Quentin Tarantino is a name that cannot be mistaken in the world of Hollywood filmmaking. He is a constant presence, even at the Oscars: disheveled hair as if not combed for a week; a crooked tie, not even properly knotted; a large belly, (almost) balding head, a thin face with no signs of facial hair. However, when he speaks, everyone listens. Because they know the person speaking is one of the most outstanding modern directors in Hollywood’s history. And it’s also because Quentin has a special self-confidence and a unique sense of humor that can make talk show host Jimmy Kimmel burst into laughter, commenting, “Any party with Quentin Tarantino will be incredibly fascinating.”
The line of text that drives any Quentin fan crazy
Many people can’t sit through 15 minutes of a film labeled “Written and Directed by Quentin Tarantino,” but it’s precisely his unique filmmaking style that has attracted a massive fanbase. Every time Quentin announces a new film project, cinephiles know for sure that this work will be filled with violence, blood, non-linear storytelling, and iconic film soundtracks. Nevertheless, the 53-year-old director still manages to bring freshness to his films, and the audience eagerly awaits the release day. That’s what makes him a genius.
Since Quentin writes the scripts for all his films, one can easily predict how the plot will unfold in his works. In fact, what makes Quentin unique is his compelling storytelling and the creation of incredibly interesting characters. The plot elements in Quentin’s films are drawn out, ensuring that no film is under 2 hours in length. However, this is also when the audience holds their breath in anticipation of intelligent dialogue and escalating tension. And in the end, everything is resolved with visually stunning violence. Quentin’s unique character development has also created unforgettable characters in the history of cinema and brought glory to countless actors who collaborated with him, such as Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Christoph Waltz, and more.
Quentin is also very interested in connecting the content in his works. According to him and the hypotheses of his fanbase, all of Quentin’s scripts are connected in terms of characters, forming what is referred to as the Quentin Tarantino Universe. For example, Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs (1992) is the brother of hitman Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction (1994); Mr. White in Reservoir Dogs once mentioned doing business with a girl named Alabama, who is Alabama in True Romance (1993). Jackie Brown (1997) and Kill Bill (2003 & 2004) are considered “movies within movies,” where characters from Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction are “normal people” and they go to see Jackie Brown and Kill Bill in their world. This may also explain the violence and lack of realism in Kill Bill.
Pulp Fiction – Quentin Tarantino’s highest-rated film
Quentin Tarantino is also famous for cleverly bringing undervalued or underappreciated values to the wider Hollywood audience. For instance, Jackie Brown is a time when he used his reputation gained after the resounding success of Pulp Fiction to reintroduce the blaxploitation film genre, a genre that was once popular in the 1970s and had a significant impact on Quentin’s filmmaking style. In Kill Bill, Quentin incorporates elements of Chinese Kung Fu cinema, Japanese martial arts, and Italian horror films into the screen. In Death Proof (2007), Quentin aimed to make a slasher film, a horror subgenre considered a “B-movie” in Hollywood, but it had a significant impact on American society and culture. Not stopping there, Quentin also used his reputation and influence to bring more attention to independent and foreign films in Hollywood. The film Hero (2002) by director Zhang Yimou achieved great success in the United States, thanks in large part to Quentin’s purchase of the film’s distribution rights and promotion to the American audience.
This can be explained by the fact that Quentin is a true “film enthusiast.” Before pursuing a career in directing, he worked in a video rental store, where he could watch films for free. Quentin has often explained that he is obsessed with movies. Christoph Waltz recounted that a typical meeting between him and Quentin would end with both of them selecting a movie from Quentin’s collection and watching it at a Tarantino-branded home theater. Channing Tatum also revealed his admiration for Quentin’s knowledge and passion when the two discussed the 36-year-old actor’s role in The Hateful Eight (2015).
With excellence and a distinctive personality, Quentin Tarantino cannot avoid criticism. Both his filmmaking style and personal life have been the center of public attention. Quentin’s unapologetic use of firearms and gore has displeased many educators in the United States. His frequent use of offensive language has left some audience members puzzled, although in reality, most see it as adding realism to his films. Regarding these criticisms, Quentin has a very “Quentin” response: “Sure, Kill Bill’s a violent movie. But it’s a Tarantino movie. You don’t go to see Metallica and ask the fuckers to turn the music down.”
The characteristic image of Quentin, the Oscar gold rush but still very… “controversial”
Because of all these factors, if love is measured by the number of fans, hate is measured by the number of detractors, and success is measured by the total number of admirers and critics, then Quentin Tarantino deserves to be one of the most successful directors in Hollywood history.
