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Cinema Speculation Hardcover – November 1, 2022
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Instant New York Times bestseller
The long-awaited first work of nonfiction from the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: a deliriously entertaining, wickedly intelligent cinema book as unique and creative as anything by Quentin Tarantino.
In addition to being among the most celebrated of contemporary filmmakers, Quentin Tarantino is possibly the most joyously infectious movie lover alive. For years he has touted in interviews his eventual turn to writing books about films. Now, with Cinema Speculation, the time has come, and the results are everything his passionate fans—and all movie lovers—could have hoped for. Organized around key American films from the 1970s, all of which he first saw as a young moviegoer at the time, this book is as intellectually rigorous and insightful as it is rollicking and entertaining. At once film criticism, film theory, a feat of reporting, and wonderful personal history, it is all written in the singular voice recognizable immediately as QT’s and with the rare perspective about cinema possible only from one of the greatest practitioners of the artform ever.
- Print length400 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarper
- Publication dateNovember 1, 2022
- Dimensions6 x 1.25 x 9 inches
- ISBN-100063112582
- ISBN-13978-0063112582
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“That Tarantino’s film reviews should turn out to be every bit as punchy, smart and surprising as his films should come as no surprise: In a sense he’s been writing both for years. . . . Tarantino’s critical intelligence both refracts and reflects. . . . Tarantino is an unabashed celebrant of cinema’s dirtier pleasures.” — Tom Shone, The New York Times Book Review
“Cinema Speculation is consistently engaging; with its zinging and zipping observations, its casual opinion-flinging, and its sharp-edged divisions of personalities and eras, it seems designed to arouse fruitful arguments. Like the experienced fictioneer that he is, Tarantino creates images and stories and scenes, tells tales that entice and bewitch even as they invite the same sort of criticism that his movies do. Above all, Cinema Speculation is a vision, in motion, of a Hollywood-centric mind." — Richard Brody, The New Yorker
"A one-of-a-kind and compulsively readable volume of film criticism as self-portrait. After all, what better way for Tarantino, who has lived and breathed 35-mm. his whole life, to tell his personal story than via moviegoing?" — Spike Carter, Air Mail
“Wickedly funny. . . . Tarantino knows what he likes, and he engages the reader with ease. . . . An opinionated, compulsively readable appreciation of the grimy, generally lurid movies of his ’70s youth.” — Chris Vognar, San Francisco Chronicle
“A top-flight nonfiction debut from a unique artist.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Brilliant and passionate . . . . Tarantino’s joy, generosity, and singular point of view bolster his arguments, and even when he’s taking down his heroes, it’s out of love . . . . Whip-smart and obsessive, Tarantino is great fun and tough to beat.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Pure unfiltered Tarantinalia: a motormouthed mash-up of cinema history, conjecture and memoir . . . . Insanely readable." — The Times (UK)
“Tarantino brings the heat and exuberance of his movie expertise, storytelling artistry, and sharp humor to a dynamic mix of eyebrow-raising personal stories, zesty film history, and kickass film criticism . . . . Offers sizzling behind the production tales and exacting, speculative critiques . . . . [A] rollicking cinematic celebration.” — Donna Seaman, Booklist, starred review
“Dynamic film commentary from a contemporary legend that is essential reading for cinephiles.” — Library Journal, starred review
"[Tarantino's] at his best and most amusing when he’s simply unpacking a mind stuffed with memories and opinions of favourite films, almost of all them from the 1970s, explaining in detail what he liked or disliked about them . . . . He remains reliably contrary, quotably obdurate and eternally passionate, qualities that make Cinema Speculation an entertaining trawl through the man’s mind." — Peter Howell, The Toronto Star
"Sharp, clear, slashing." — The Millions
About the Author
Quentin Tarantino was born in 1963 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is the writer-director of nine feature films, the winner of two Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay, and the author of the novel Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Cinema Speculation is his first work of nonfiction.
Product details
- Publisher : Harper; First Edition (November 1, 2022)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 400 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0063112582
- ISBN-13 : 978-0063112582
- Item Weight : 1.65 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 1.25 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #7,919 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6 in Movie History & Criticism
- #23 in Performing Arts (Books)
- #97 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies
- Customer Reviews:
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Loved Quentin Tarantino opinions on movies in this book!
