Quentin Tarantino is one of the most notable filmmakers when you ask someone about the world of cinema, especially if you ask film students. I discovered his films when I was 13 and i've definitely found that his style has bled into my work as my films definitely have touches of every filmmaker that has inspired me thoughout the years. When you discuss the ranking of Tarantino's work, the arguments begin. Tarantino has a vast filmography that spans genres and styles, and that leads to disagreements in what his strongest and weakest films are. This is my thoughts on his filmography from my least favourite film to my all time favourite Tarantino flick!
10- The Hateful Eight
The Hateful Eight is one that I find super polarizing in terms of Tarantino fans. Some see this film as one of his best and some see it as one of his absolute worst. While I feel that none of Tarantino’s films are bad, I fall with the crowd that has Hateful Eight at the bottom of their ranking. The film is an almost three hour long kinda murder mystery where everyone sits around a cabin and talks the entire time. While i’m not opposed to the concept of the one location film and a long one at that, I feel that it’s an easy way to loose your audience. If you are making that style of film, you need strong characters and a very juicy script. While I feel that some elements work in this film, I don’t think any of those same elements work fully. The character work is definitely good as the actors portraying these criminals are talented actors, but the characters are probably the least interesting or memorable in Tarantino’s filmography. With some distance from a viewing of this film, I can’t tell you elements that made the characters memorable as I could do with The Bride, Mia, Rick and Cliff, or even Sharon. The script is another element that I don’t think works the best that it could. There’s some decent dialogue, but the film is too long and the fact that it’s a one location film with more dialogue than action, it makes the film feel way longer. This is probably the Tarantino film i’ve seen the least as I don’t really ever have the urge to watch it again. While I at least like every Tarantino film, this is the one that I find myself not connecting with as much as his others. The Hateful Eight is a film that works for what it’s trying to go for, but I wish that certain elements were stronger.
The Rating:
9 - Reservoir Dogs
As a teenager this film was one that I held highly, I even made a short film in High School heavily inspired by this film which you can watch on the channel. As I have gotten older, this film has lost some of the spark. A lot of that feeling comes from the fact that this film is kinda boring. No hate on the script or the acting or the cinematography, this film is in no way a bad film. This film includes one of the scenes that will forever be synonymous with Tarantino, but I can’t deny that the size of the scope for the film affected it a bit. The film is pretty much a bunch dudes pacing around a building and screaming at each other. The third act is the best part of this film and that’s not a question as that’s the point of the film when things start to pick up drastically. On a technical point, this film is pretty well made, given the budget and this being Tarantino’s first film. Some of the film takes away from the overall flow of the product and Tarantino has proven overtime that he has tightened up that factor of his filmmaking. The flashbacks specifically in this film take away from the overall effect of the film, they have a purpose obviously but they mess with the pacing of the film. Reservoir Dogs is not a bad film in any means, but you can tell it was Tarantino’s first try at making a feature film.
The Rating:
8 - Kill Bill Volume 2
As you have probably guessed by the number of entries, I’m splitting up the two Kill Bill parts as I have always seen them as separate films. Tarantino has stated that they are meant to be one big spectacle, but I feel if I looked at them together, it would affect my feelings on the films as i’ve never watched “The Whole Bloody Affair” and it would be a bigger fish to fry if I tackled both. Kill Bill Volume 2 is not a bad film per say, but it definitely has significant issues that are not present in the first entry. For one, Part 2 has huge pacing issues, while the first one was a non stop mission of revenge, this one slows it down a bit and it’s kind of to the detriment of the film. Don’t get me wrong, this film has some awesome scenes. The ending for one, the training scenes and the scene with Beatrix in the coffin are all excellent additions to the film, but the film takes it’s time a bit too much. We know that she is going to Kill Bill, so the whole film is a waiting game to get to the finale. The first film had some great side villains that she fought, but this one is not as interesting in that realm. The fight with the Crazy 88 in the first film is the best part of the whole Kill Bill story, but there really isn’t a scene that hits as hard as that moment in this part of the story. The cast, the cinematography and multiple other elements that made the first film great are not issues here, but it feels almost like Tarantino had a huge story that he wanted to tell and the format of having two films caused a lot of down points in the story and most of those moments are in this part.
