Tarantino is back.
Here's the international trailer for his new slave western Django Unchained:
It looks like another inventive and funny genre romp. Tarantino has a mastery and knowledge of cinema beyond most modern directors. His films are often flawed, but always fun.
But, since his dazzling debut with Reservoir Dogs, his films have slowly, but inexorably, drifted away from the real world.
His movies were always about movies, but they were populated with convincing characters and recognisable little human moments.
But since Jackie Brown, his movies are more about movies than they are about people.
The Kill Bills, Death Proof and Inglorious Basterds were all fantastic fun - like breakneck genre trips with an insanely brainy maniac as a tour guide.
But, there was very little genuine, real-life emotion in them. Tarantino has floated off into movieland.
It wasn't always like this. Remember the moment in Reservoir Dogs when Tim Roth is getting into character before he gets in the car with the crew. He is genuinely nervous he may get found out.
In Pulp Fiction, there are countless human moments - the bickering between Eric Stoltz and Rosanna Arquette as they search for the adrenalin, Travolta convincing himself to go home and "jerk off", the dialogue between Butch and Fabienne in the hotel room.
Jackie Brown takes it to another level. It's a touching film about getting old and second chances. The chemistry between Robert Forster and Pam Grier is lovely.
There's a surprising human moment when Samuel L Jackson asks Robert de Niro: "What happened to you, man? Your ass used to be so beautiful''. Sure, the next thing he does is blow him away, but it's a touching little moment.
I can't think of anything similar in his later films. There was masterful tension, surprising humour and chopsocky action, but no real emotions.
Django Unchained looks like more of the same, although it is hard to tell from the trailer alone.
Don't get me wrong, more of the same is no bad thing. Inglorious Basterds was a real trip.
But, one day it would be nice to see Tarantino return to an orbit that is every so slightly closer to earth. We don't want to just see the movie world refracted through the brilliant prism of his mind, we want to see glimpses of the real world too.
He is clearly dazzlingly talented, I just want more from him.
But, what do you think? Do you prefer Tarantino's earlier films, or do you like his recent flights of fantasy? Do you care that he seems to have left reality behind for good?
Which Tarantino is the best? It's got to be Pulp Fiction, right?
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I disagree with you that there is no emotion in Kill Bill especially Vol 2.
Also his fims are still a lot of fun and I geta kick out of all of them.
Jack Rivers # 1 knows what's up.
You're kidding me? Inglorious Basterds is full of real emotions. The amazing first scene was a perfect example, as Christpoh Waltz was showing his psychotic tendencies and toying with the man, who was clearly freaking out. As well as Melanie Laurent's character; you really feel for her in a lot of those scenes especially after her meeting with Waltz.
@#1 I was thinking about that exact same scene about the goldfish! Also when Bill talks about Superheroes and their alter egos is fantastic. Kill Bill 2 has so many brillent moments.
Pulp Fiction for sure - def right up there in the favourite movies pile.
However, I also really enjoyed From Dusk til Dawn. I hadn't known anything about it when I saw it so my fist inkling that something wasn't right was when Tarantino's character was looking through a hole in his hand from where it got shot through - up until that moment (for me at least) it was a normal "cops and robbers" movie. Awesome.
He's a great film maker - although not for everyone obviously - lots of fun and they're not something that you find yourself zoning in and out of - attention is required.
I miss the days when Tarantino made pop culture his, errm, compliant and receptive companion. Pulp Fiction was the pinnacle and I don't see him ever topping that. So far, Django Unchained gives me a "yeah, might be interesting" response rather than an OMG MUST SEE NOW! hyperreaction.
My favourite Tarantino film is one he wrote rather than directed - True Romance. Great dialogue, interesting characters and one of my all-time favourite scenes in any film - the showdown between Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper where Hopper gived him a history lesson about the Italians.
Loved Pulp Fiction, but it has aged badly, and have disliked everything since Jackie Brown.
Completely wrong. Disagree with this blog entirely.
One of the main reasons I love 'tino is the surrealism. There is no way I could sit through his work if it was serious and 'real' the whole time. I have to admit that I hated Pulp Fiction (but loved his other stuff) for a long time because it was a little to real-worldy for me. I am super looking forward to Django and have totally fallen in love with Waltz since Inglorious Basterds.
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Kill bill 2 when Bill is talking about how the daughter killed the goldfish, while he cuts the crusts of the sandwich. That was one of the best scenes ever. And incredibly human. Also the first scene from inglorious bastards. Tarantino is the man! He always some how creates scenes of pure human connection even though it is surrounded by film in a film preposterousness!