The Quick Guide to the Films of Quentin Tarantino (Part 3)
In Part 1 and Part 2 I covered the films that Tarantino directed solo. In this third and final part I'm going to discuss some odds and ends, including films he directed part of, films he wrote, and even a few acting appearances. These won't be in any particular ranking order, nor will it be all inclusive.
Co-Directed
1. Grindhouse: Death Proof was one of the two main features making up Grindhouse. In some ways it's a little mini Tarantino film, especially with regards to the music and the weirdness, but unusually the dialog is a weakness, with too much explaining and not enough revealing. It is pretty neat that stuntwoman Zoe Bell got to be the lead, and certainly the stunts are fun, but overall this is not terribly interesting. The Planet Terror half of the film that was directed by Tarantino's good friend Robert Rodriguez is better, but not by much.
2. Tarantino directed the fourth of the Four Rooms. It's resets the Roald Dahl story Man From the South in a hotel. I recommend reading the short story, because it's a lot better than this segment, which is sadly probably the best segment of the four.
3. Supposedly Tarantino directed a small portion of one of the The Big Fat Kill story line in Sin City because Rodriguez was trying to convince him of the virtues of digital film. It's a good scene in a good movie, but quite frankly I can't tell the difference, probably because Tarantino didn't write it.
Wrote, Not Directed
4. Tony Scott directed True Romance, but despite that it is unmistakably Tarantino. The dialog, in particular, pops, and the plot features the crime-laden villains and plot twists seen in Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown. I really enjoyed this film, and if Tarantino had directed it it would be 4th or 5th on the overall list.
5. I have not seen Natural Born Killers. I really need to fix that one of these days. Tarantino wrote the original script, which was heavily modified by director Oliver Stone, and by all accounts it seems like something I'd enjoy. It's probably still as topical as it was in 1994, but probably somewhat less shocking.
6. I have also not seen From Dusk Til Dawn, but it seems like exactly the kind of schlocky vampire film I might enjoy in the right mood. Plus, George Clooney!
Special Mention
7. Tarantino has had a number of acting roles. Most of the ones outside his own films are cameos or otherwise forgettable, but I do recommend the film Sukiyaki Western Django, which he has a supporting role in as an old wise advisor. It's basically Yojimbo, sort of, with Yojimbo, but taken a lot less seriously and with a really great sword vs gun duel. Is it a good film? Oh lord no, but it is a lot of fun if you like that kind of thing.
Coda
Supposedly Tarantino is going to retire after making his tenth film. I seriously doubt it, but even if he holds to that promise and his recent pattern of movies, there'll be at least one update some day three or so years from now.
Part 1!
Part 2!
Co-Directed
1. Grindhouse: Death Proof was one of the two main features making up Grindhouse. In some ways it's a little mini Tarantino film, especially with regards to the music and the weirdness, but unusually the dialog is a weakness, with too much explaining and not enough revealing. It is pretty neat that stuntwoman Zoe Bell got to be the lead, and certainly the stunts are fun, but overall this is not terribly interesting. The Planet Terror half of the film that was directed by Tarantino's good friend Robert Rodriguez is better, but not by much.
2. Tarantino directed the fourth of the Four Rooms. It's resets the Roald Dahl story Man From the South in a hotel. I recommend reading the short story, because it's a lot better than this segment, which is sadly probably the best segment of the four.
3. Supposedly Tarantino directed a small portion of one of the The Big Fat Kill story line in Sin City because Rodriguez was trying to convince him of the virtues of digital film. It's a good scene in a good movie, but quite frankly I can't tell the difference, probably because Tarantino didn't write it.
Wrote, Not Directed
4. Tony Scott directed True Romance, but despite that it is unmistakably Tarantino. The dialog, in particular, pops, and the plot features the crime-laden villains and plot twists seen in Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown. I really enjoyed this film, and if Tarantino had directed it it would be 4th or 5th on the overall list.
5. I have not seen Natural Born Killers. I really need to fix that one of these days. Tarantino wrote the original script, which was heavily modified by director Oliver Stone, and by all accounts it seems like something I'd enjoy. It's probably still as topical as it was in 1994, but probably somewhat less shocking.
6. I have also not seen From Dusk Til Dawn, but it seems like exactly the kind of schlocky vampire film I might enjoy in the right mood. Plus, George Clooney!
Special Mention
7. Tarantino has had a number of acting roles. Most of the ones outside his own films are cameos or otherwise forgettable, but I do recommend the film Sukiyaki Western Django, which he has a supporting role in as an old wise advisor. It's basically Yojimbo, sort of, with Yojimbo, but taken a lot less seriously and with a really great sword vs gun duel. Is it a good film? Oh lord no, but it is a lot of fun if you like that kind of thing.
Coda
Supposedly Tarantino is going to retire after making his tenth film. I seriously doubt it, but even if he holds to that promise and his recent pattern of movies, there'll be at least one update some day three or so years from now.
Part 1!
Part 2!