This is the kind of surgical take down I live for. Not even a Hanzo Hattori blade can cut this deep. "..never realizing that their “victory” is actually their eternal punishment." Good lord.
Brilliant, Sophie! What an utter ass. I loved everyone’s favourite philosopher/actor Ethan Hawke responding on a podcast about it basically saying Quentin is Quentin and no one takes any notice, but Paul Dano has come out of this knowing how loved he is. Every limp dick has a silver lining.
The bit that particularly narked me and had me arguing with fresh air all week is QT’s characterisation of TWBB as a two-hander. He loves that film, has raved about it for years. Two-hander?? The only possible second hand is Plainview’s moustache!
Tarantinos dialogue has always felt like a how a poser would think that heavy hitters would talk. Paul Dano doesn’t use the n word enough for Quentin. The limp dick insult is just so telling.
Fantastically written! Tarantino was also very inspired by Pauline Kael, the film critic known for her acid-tongued takedowns. I feel like he's channelling her when he gives these opinions.
yea he also comes from that era when celebs openly trash talked each other, we're in a diff time now. edited: wait i take that back, we're actually in an era where saying cruel stuff about people is even more normalized. all his quotes seem mild compared to the incredibly dehumanizing and fascist stuff regular ppl say on x every day.
I had no clue Tarantino had said any of this, or was like this as a person. You've enlightened me. What he said about the 13-year-old is insane. I always thought he got off a bit too easily during the whole Weinstein thing, considering how close they were.
honestly, as a big Tarantino fan (all his movies are excellent, no skips), i have to say... absolutely spot on. this Dano take was BAFFLING and your summation is perfect.
We only need to look at his filmography to note what an edgelord Tarantino is.
The guy has been squandering his undeniable talent by thinking that cinema can offer reparations, moral reckonings or restorative justice to unspeakable horrors (the Holocaust, slave trade, Manson murders). Who really benefits (understands, comes to terms with) by getting off on these lame revenge fantasies?
I’m a fan of Tarantino’s films but also genuinely believe that he knows on some level that PTA is better than him because it feels like he’s always trying to take his movies down a notch with weird takes like this. Though on top of everything else his criticisms of Dano reveal that he misunderstands the whole movie - that character needs to come off as weak in a way that disarms Plainview and opens him up to being challenged by him in a way he never would have been if his guard was up. And by the end he is genuinely weak in a way that emphasizes the depths of needless cruelty to which Plainview has sunk.
This also feels tied in some way to the general trend of aging GenX iconoclasts turning into bitter old assholes.
Agreed! In fact, I often find him a poor film critic even though he's been obsessed with figures like Pauline Kael (and the concept of film criticism) for ages
I gave up on the Tarantion/Avary podcast when I heard him go off on Coppola's The Conversation, rightfully considered one of the finest American films of the 70s.
Fan-bloody-tastic essay! As a Dane I would urge you to include Lars von Trier as an edgelord. And as with Tarentino, whenever he opens his mouth, you don't wanna hear any of the shit, he is mouthing off like 'Hitler was not such a bad guy'!?!
Also Trier(i am not calling him 'von Trier' in other than introduction). The 'von' is made up an affectation and he is pretending to be of noble birth. There isn't anything noble anout him or his films! Trier basicly makes the same film over and ovér and over. And the theme is the same to: women have to sacrifice so that men can live as you see in his debut, 'Breaking The Waves' and 'Dancer in the Dark'. In these film women have to DIE so a man and a son can live. This is how Trier sees women! Like it is our job to give up our lives - for men!
He bullied and traumatises the lead actresses in his film, ask Björk or Nicole Kidman. And he is awarded prizes for this! His celebrated Dogma-movies left actors with trauma as he forced them to do all sorts of things with clothes off. This man is a bully in a directors seat. Disgusting philosophy. Disgusting director.
I utterly hate Trier's films and his politics so your comment hits home for me. I've thought at times that it would be worth doing an essay on him but the idea of him spending a long time in my head is repulsive. Thank you for stopping by and thank your for your enlightening comment!
Don't spend any time on Trier. I am only writing about him as I am befuddled that HE is awarded, held in such high regard and he is an ass, especially to women. But as the world looks currently, men being assholes will get you anywhere. Can I ask why you don't like his films or his politics?
Matthew Lillard is legit good. SLC Punk would have been boring with anyone else. I would have liked to see him in more action movies. He had range. Could put him in any kind of movie. Maybe at British period piece, you’d hit the limit but I’d still think he could do it.
Spot on as per. Tarantino talking about what inspires him at least holds the possibility that someone else will discover it and be inspired as a result. Just slating people is cheap and petty and helps no one.
This is the kind of surgical take down I live for. Not even a Hanzo Hattori blade can cut this deep. "..never realizing that their “victory” is actually their eternal punishment." Good lord.
Thank you so much for this comment. I had great material to work with 😂
You turned his receipts into origami. The films gods are pleased
Brilliant, Sophie! What an utter ass. I loved everyone’s favourite philosopher/actor Ethan Hawke responding on a podcast about it basically saying Quentin is Quentin and no one takes any notice, but Paul Dano has come out of this knowing how loved he is. Every limp dick has a silver lining.
