It should be up on podcast pretty soon.
I realized on the way home something that might have seemed confusing. We talked a bit about Tarantino, and I expressed my mixed feelings about his work. I mentioned that while he has flashes of genius, I don't like the way he suddenly switches genres in the middle of his films. I mostly had this issue with the first Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds and Django.
Then I mentioned how great Martin McDonagh is, largely because he changes genres in the middle of his stories. He bounces between comedy and drama and action with ease. So it seems I criticize Tarantino for the same exact reason I celebrate McDonagh.
I guess it comes down to the showing of the seams. Tarantino announces his style in grand fashion. He says "Oh, you thought you were watching a World War Two action movie? Guess what, bitch? You're watching a BLACKSPLOITATION FILM! Just for a minute, though, and then I'm changing this shit up again."
And that works for some people. There are people who eat that shit up. I'm just not one of them. Reservoir Dogs was consistent in its style, and Pulp Fiction, despite being a collection of shorts, followed its own rules. I love those two films to death. I just don't like suddenly being yanked out of what I thought I was watching and being shoved into a whole different film.
McDonagh does it with nothing but the story. His style is consistent, and the story flows from humor to action to drama as part of the narrative. It doesn't announce itself dramatically - it just flows. So even though both men like to flirt with expectations of genre, I just feel more in love with McDonagh's style.
This does not mean I hate Tarantino, and it doesn't mean you can't love him all you want and we're still cool. It's just how I feel.
14 comments:
I can't wait for the podcast. Well, I guess I could, 'cause, you know, in the grand scheme it is only a podcast. But nonetheless, I am looking forward to it.
Me too.
That's one of the things I love most about Tarantino. From Dusk Till Dawn is the most obvious example. Hostage/crime film and then all of a fucking sudden we're in a tittie bar full of vampires. It's a bit of a jolt in FDTD but it is seamless when he does it in the Kill Bill movies.
Emily
But why why why? - Tarantino got a super-huge fan following around the world?
I went to Comic Con four years ago and I this inker/illustrator/penciler cry in front of me. Saying that he tried to out-do PULP FICTION with a graphic novel but he was not able to write like TARANTINO...
I felt sorry for him.
But he did say, he loves the writings of Tarantino.
Do you think there will another Tarantino in USA?
Name a a script or movie that is better thank PULP FICTION?
Please don't say TWO DAYS IN THE VALLEY....
Dennis
McDonagh has only made one film so far. Tarantino's most subtle film is still Reservoir Dogs (or maybe Jackie Brown) which was his first film. McDonagh is a huge fan of Tarantino, and a big risk taker in his work, and as he makes more films his style may become more dramatic and, at times, over the top...QT style.
"Do you think there will another Tarantino in USA?"
Many have tried. All have failed.
"Name a a script or movie that is better thank PULP FICTION?"
Too subjective a question. You should ask, "name a script that has had a bigger impact on the film industry and film goers than Pulp Fiction."
There are only a few that would even deserve mention.
Hey R Booth R
Thanks for the comment.
I learned so much from watching QT's films and reading his scripts. QT is my UCLA on screenwriting. QT is my screenwriting professor.
"I want to top expectations. I want to blow you away. "
Quentin Tarantino
"I was kind of excited about going to jail the first time and I learnt some great dialogue. "
Quentin Tarantino
Dennis
"I want to top expectations. I want to blow you away. "
I fucking adore the shit out of that quote. There are too many conformist, scared of their own shadows, screenwriters taking up space in Hollywood. Give me a guy that swings for the fences, and normally connects, everytime over the wimp that plays it safe.
Yes RBR, I agree!
fyi:
Evan Glodell is new director to look for, in vein of QTarantino
this new film shook the film festivals,
my kind of film and writing
I think QT would be proud of this :
http://www.bellflower-themovie.com/trailer/
Dennis
I don't think Tarantino is a god of any kind, but I'm glad you guys have a strong positive influence on your writing.
And McDonagh has been a playwright for ages. He also wrote and directed an Oscar winning short film and has a brilliant script going into production right now. I think his work is in his own style.
I never claimed he was a God or a strong influence on my writing. In the world of screenwriter/directors he is among the best, most well known, and most influential of all time.
I've read Seven Psychopaths twice, I bought and watched Six Shooter years ago on itunes, and I've read The Pillowman. I know all about McDonagh. His work is his own style but it is also different from one work to the next. Seven Psychopaths is far less subtle than In Bruges. Just like Tarantino, McDonagh's style fits the particular script. Tarantino can be subtle and can stick to a single tone and genre when the script calls for it.
Yes, Tarantino is capable of sticking to one tone. That's why I liked his early films. But it seems he chooses not to do that anymore, which I don't enjoy.
Jackie Brown and Death Proof stuck to one tone and/or genre. The second Kill Bill as far as I can remember.
Early films Dogs and Pulp Fiction and True Romance stuck to one tone/genre.
So really you're talking about From Dusk Till Dawn, the first Kill Bill, Basterds (which I disagree with), and Django.
Tarantino is certainly no Alan Ball (he said with friendly sarcasm).
Yep.
Although I don't entirely agree about Death Proof. It was basically two stories - one really boring story and one really interesting story.
And of course Basterds switches genres. It becomes a blacksploitation film for the hell of it for a little while.
You are obviously a Tarantino fan. His stuff works for you. Much of his material simply doesn't work for me, and I've explained why.
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