12 April 2007

On Tarantino

I think the issue I lost contained a review of "Grindhouse"—that new double feature by Quentin Tarantino and the other guy.

I'm working hard on an article about funeral music (by the way, you can still vote for your song), but I'm going to go and seek the review out later, and treat it like a sorbet for my brain. In my heart, I hope it's by Denby, and that he does Tarantino a little ultraviolence, but I'm willing to accept another result.

Having seen the TV commercials for "Grindhouse," though, I'm bracing for another queasily masturbatory homage to a 1970s schlock-action genre. I've never resented a director so much as I did Tarantino, after watching "Kill Bill I."

Anyone disagree with Denby that "Kill Bill" was "what’s formally known as decadence and commonly known as crap"? Taipei Davey?

(JJB Photo: "9 Alma.")

7 comments:

Peter Patau said...

Off topic for Tarantino, but on-topic for the photo: The long ride to work, the long ride home. Commuting in Wisconsin -- how my experience stacks up against that of the people Nick Paumgarten describes in his TNY story.

Unknown said...

"Kill Bill, Volume 1" shows Quentin Tarantino so effortlessly and brilliantly in command of his technique that he reminds me of a virtuoso violinist racing through "Flight of the Bumble Bee" -- or maybe an accordion prodigy setting a speed record for "Lady of Spain." I mean that as a sincere compliment. The movie is not about anything at all except the skill and humor of its making. It's kind of brilliant.

Roger Ebert, October 10th, 2003

Jesse Ferreras said...

I'm glad to see that Roger Ebert's review was posted to bring a little irony to help even out the massive praise that's heaped on Tarantino for everything he does. Personally, I don't think the man's a genius, and I'm glad to see that there are some who agree with me. As a postmodern film, "Kill Bill" is one of the best examples one can think of. It blends the western and the martial arts genres seamlessly. But at the same time, the gratuitously bloody violence just grows tiresome. And showing your audience just how many movies you've seen doesn't make you an auteur - it makes you a geek.

- Jesse Ferreras

Jesse Ferreras said...

I'm glad to see that Roger Ebert's review was posted to bring a little irony to help even out the massive praise that's heaped on Tarantino for everything he does. Personally, I don't think the man's a genius, and I'm glad to see that there are some who agree with me. As a postmodern film, "Kill Bill" is one of the best examples one can think of. It blends the western and the martial arts genres seamlessly. But at the same time, the gratuitously bloody violence just grows tiresome. And showing your audience just how many movies you've seen doesn't make you an auteur - it makes you a geek.

- Jesse Ferreras

Davey Neill said...

Tiresome for some, perhaps. If I'm gonna pay 12 bucks to see some motherfucker get his head lanced or take a hollow-point to the face, I'd prefer Tarantino to be at the helm. The rest of you Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer fans can go play in the sandbox.

Davey Neill said...

Well said, Davey. You may well have joined the dunciad of inanity by praising a clearly over praised director, it is kind of you to recognize that there are still those filmmakers that write, direct and edit their craft with a consistence of vision traceable throughout their filmography. Special thanks for dropping the f-bomb in your post, geek.

JJB said...

Davey, you're too hard on yourself.