The bit that particularly narked me and had me arguing with fresh air all week is QT’s characterisation of TWBB as a two-hander. He loves that film, has raved about it for years. Two-hander?? The only possible second hand is Plainview’s moustache!
Yeah truly awful!!
Tarantinos dialogue has always felt like a how a poser would think that heavy hitters would talk. Paul Dano doesn’t use the n word enough for Quentin. The limp dick insult is just so telling.
Exactly
Fantastically written! Tarantino was also very inspired by Pauline Kael, the film critic known for her acid-tongued takedowns. I feel like he's channelling her when he gives these opinions.
That's a good point!
yea he also comes from that era when celebs openly trash talked each other, we're in a diff time now. edited: wait i take that back, we're actually in an era where saying cruel stuff about people is even more normalized. all his quotes seem mild compared to the incredibly dehumanizing and fascist stuff regular ppl say on x every day.
I had no clue Tarantino had said any of this, or was like this as a person. You've enlightened me. What he said about the 13-year-old is insane. I always thought he got off a bit too easily during the whole Weinstein thing, considering how close they were.
honestly, as a big Tarantino fan (all his movies are excellent, no skips), i have to say... absolutely spot on. this Dano take was BAFFLING and your summation is perfect.
Thank you!!
I’m glad you’re back, you really are fucking fantastic at this.
Thank you SO much, Tomas!
We only need to look at his filmography to note what an edgelord Tarantino is.
The guy has been squandering his undeniable talent by thinking that cinema can offer reparations, moral reckonings or restorative justice to unspeakable horrors (the Holocaust, slave trade, Manson murders). Who really benefits (understands, comes to terms with) by getting off on these lame revenge fantasies?
I’m a fan of Tarantino’s films but also genuinely believe that he knows on some level that PTA is better than him because it feels like he’s always trying to take his movies down a notch with weird takes like this. Though on top of everything else his criticisms of Dano reveal that he misunderstands the whole movie - that character needs to come off as weak in a way that disarms Plainview and opens him up to being challenged by him in a way he never would have been if his guard was up. And by the end he is genuinely weak in a way that emphasizes the depths of needless cruelty to which Plainview has sunk.
This also feels tied in some way to the general trend of aging GenX iconoclasts turning into bitter old assholes.
Agreed! In fact, I often find him a poor film critic even though he's been obsessed with figures like Pauline Kael (and the concept of film criticism) for ages
I love a wild take, don’t get me wrong, but that’s also one of the main reasons I can’t bring myself to read Cinema Speculation
I gave up on the Tarantion/Avary podcast when I heard him go off on Coppola's The Conversation, rightfully considered one of the finest American films of the 70s.
oh did he lol? Yeah that's arguably a bad take
Hi Sophie
Fan-bloody-tastic essay! As a Dane I would urge you to include Lars von Trier as an edgelord. And as with Tarentino, whenever he opens his mouth, you don't wanna hear any of the shit, he is mouthing off like 'Hitler was not such a bad guy'!?!
Also Trier(i am not calling him 'von Trier' in other than introduction). The 'von' is made up an affectation and he is pretending to be of noble birth. There isn't anything noble anout him or his films! Trier basicly makes the same film over and ovér and over. And the theme is the same to: women have to sacrifice so that men can live as you see in his debut, 'Breaking The Waves' and 'Dancer in the Dark'. In these film women have to DIE so a man and a son can live. This is how Trier sees women! Like it is our job to give up our lives - for men!
He bullied and traumatises the lead actresses in his film, ask Björk or Nicole Kidman. And he is awarded prizes for this! His celebrated Dogma-movies left actors with trauma as he forced them to do all sorts of things with clothes off. This man is a bully in a directors seat. Disgusting philosophy. Disgusting director.
I utterly hate Trier's films and his politics so your comment hits home for me. I've thought at times that it would be worth doing an essay on him but the idea of him spending a long time in my head is repulsive. Thank you for stopping by and thank your for your enlightening comment!
Sorry, hate:-)
Don't spend any time on Trier. I am only writing about him as I am befuddled that HE is awarded, held in such high regard and he is an ass, especially to women. But as the world looks currently, men being assholes will get you anywhere. Can I ask why you don't like his films or his politics?
Matthew Lillard is legit good. SLC Punk would have been boring with anyone else. I would have liked to see him in more action movies. He had range. Could put him in any kind of movie. Maybe at British period piece, you’d hit the limit but I’d still think he could do it.
For sure! He had a really good cameo in The Life of Chuck recently too
That’s really good analysis. I feel you were describing Peter Thiel as well.
Good point!!
Spot on as per. Tarantino talking about what inspires him at least holds the possibility that someone else will discover it and be inspired as a result. Just slating people is cheap and petty and helps no one.
Exactly. It's hugely unproductive which signifies there's something else going on. Good to see you Julian!
Razor sharp! glad you're back.
Missed you guys, thank you!!