The Rating:
7 - Jackie Brown
This is definitely Tarantino’s love letter to Blaxploitation films from the 70s and he does it pretty well. The film follows a flight attendant with a criminal past who becomes an informant against the drug dealer who she works for. The lead is portrayed well by the legend of the sub-genre Pam Grier. The cast is star studded with names such as Samuel L Jackson, Robert De Niro, Michael Keaton and Chris Tucker to name a few. The film has some strong elements including the cast, the writing and the cinematography. This film isn’t perfect though, and I have my reasons as to why. The film isn’t Tarantino’s worst, but it’s the one (along with Hateful Eight) that I see myself rewatching the least. That fact is because the film has some issues in terms of the pacing and the length of the film as a whole. I like that Tarantino wanted to make a genuine Blaxploitation film, but the film doesn’t need to be 2 and a half hours. Thinking back to the films that inspired this one, many of them were under 2 hours. The film also has some scenes and moments that go on a little too long. This isn’t a problem with just Jackie Brown as The Hateful Eight and Kill Bill Volume 2 specifically have issues in terms of how their scenes are structured and paced. When Tarantino jam packs his scripts with a good mix of action, comedy and drama, the films can be as long as 3 hours and still work. The problem comes when these films have long runtimes, but also have major lull moments in the film. I would love if this film was more uptempo, but I respect the way that Tarantino presented it. It’s not his worst film and it’s not a bad film in general, but it’s one that I find myself not going back to as often.
The Rating:
6 - Pulp Fiction
This one is gonna get me in hot water, I already know it. Pulp Fiction is a pretty great film, but it is in no way a perfect piece of cinema. My biggest issue is the second story. The Bruce Willis story slows down the film way to much. When Christopher Walken comes on the screen and talks about ass watches, i feel this urge to skip the whole segment. The story definitely has importance to the complete story as we see John Travolta interacting with Willis in another section of the film, but that doesn’t mean that the segment works completely. The first and last story are amazing pieces of filmmaking and drag you in while the second story has you checking your watch. If the Bruce Willis segment was shortened or replaced with a more exhilarating segment, this film would be higher on the list. I don’t hate this film, I have the wallet to prove it, but it’s also in no way a perfect film. There’s stand out elements like the cast (specifically Uma Thurman), the writing, the cinematography but there are also elements that don’t work completely. This is the Tarantino film that is held in high regards in terms of his career and some even state that it's his best film in general. While it's the most popular of his films and it's the one that made the biggest splash (as it blew people away at Cannes), it has too many issues to be his best. This is Tarantino's second film, so his craft and technique has definitely strengthened overtime. Many see this as his best because of what it did for indie films in the 90s (similar to Kevin Smith and Clerks), but in terms of overall quality and watchability, this isn't the best that he's been able to conjure up. Pulp Fiction is not a bad film, but it’s also not an amazingly perfect film.
The Rating:
5 - Death Proof
This is Tarantino’s love letter to the Grindhouse cinema of the 70s and it delivers. The story of a stunt driver who kills women in his tricked out stunt car seems like something that would have come out in the 70s, specifically from low budget genre filmmakers. This film equal parts Herschell Gordon Lewis and Russ Meyer in a good way. The film has a feminist aesthetic that is present in other Tarantino films like Kill Bill and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. We see two groups of women throughout the film as it’s split into two parts. The first part showcases women who aren’t able to escape him, while the second half follows a group of women who take on the driver. The driver in the film is targeting women, which is something that some might not see as feminist in nature, but it suits the style of cinema that Tarantino is going for. Seeing this group of women take charge against the driver is what I find super empowering, as the final shot of the film is kick ass and epic (anyone who has seen the film will understand completely). The stunts in this film should also not be overlooked. Everything was done in camera leading to some tense scenes of action. Casting stuntwomen was probably a good idea when you have them hanging off cars as they go maximum speeds. With car chases that kick ass and a very feminist ending that will stay in your mind long after you view the film, Death Proof is Tarantino’s underrated gem. Often overlooked by film fans, but it should get that respect it deserves for replicating the Grindhouse style and giving the audience a compelling story that keeps you invested thoughout.
