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Why Do I Like This Guy?
I went to see Pulp Fiction when it first hit the theatres. Seems an odd choice for a movie to take a date to, doesn't it? Well, it wasn't. I was hooked immediately! Seriously, this was a very dark movie, a very violent movie, a movie that dropped the "F" bomb more times than I had ever heard (I hadn't yet seen "The Big Lebowski" ); yet there was a Statler Brothers song in the soundtrack. How cool was that?
I would learn that this was all due to Quentin Tarantino, and that his unconventional style included sharp dialogue delivered by great actors; and his depictions of violence are noted for their casualness and macabre humor. His choice of roles as an actor seem in this same vein (see "From Dusk Till Dawn" below).
If you're already a Tarantino fan, hopefully you'll like what you see here. If you're not familiar with him - I hope I can convince you to check out his work.
Quentin Tarantino At A Glance
Quentin Jerome Tarantino (born March 27, 1963) is an Academy Award- and Palme d'Or-winning American film director, screenwriter and actor. He rose to fame in the early 1990s as an independent filmmaker whose films used nonlinear storylines and stylized violence. His films include Reservoir Dogs (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994), Jackie Brown (1997), Kill Bill (Vol. 1 2003, Vol. 2 2004) and Death Proof (2007).
Resevoir Dogs
(1991) Momentum Pictures
Quentin Tarantino's directorial debut is a brutally funny, supercharged introduction to his supremely distinct cinematic vision. Mastermind Joe Cabot (Lawrence Tierney) assembles a crew of top-notch criminals to pull off a jewelry store heist. It immediately becomes clear that the plan backfired, forcing the survivors, who have gathered at an abandoned warehouse, to figure out if one of them is, in fact, a police informer. The crew (Mr. White (Harvey Keitel), an aged veteran; Mr. Orange (Tim Roth), a wounded newcomer; Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen), a psychopathic parolee; Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi), a bickering weasel; and Nice Guy Eddie (Chris Penn), Joe's son) begin to unravel as the pressure becomes too much. When Joe arrives, the truth becomes clear in a vicious Mexican standoff. Tarantino's hip '70s soundtrack and hysterical pop culture dialogue make the film seem fresh and new. Tarantino As Producer
Those Movies That Quentin Tarantino Has Poduced:
- Death Proof - 2007 Executive Producer (As part of Grindhouse double feature and released separately)
- Freedom's Fury - 2006 (Documentary) - Executive Producer
- Hostel - 2005 Executive Producer
- Daltry Calhoun - 2005 Executive Producer
- Iron Monkey - 1993 Producer - 2001 Re-Release
- From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter - 2000 (Movie/Video) - Executive Procucer
- From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money - 1999 (Movie/Video) - Executive Producer
- Curdled - 1996 Executive Producer
- From Dusk Till Dawn - 1996 Executive Producer
- God Said, 'Ha!' - 1998 Executive Producer
- Four Rooms - 1995 Executive Producer
- Killing Zoe - 1994 Executive Producer
- Past Midnight - 1992 Associate Producer
- My Best Friend's Birthday - 1987 Producer - Never Finished
Three Things About Quentin Tarantino You May Not Know:
- Did you know: That he wrote the 2005 "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" season finale ("Grave Danger: Vols. I & II"). (This is the one where CSI Nick Stokes is buried alive in an acrylic coffin hooked up to an internet camera feed to the lab so his colleagues can watch his suffering.)
- Did you know: That he was originally offered the chance to direct "Speed" (1994), and "Men in Black" (1997), but turned both down. And that he was planning to direct an episode of "The X Files" (1993) but refused to join the Director's Guild of America. The Guild refused his request for a waiver so that he could direct the show.
- Did you know: That he was never in the film "Dawn of the Dead" (1978) or the film "King Lear" (1987). He falsely listed these credits years ago on his resume to compensate for his lack of experience and these incorrect credits have since been attributed to him in such places as Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide, and the Cinemania CD ROM.
Pulp Fiction
(1994) Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
This blockbuster follow-up to "Reservoir Dogs", written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, is a tribute to the popular American pulp magazines of the 1930's and 40's about small time hoods and dangerous criminals. It features deftly woven plotlines, creating a mythic Los Angeles underworld of drug dealers, molls, affable hitmen, restaurant-robbing lovers, and a boxer out to scam the mob on his last professional bout. There are several elements that set Pulp Fiction and its writer/director apart from all others. First are the characters: Tarantino doesn't depict his hit-men as one-dimensional killing machines. He shows their complexities and depth by not only showing them when they are at work, but by showing what they do before and after they work.Closely-related is another of Tarantino's strengths - dialogue. In most movies, the dialogue is designed to cue the next dramatic plot twist. But Pulp Fiction's characters talk about completely random subjects, things that any two people might talk about, and in these conversations the characters come off as being amazingly real, free from the Hollywood gloss of most films.
The other element that really gives Pulp Fiction its unique personality is Tarantino's love of the shocking, the unpredictable, and the absurd. But, what's amazing is his ability to find humor and absurdity in even the most horrible situation. You find yourself laughing at things that should just not be funny, and that is what's most memorable.
