Django Unchained (QTR)

[JATX]

Hey, Strut-

Since there has been much talk about movies as of late, I figured I'd mention the new Tarantino movie coming out this Christmas, Django Unchained. I'm a fan of his movies and I'm looking forward to seeing this. What's the Strut's opinion on Tarantino? Genius, hack, somewhere in between? I can't embed, but a quick google search should take care of that.

I rarely post, but I've been on here for awhile. I'm Jason and I live in Texas. I like records, and, currently I'm big on swimming pools(Texas heat R).

 

[rootlesscosmo]

Tarantino is pretty damned good curator of other people's styles/flavors.





he has some turds.





he has some heat.

 

[soulmarcosa]

Dude's a genius. Can't even believe this is a debate anymore. Most filmmakers would be lucky to have created even ONE of the films in his oeuvre:





RESERVOIR DOGS


PULP FICTION


JACKIE BROWN


KILL BILL 1 & 2


DEATH PROOF


INGLORIOUS BASTERDS





If he were just a ripoff-artist, every one of these flicks would be a forgettable direct-to-video piece of junk instead of the iconic and influential art they almost all of them are. Like Godard, he uses his knowledge of pop culture not just to rehash it, but to comment, critique, and expand upon it. And though he's an amazing action and setpiece stylist, his real strength (to me) is his strong dialogue and deft Lumet-like handling of actors to get some of the best performances of their careers. Seriously, did Pam Grier, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, or Robert Forster EVER turn in better performances for a director other than QT? You know the answer.





Besides, his flicks are challenging, controversial, entertaining, smart, stupid, hilarious and just a hell of a good time.





DJANGO UNCHAINED will be a killer flick that - like most of his work - will be a great ride both intellectually and viscerally as well as inspire lots of discussion afterwards, no doubt about it.

 

[pcmr]

and he is one of the last directors that makes me go to the cinema





Django is classic so i can't wait to see what he does with the genre

 

[edith head]

soulmarcosa saidude's a genius. Can't even believe this is a debate anymore. Most filmmakers would be lucky to have created even ONE of the films in his oeuvre:





RESERVOIR DOGS


PULP FICTION


JACKIE BROWN


KILL BILL 1 & 2


DEATH PROOF


INGLORIOUS BASTERDS.




major cosign

 

[grandpa_shig]

i agree that he has established an excellent reputation but im curious to see how much of his films were dependent on his late editor, sally menke. im actually kind of excited to see the results, but i have a feeling she was one of the main reasons why his shit was always so correct.

 

[Hotsauce84]

You sure it'll be out by Christmas?? Last I read they hadn't even settled on the Will Smith vs Jamie Foxx vs Stringer Bell role.

 

[dwyhajlo]

He's a pretty good director, and I like many of his movies, but I don't think I would really rank anything of his except for Pulp Fiction - and these days I don't even think I would go for that one either. There's usually something really good to like about each of his movies - whether it's a particular scene or piece of dialogue or performance or whatever - but I find that they usually fall down when I consider them as a whole. For example, I really liked most of Pulp Fiction, but I thought that it lost a lot of momentum during the Bruce Willis section.





My favorite thing he ever did was the gay Top Gun monologue from that Sleep With Me movie.





He definitely is one of those directors whose every movie still feels like an "event", though.

 

[grandpa_shig]

i think his greatest and most personal achievement was jackie brown. first off it was an homage to the south bay. detailing the lifestyle and landmarks of the backbone of los angeles. if you look close, it has a very provincial style almost in stark contrast to the rest of his movies. and its no secret that upon release it was widely hated, but i think that had a lot to do with his slight departure from an aesthetic he was known for, and expected to continue. but he didnt.