The Rating:
4 - Inglorious Basterds
Inglorious Basterds is the Tarantino film that I see in everyone’s top 3. This and Django are the two that I often see populating people’s 2 and 3 spot on their coveted rankings. Inglorious Basterds is one hell of a movie, and I enjoy it tremendously. The film is one that plays with your expectations of plot and time really well. One of the more impressive elements of the film is the pacing within it. The first scene is 20 minutes and it barely feels long. Tarantino captures the audience with the dialogue of the film and the killer performances from the cast, specifically Christoph Waltz in that scene. The film has a simple premise of a group of Jewish men led by Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) who take out nazis on their mission to kill Hitler. The film definitely has an aesthetic that is similar to those action epics that inspired Tarantino’s work (specifically war based action films of the 60s and 70s). The magic of this film is that Tarantino captures what makes those films special while also putting his signature flair on the film. This is the first time in his career that he used history and revised the stories (a method he used again in Django Unchained and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood) and I find that element quite fascinating. Basterds, along with the other two mentioned are almost vehicles for Tarantino to let those people win who weren’t able to win during those moments in history. It’s his way of giving the power back to those who have been victimized. With Basterds, it’s the jewish community as they get to kill hitler and the nazis, while Django gives power to the black community as Jamie Foxx kills a whole bunch of white people and saves his wife, or even Hollywood where he gives Sharon Tate the happy ending she deserved by killing the Manson family and letting Sharon live past the terrible night unscathed. Basterds is a kick ass action film, with fantastic performances and a killer script while also being a warning to those Anti-Semitic individuals who dare repeat the actions of the past.
The Rating:
3 - Django Unchained
Django Unchained is another historically revisionist tale told brilliantly by Tarantino. This time we see Django (Jamie Foxx), a recently released slave, who joins forces with the man who got him out Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) as they go on a journey to rescue Django’s wife and kill some racists. Django takes a lot from the westerns of the 40s, 50s and 60s. The style that Tarantino is specifically going for is those of the Italian westerns. Tarantino takes this old formula and injects it with some modern elements and it works very well. This film is one of revenge and anger as Django takes on those who oppressed him and take them down. The film also has a fantastically terrifying performance from Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin Candie, the owner of the plantation that Django’s wife is presently on. The devotion to these performances bleed through as the characters jump off the screen and give a raw and real feel to the old and tired western genre. This film also has some great action set pieces, specifically the third act that probably has the most death and gore of any Tarantino film. Tarantino does best when he takes some of his favourite genres and revises history for those who have been marginalized. This film does it along with Basterds and Hollywood as stated previously. Django Unchained is a fresh take on a genre that has been done to death in the past and along with great performances, writing and pacing, gives a very satisfying ending that sticks with you long after you view the film. Django is top tier Tarantino and I appreciate what it does genre wise and contextually as a whole.
