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| Elvis Mitchell and Quentin Tarantino |
Writer, director, cinematographer,
and actor Quentin Tarantino has worked on a number of films which includes: Reservoir
Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Bastards and Kill Bill: Volumes 1 and 2. Elvis Mitchell’s interview with Tarantino aired
on March 27, 2007 and revolves around Tarantino’s newest film at that time titled
Death Proof. Death Proof was released as part of a
double feature film with Robert Rodriguez’s Planet
Terror. Together the films were
titled Grind House; however Tarantino
explained that he wanted to create a double feature film that was coupled, but could
also be watched as two separate films.
During the interview, Quentin Tarantino explains
his methods for creating action films that keep audiences interested. He expresses his desire to bring back the old
fashioned theater experience. Tarantino
calls inspiration for his films from musicals, Broadways, and slasher films of
the 1970s. He is determined to create
something different; something that involves the audience and convinces them to
become emotionally invested in the characters and their story. It is obvious that Tarantino is passionate
about his work and is always striving to create something that differs from the
norm.
Most of Quentin
Tarantino’s films follow a non-linear format.
He does this to, “… try to bury anything that is plot-oriented or
anything that has to pay off later. Just
bury it amongst a bunch of minute bullshit dialogue so you don’t know that you
are being set up for something, you don’t know you’ve actually been told the
plot, you don’t know that the bread crumbs have been laid for something else
later to happen.” This particular quote stood
out to me because I know exactly how Tarantino feels. I watch many films and can often predict what
is about to happen, how the plot will unfold, and what the final outcome will
be. For me, these predictable types of
films are interesting but do not call for the use of my imagination. I want to feel the suspense and be surprised
when unexpected actions take place. I
want to be excited about a film and I think Tarantino’s films do just that.
Another important
characteristic of Tarantino’s films is that they are dialogue-driven. Tarantino talks about how difficult it can be
to find actors who can deliver his material.
He expresses, “I can never forget that ultimately it’s about my
material, you got to be able to do my dialogue or you got no business on my
set. If they can’t deliver my dialogue,
if they can’t sing it, because they have to sing it, if they can’t deliver my
jokes or they don’t even know they are jokes...” then there is a problem. This can explain why many of Tarantino’s films
feature the same actors such as Samuel L. Jackson and Christopher Walken, great
actors who “don’t grow on trees.”
Tarantino feels that the actors have to show verisimilitude in order for his
films to work. I completely agree with
him on this point. It can be very
difficult to fully engage yourself in a film when the actors seem corny and are
unable to deliver lines in a believable manner. This is yet another reason why
I find Tarantino’s films so interesting and engaging.
During the interview, Mitchell mentions to
Tarantino that his work does not involve nudity which is found in many slasher
films. I was surprised to hear such a
comment because most films, whether slasher or not, do contain some type of
nudity. It made me happy to hear
Tarantino’s response: “I am too much of a gentleman to ask my girls to do
sexual scenes that involve nudity.” He laughs
and explains that it is much easier to put them in the skimpiest clothes
possible and show a whole lot of chest, legs, and butt. There is no need to exploit the girls to
create a good movie. He shows just
enough to express their sexuality but leaves the rest to our imagination. This is done often in Tarantino’s films. He allows the audience to piece information together
and imagine their own conclusions.
Listening to Quentin
Tarantino talk about his films really shows his passion for creating something worth
watching. He worries about changing the
natural rhythm of films but also understands what the audience wants and does
everything in his power to indulge us.
He avoids creating a film that sets up a situation in the first twenty
minutes and then has the rest of the film live up to that situation. Tarantino “uses people’s subliminal knowledge
of cinema against them” and leads them into many different directions. This is what I love about Tarantino’s
films. His films keep you thinking, imagining,
and always wondering what exciting event will happen next.
