Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

The devotion to scene-setting shown here is so meticulous and focused that one must conclude that it was the entire point of the exercise. For sure, given the context set up by all that lovingly-crafted detail-fetishing, it will be very exciting once this film decides to start telling an actual story—you know, with a plot and all that. The viewer may have to wait a few years past the closing credits for that; perhaps Tarantino will get around to that on a 10th anniversary special edition, on whatever medium is popular and profitable then. Which is to say, there’s really not much in the way of a story here, just a train of character-connected scenes that pay homage to a bygone time and place, with an ominous backdrop to give the whole pastiche a vibe of historical import. None of this is to say these scenes aren’t a lot of fun—for sure they are, particularly Pitt’s ass-kicking encounters. Indeed, all the principals do well in moments here. But the indulgence comes at a cost, conveying a sense —not for the first time in his career—that Q could have achieved something truly transcendent with a little more discipline. Overall, this flick is good, and fun, and worthy of appreciation—but also maddeningly incomplete.

The Hateful Eight

It’s Tarantino, so you know what that means. Again, if you’re a wilting flower or a pearl-clutcher, you should probably avoid watching this one. Indeed, even the rough characters among us might find some of the contents presented here a tad difficult to take. So you’ve been warned. On the plus side--if the foregoing can be said to be a negative--there’s some very clever storytelling here, and a sharp mind might spot a few things before any reveal actually comes, which is always entertaining. And the look of the movie rivals the cinematography of just about any other film I’ve seen in a long time. I can’t say there’s a particular moral to be had here, beyond perhaps ‘don’t go looking for trouble’; but maybe, just maybe, you can say the good guys won in the end. You’ll have to be the judge of that--if you can stand all the rough stuff.

Django Unchained

Is it wildly entertaining? Yes. Does it have all the layers you’d typically expect from a Tarantino movie? Sure. Will you think about it for quite some time after you’ve watched it? Of course. Is it a great movie? Well...Perhaps we’re grading on too steep a curve; maybe Q is the victim of overly lofty expectations. Hard to say, but while I did like this film, I wouldn’t say it’s quite up to snuff for such an audacious and ambitious director. There’s lots to like--the performances by Waltz and Jackson are marvels--but you can’t help but think that, in practical terms, most of the second half of the film doesn’t make much sense. Certainly you should see it; just don’t elevate it into the pantheon.

Jackie Brown

In many ways, a typically Tarantino movie. The crime, the oddballs, the hip dialogue--it's all there. Yet, it's also a quieter, almost softer movie than Q's other works. But don't worry--people still get shot. Oh, yeah, and the soundtrack is the bomb.