost creating controversy. Every fan has their own ranking here, and (almost) all are reasonable. Therefore, any selection that makes some movies stand out more than others is bound to generate controversy. Building on this premise, and coinciding with the author of ‘Death Proof’ visit to Barcelona to present his book ‘Meditations for Cinema’, we propose five key titles for Tarantino’s entry into his universe. Or to return to it.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
The title that reinvented film noir and made Quentin Tarantino a worldwide cultural reference. After being recognized by the amazing ‘Reservoir Dogs’ (1991), the Californian director and screenwriter directs the perfect blend of personal obsessions and cinematic homage, fitting it into a timeframe that is as disjointed as it is coherent, and spiced the whole with a devilish flair for memorable dialogue and iconic imagery. It was a shock at the time and still effective nearly 30 years later. Not bad for a second movie.
“Jackie Brown” (1997)
In his third feature as director, Tarantino makes the unconventional decision to adapt someone else’s material—Elmore Leonard’s ‘Explosive Cocktail’—perhaps to avoid the urge to steal himself after the tremendous success of Pulp Fiction. The bet pays off, and the impeccable credits ‘Jackie Brown’ turns out to be a great piece: a highly stylized tale of love and violence, some ominous commentary, backed by an iron script. Pam Grier and Robert Forster and a unique soundtrack. Maturity has never been so ‘cool’.
“Kill Bill” (2003-2004)
It was released in two parts in a very different style, but Tarantino has assured many times that it is a single film, so we will not change the plan here. ‘Kill Bill’ is a monumental exploration of revenge that begins as a ‘cartoon-like’ oriental-inspired choreographed festivity of violence (there’s even anime!) and reveals the tragic, almost introverted western character in the second half. Martial arts and broken hearts in 247 minutes Uma Thurman as the definitive action hero of the first decade of the new millennium.
‘Bastards’ (2009)
One of Tarantino’s greatest talents is his uncanny ability to create transcendent art from popular culture material that other creators despise. Here he adopts the American title of a film by Enzo G. Castellari and the ‘dough’ spirit of the ‘Deeds of War’ comics to create a vivid manifesto on the power of cinema to rewrite history and defeat evil. All presented with an abundance of visual style and a villain that turns long conversations into an unbearable source of tension (Christopher Waltz) of the unforgettable.
“Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” (2019)
The title doesn’t deceive. Faced with the grim reality of the murders committed by the Manson clan in the summer of 1969, Quentin Tarantino chooses to tell a fairy tale without the crimes of the cult (thanks to the intervention of an actor and his stunt double) and Hollywood remains the idyllic and glamorous place the filmmaker dreamed of as a child. it does. Despite its violent final climax featuring a pitbull and a flamethrower, it’s the author’s most serene and melancholy film since ‘Jackie Brown’. And also the Los Bravos voice.
Source: Informacion
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.