The Rating:
2 - Kill Bill Volume 1
As stated before, I’m splitting up the two Kill Bill parts as I have always seen them as separate films. Kill Bill Volume 1 on its own is a perfect love letter to martial arts films and the whole genre of revenge films. Tarantino takes his love of martial arts and samurai films and crafts the best American attempt at the concept that we’ve seen in a while. We follow Beatrix Kiddo (or the Bride) as she hunts down those who destroyed her wedding day and tried to kill her. For one, Uma Thurman’s performance as The Bride is stellar. She plays kick ass women really well and it’s fun to follow her on her journey throughout this film. The action scenes are the highlight in this film, as they are for many martial arts and samurai films. The third act of this film with Beatrix at the club fighting the Crazy 88 and those who reside with them is probably one of the best third acts in all of cinema history. The film keeps you invested throughout as you want to follow this journey and see this woman get revenge on those who wronged her. While this film doesn’t cover the whole story, it’s the strongest half as it’s a well paced story that feels like it has a natural end point, despite it having another part. It’s a common issue I find in two part films and it’s no exception with Kill Bill. Volume 1 is an excellent self contained Japanese inspired martial arts flick and Volume 2 is much more of a straight forward 70s revenge film that doesn’t feel as electric as the first part. In terms of modern action films, this one can be found at the top of my list. I definitely love myself a good Japanese martial arts/samurai film, and Tarantino does the best he can to replicate what makes those films so kick ass and fun to watch. With a fantastic lead performance, a very steady pace and some awesome action set pieces, Kill Bill Volume 1 is among the best Tarantino has ever made and the best films in terms of the time period or decade that the film came out. If anyone is looking for an empowering and uniquely feminist action epic, Kill Bill Volume 1 is the one film that I would recommend to you!
The Rating:
1 - Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
This one is definitely not everyone’s favourite Tarantino film, but it’s the one that I vibe with the most, a tight 3 hour examination of Hollywood during a very transformative and transitional period in time both creatively and socially. The film covers change and the impact it has on individuals really well. Showcasing the change of Hollywood with the polar opposites of Rick Dalton and Sharon Tate. Rick Dalton as a representation of the old way that Hollywood ran things and viewed art and Sharon Tate being the representation of the new way that Hollywood was looking at art at that moment in time, the period where the most experimental cinema started to crop up. Having Polanski in the film to represent the new age of Cinema as he had just made “Rosemary’s Baby”, a film that would never have been made in the days of Rick Dalton’s fame. The inclusion of Cliff Booth was a very interesting one having him represent the jobs in Hollywood that people sometimes disregarded at that time period. There wasn’t an emphasis on the background people including specifically the stunt people. The viewers saw Rick Dalton but they never really saw Cliff as anything but someone who could be easily replaced. You can’t replace the talent, but you could replace the others in their mindset. The social change of this film is very present with the inclusion of Charles Manson, he was included to show how the world drastically morphed after the murders. The world was never the same when it occurred and it ingrained society with a new found fear that was not as prevalent before, the fear of each other. The fear of what the people around you could do. That event in history definitely kickstarted some formed of hostility in the United States and North America as a whole as the perceived enemy was just one of us now. The film covers shows the country and Hollywood specifically during two transformative periods in time and Tarantino does it extremely well. Tarantino has a clear appreciation for this time period as everything in this film feels authentic. Everything from the radio commercials and the music to the way that Tarantino framed the opening interview to the way that Bounty Law and the other notable shows and movies are presented. The film is set during three days but he packs so much into the film. The film has a very comedic yet complex script that is one to marvel at. One of the jokes has one big almost 10 minute set up and it just works. The performances are stellar across the board, with the trio of leads being the standouts. Leo, Margot and Brad are all phenomenal pieces of the puzzle that have me coming back regularly. This movie has left such a mark on the industry that anytime someone makes a flashback film in California, it’s compared right away. The most notable example of that is when they released “Licorice Pizza”. There are many reasons that this is my favourite Tarantino and the ones noted are only a few. It's not the most popular film that he has made, but it's his strongest. My favourite Tarantino film and one of my all time favourite films as this one left an impact on me that can't be denied. I would love to one day be like Sharon Tate in her scenes, a radiant and beautiful woman who believes in flower power, peace, love and who wants nothing more than for everyone to be happy and for her to do what she loves doing the most in life. We all should be more like and desire to be more like Sharon Tate and that's a fact!
The Rating:
Tarantino has had a very colorful career that has been filled with him experimenting with the genres that inspired him to become the filmmaker that he is. Not all of his films are complete successes, but they all show off the many shades of the person that Quentin Tarantino is and the impact that he has made on the industry and Cinema as a whole. That impact that he has made can not be ignored and his attraction to the craft of filmmaking is as impressive as the films he has been able to come up with.
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