Quentin Tarantino is outspoken as ever. In a recent op-ed for “Sight & Sound” magazine, the “Pulp Fiction” director sharply criticizes the state of Hollywood cinema, which he believes has declined since the pandemic.
It has been seven years since a new Quentin Tarantino film graced the darkened theaters. The long hiatus followed the premiere of Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival. While the American filmmaker continues to delay his tenth and final film, a four-hour and thirty-five-minute extended version of Kill Bill, titled The Whole Bloody Affair (including an intermission), is set to hit our screens on July 8.
In the meantime, the maestro behind Pulp Fiction remains critically sharp. In an exclusive column for Sight & Sound, the recipient of a 2011 César d’honneur for his career contributions did not mince words about the current state of American cinema post-COVID-19 pandemic.
“These Days, I’d Rather Read a Book”
After verbally sparring with Paul Dano months ago, he expressed his disinterest in “all the new movies coming out of the tasteless sausage factory formerly known as Hollywood.” He lamented the “flaws, implausibilities, pandering to the audience, poorly chosen actors, or just plain stupidity” that often “undermine” these recent productions.
With such observations, the film industry icon feels that “nowadays, the very idea of what a movie is inspires more contempt than admiration from me. That’s quite understandable because, in comparison, the films of the last six years make the 1980s look like the 1930s“, the golden age of cinema.
However, Quentin Tarantino acknowledges a few exceptions that have caught his eye. He admits that no film has truly impressed him for years, with the exception of a few.
The director specifically mentions the 2021 remake of West Side Story by Steven Spielberg and the two chapters of Horizon: An American Saga by Kevin Costner, yet he states that none have “truly captivated and transported him to that magical land of enjoyment” he once frequented, explaining why he “loved cinema more than any other art form.” He concludes: “Today, I would rather read a book.“
A Netflix Film Recommended by Quentin Tarantino
Nevertheless, Quentin Tarantino has praised The Rip by Joe Carnahan, featuring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. “It’s an exciting crime thriller with an original concept that smartly delivers on its promises“, he writes. “The whole package works: Carnahan’s direction, the excellent cast, the film’s aesthetics… But the real highlight is the sensational script by Carnahan and Michael McGrale.” To see if you agree with him, check out the film currently available on Netflix.
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A passionate journalist, Iris Lennox covers social and cultural news across the U.S.