Guys, I finally watched all of Quentin Tarantino's film. In other words, I have earned a butt ton of pop culture-reference capital. Granted, it's not every film he ever wrote, starred in, and whatever, but just the ones he directed (the whole thing of). I figured that's good enough for now. Anyway, in case your knowledge is incomplete, this is a terrible place to start. However, it is a decent place to steal half-assed critiques.
1. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Great small film that takes place almost mostly on one set except for flashbacks and that opening diner scene in which we're forced to listen to Quentin Tarantino analyze pop culture. However, it remains an engaging film without a lot frills.
Nice suits, boys.
2. Pulp Fiction (1994)
Eric Stoltz is in this movie. That's the level of random that occurs throughout this film. I guess it's supposed to be cool because it's nonlinear, but it's kind of hard to care for a film when it's non-linear without a central character/plotline. I might need a second viewing to decide if I actually like it or not. However, Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta are a fantastic duo.
Cereal: great choice.
3. Jackie Brown (1997)
Pam Grier is fantastic; I could watch her do anything for 2 hours and be entirely interested. Luckily, this film also has a decent crime plot to move everything along. Plus the seemingly random subplots make more sense than in Pulp Fiction. Also, excellent soundtrack.
Pam Grier and Robert Forster: surprisingly endearing almost coupling.
4. Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2 (2003-2004)
Ladies kicking ass Samurai style. That's all you really need to know. More? Nerd up on influences on Wikipedia.
How good was this fight scene at the end of Vol. 1?
5. Grindhouse: Death Proof (2007)
Too much Truffaut influence. Honestly, the first half the movie contains what in any other film would be maybe the first 15 minutes. The love of the mundane goes on forever as we follow some really boring women followed by a group of less boring women who ultimately kick ass in a decent car chase scene which I guess is kind of redeemable. Apparently it's supposed to be a B-movie, but I'd rather watch its gruesome companion film Planet Terror a thousand times because at least Naveen Andrews is in that. I honestly don't get what Tarantino was trying to do here.
Random boring woman's foot, of course.
6. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
This film might be perfection. All the performances are spot on (I'll just gloss over Eli Roth's awkward "acting"), the cinematography is gorgeous, and the suspense is delicious. Also, killing Nazis and the music of David Bowie.
Christoph Waltz: #1 villain.
What about his segment in Four Rooms?
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't a full-length film he directed by himself, so I didn't get around to it yet.
ReplyDelete