Vote For Your Favorite Pulp Fiction Video
There are many, many "Pulp Fiction" videos and parodies on YouTube. I've picked three favorites to start with: The Batman Parody, Samuel L. Jackson's Ezekiel monologue and a video including the song "Son Of A Preacher Man". Do you have a favorite clip? Leave me a note with it, and I'll add it here to be voted on. Know that these are not likely to be family friendly video clips. That being said -- enjoy.
From Dusk Till Dawn
(1995) Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Quentin Tarantino wrote, starred in, and was co-executive producer of this "delightful" movie. Two criminals and their hostages unknowingly seek temporary refuge in an establishment populated by vampires, with chaotic results.It's nonstop thrills when George Clooney ("The Perfect Storm", "Three Kings") and Quentin Tarantino star as the Gecko brothers -- two dangerous outlaws on a wild crime spree. After kidnapping a father (Harvey Keitel -- "U-571") and his two kids (the daughter is Juliette Lewis -- "Natural Born Killers"), the Geckos head south to a seedy Mexican bar to hide out in safety. But when they face the bar's truly notorious clientèle, they're forced to team up with their hostages in order to make it out alive!
Qhentin Tarantino's Filmography As A Writer:
- Death Proof 2007
- Kill Bill: Volume 2 2004
- Kill Bill: Volume 1 2003
- Jackie Brown 1997 Adapted from Elmore Leonard book Rum Punch
- Curdled 1996 --Gecko Brothers News Report
- From Dusk Till Dawn 1996 Screenplay based on story idea by Robert Kurtzman
- The Rock 1996 - Uncredited Rewrites
- Four Rooms 1995 - Segment: The Man from Hollywood
- Crimson Tide 1995 - Uncredited Rewrites
- It's Pat 1994 - Uncredited Rewrites
- Pulp Fiction 1994 Screenplay based on stories by Tarantino & Roger Avary
- Natural Born Killers 1994 - Original Screenplay/Film Version's Story
- Reservoir Dogs 1992
- True Romance 1992
- My Best Friend's Birthday 1987
Quentin Tarantino Movies Available From Amazon
A Brief Tarantino History
Quentin Tarantino grew up in Los Angeles, CA from the age of two. He dropped out of high school at age 16 to pursue a career in what had long been his passion -- films. Rather than a traditional film school education, Tarantino soaked it up directly from society and pop culture. In 1985, he got a job as a clerk at Video Archives, a video rental store. He spent his days watching, discussing, and recommending videos to customers.In his time off, Tarantino began writing scripts. He finished his first great screenplay, called True Romance, in 1990; sold the script for $30,000 and used the earnings to produce Reservoir Dogs on 16mm film, with his friends starring in the lead roles. Once he had this experience, he left the video store and went to work at CineTel, rewriting and editing scripts. With his his foot in the door, Tarantino was able to shop around his projects. In 1990, he wrote a script for "Natural Born Killers" and then sold it. Oliver Stone picked it up, made rewrites, and made it into his own raw hit. (As a result of the changes Stone made, Tarantino received only a small writing credit in the film.)
Tarantino got to know actor Harvey Keitel through some connections, and showed him the rough draft for "Reservoir Dogs". Keitel liked it so much that he used his clout to secure funding for a full-length motion picture version. With events moving along this way - Tarantino got Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi, and Michael Madsen to fill the other roles alongside Keitel. "Reservoir Dogs" was released at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews. In the United States, the film did rather well but has had more success as a rental in the years since its release.
During his travels promoting "Reservoir Dogs", Tarantino wrote "Pulp Fiction", which would turn out to be an even bigger hit than his first, making over $200 million at the box office in 1994, and would earn seven Academy Award nominations and one win -- for Best Original Screenplay.
Books On Quentin Tarantino
Available From Amazon
Vote For Your Favorites:
So, which is your favorite movie that Tarantino either produced or wrote? Vote here, either for or against, and see how it stacks up with what others think:
Are You A Tarantino Fan?
Love him? Hate him? Have a favorite movie? Leave me a note here, and thanks for visiting my lens.
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Kamikazee
Hell yeah!! I'm a huge fan. His movies are the best. He's one of the few film makers whose films have a lot more to them than just violence and action. Great dialogues with great choice of actors all the time. Great lens. Posted April 13, 2008 |
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beachbum_gabby
big fan of Tarantino. His movies are the best! 5 stars for you. Posted March 03, 2008 |
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thomasz
Nice lens. Tarantino's movies are awesome Posted January 30, 2008 |
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Music-Resource
Hi Gypsie, I'm a big fan of Tarantino movies and the actors he picks are among the very best. Great trip down movie memory lane lens, thanx. ~Music Resource~ Posted January 21, 2008 |
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brianholdren
Quentin hasn't made a film of any importance since Pulp Fiction. In my opinion he has only made a few films that carry on his legacy as a filmmaker. Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, and Jackie Brown. Posted November 28, 2007 |
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TommyL
He's my fave too. Pulp Fiction is the best. This lens deserves 5 stars for Honey Bunny and Mia Wallace eating Royale with Cheese in Jack Rabbit Slim while having a foot massage. Hehehe. Make sense only to true fans of Tarantino. Posted October 25, 2007 |
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Quentin Tarantino On "The Golden Girls"
...found on YouTube
Elvis and The Golden Girls
The Golden Girls love Elvis and together for the first time, they appear on scree TOGETHER!
Runtime: 5:50
34418 views
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