it was a love story first and foremost. a chick flick for men. sure, there are caper elements, but the intimacy of the love narrative is what is truly remarkable. the 2 main actors are really nothing to look at, i mean in the grander scheme of hollywood actors. past their prime, tired and old, yet dealing with crushes and lust and love for the mature set. a movie about 2 old coots that have made all the mistakes possible in love, and have come out the other end so seasoned that a nary a titty nor a kiss need be shown to imply the passion. it was so subtle in all its devices that i think in hindsight a lot of people have warmed up to it. for example take the device of the delfonics. jackie brown loved the delfonics. in time, the dude went to the record shop and picked up a copy. who among us hasnt been so influenced by a woman (or man) to the point that you have done the same. i know i have. she doesnt need the bad motherfucker wallet cuz she is the wallet. such a delicate touch on tarantinos part.





and the ending. part western part final scene of casablanca. forrester has to let her go because this is her world. the overarching theme is about men who understand this. that for such a macho director, to suggest that the woman is always the boss is the true macho archetype. and so contrary to his audience and their expectations. a straight up masterpiece that takes a lot of genres and flips them. rivaling if not besting the most underhanded of french movies. dude killed it. granted, everything else has been high octane in comparison, but this just illustrates his mastery.

 

[BallzDeep]

True Romance is my all time favorite movie.

 

[herbacios tweed]

i'm not a Q fanboy so i really don't know shit about his upcoming projects. good for him.





was about to poast that Sweet and Lowdown already had Django covered.

 

[soulmarcosa]

grandpa_shig said:i think his greatest and most personal achievement was jackie brown.




Agreed, for all the points you stated so well. JB is seriously underrated and hands-down my favorite QT flick.

 

[Sebastian Haff]

Herm said:You sure it'll be out by Christmas?? Last I read they hadn't even settled on the Will Smith vs Jamie Foxx vs Stringer Bell role.




Yeah it's due out next Christmas not this one.

 

[JATX]

My mistake on the date, sorry.





Jacki Brown is my favorite. Tarantino said he made Jacki Brown after Pulp Fiction to show he's not all style over substance, as some have criticized him for.





I was watching True Romance with Tarantino's commentary the other night. Pretty interesting to listen to, as he details the struggles he went through to sell TR to anybody with money(he mentions having sold TR to an exploitation movie company before Tony Scott took interest). The first three scripts he wrote would be enough to make any screen writer envious:





True Romance


Natural Born Killers


Reservoir Dogs

 

[edith head]

There are a lot of things I like about QT but one thing that is consistent with all his movies is that he seems to be a good actor's director and makes movies and characters that draw out great performances from actors I would normally be meh about, like bruce willis or daryl hannah off the top of my head.





also, i love the way his movies look

 

[CousinLarry]

edith head said:There are a lot of things I like about QT but one thing that is consistent with all his movies is that he seems to be a good actor's director and makes movies and characters that draw out great performances from actors I would normally be meh about, like bruce willis or daryl hannah off the top of my head.







Too true, I re-watched Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs recently. Having not seen PF in about 10 years, it was the performances that really got me this time around. Travolta and Thurman really play off each other and so many things are said between them without any dialog.





I remember really enjoying Jackie Brown when I saw it and I need to watch it again soon. Rum Punch, the book he based it on is great, and you can tell QT is strongly influenced by Elmore Leonard.

 

[grandpa_shig]

im telling you dudes, its really hard to collaborate let alone find someone with whom to collaborate. the dude has always conceded to her importance.

















sally menke rip

 

[JATX]

Shig-





I agree it will hard to replace Sally Menke. Not to take anything away from her at all, but I'm pretty sure Tarantino was next to her the whole time she cut his movies.

 

[grandpa_shig]

oh no, im not tryng to take anything away from tarantino. these are his movies afterall. but a true collaborative process isnt something that comes easy or often. and i think his movies will be profoundly affected by her absence. the amount of effort tarantino put in to include her in the process (hi sally reels) and the stories of countless arguments and fights with her only allude to how much he rightfully valued her input and discretion. when you look back at the "auteurs" of cinema, its not the director/dp relationship that matters as much as it is the director/editor. a lot of times its the directors spouse that cuts it all together because, who's opinion is more trusted than the one you love? i think in one of those clips he even goes as far as to equate it to a marriage.

 

[edith head]

Martin said: those not mentioning inglorious as one of his best are just batshit crazy.




Who's doing that? I LOVE LOVE LOVE that movie.