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About the author
With his vibrant imagination and dedication to richly layered storytelling QUENTIN TARANTINO is one of the most celebrated filmmakers of his generation. He made his directorial debut in 1992 with RESERVOIR DOGS, and then co-wrote, directed and starred in one of his most beloved films, PULP FICTION, which won his first Oscar® for Best Screenplay. Followed by the highly acclaimed films JACKIE BROWN, KILL BILL VOL. 1 and VOL. 2, and DEATH PROOF, Tarantino then released his World War II epic, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, DJANGO UNCHAINED (which won his second Oscar® for Best Screenplay), and the HATEFUL EIGHT. Tarantino’s most recent film, ONCE UPON A TIME...IN HOLLYWOOD, was nominated for five Golden Globes, ten BAFTAS, and ten Academy Award nominations.
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This is also a very autobiographical tome. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific movie he finds important or is special to him. He opens each one talking about other movies that came out around the same time and does some comparing and contrasting before he gets into the movie the chapter is about. He also describes, often in detail, how old he was and what his life was like when he first saw it. Most of the movies in the book he saw as a kid/tween/teen - so we learn a lot about what young Quentin was up to (at least when it comes to movies) growing up.
His depth of movie knowledge about the kinds of movies he likes is unmatched. I learned a LOT about movies from reading this. Especially those released in the 70s and early 80s. He also clearly made an effort in writing the book to talk to some of the big players from the era and get their take on his thoughts at times. This is useful to the narrative and he weaves it in well.
In this tome, his words ring out from the musty confines of non-fiction with the same realistic cadence, slang and expressiveness found in his scripts. As a narrator of an obvious wealth of film knowledge, compounded by spilled secrets of an insider’s perspective, he brings a unique insight brimming with an approachability not usually found in scholarly treatises about 1960’s and 70’s film culture. His opinion on film is formed by an admittedly really, lucky but f’n cool life - the best a film nerd could ask for - having essentially been raised by Hollywood, and well-steeped in its legends and history. His words speak with authority, the product not only of a lifelong career, but of a genuine love of feet. I mean film. He walks a road of deep thoughts on impactful movies from his upbringing of varying quality which, to quote the author, “Produces a cocktail mixed with piss that’s disturbingly tasty.”
Obviously, it’s a delightful read. However, novice film buffs should have your IMDb.com ready to look up some deep cuts for your next watchlist of excellent cinema. It’s not just well-known mainstays like ‘Bullit’ and ‘Dirty Harry’ though. The author waxes philosophical on Marvel multiverse-style questions like, “What if Brian de Palma directed Taxi Driver?” The myriad threads of this thought exercise are detailed and compelling. There’s also fascinating discussion on the scope and breadth of a genre of self-described ‘Revenge-a-matic’ films. I’ve enjoyed several of these myself, featuring immortal action stars like Clint Eastwood and Charles Bronson. This authors’ interest spans multiple shelves of video rental store shelves, from sci-fi and comedy to Toby Hooper’s other, also-great horror flicks that aren’t called ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre.’
It’s a deeply personal book too, framing these consequential films as ‘fixed-points’ in the development of a filmmaker that influenced his own contributions to the medium. For instance, in the concluding chapter - no spoilers - we learn about in an influential figure named Floyd. He’s a movie nerd Obi-Wan who happens to be a man with a deep knowledge of film and a dream to be a screenwriter, which obviously affected a young Quentin. It just makes sense in a way, how all these personalities, on screen or sitting in front of the screen, impacted this author in fundamental ways.
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Logicamente, dada a quantidade de citações a filmes e artistas da época, é um livro que será bem melhor saboreado por quem assistiu aos diversos filmes mencionados, ou pelo menos leu sobre eles. Eu inclusive me arrisco a dizer que ter lido "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls" é quase que um pré-requisito para ler este livro.
Um dos capítulos mais legais do livro é aquele em que Tarantino se dedica a imaginar como seria "Taxi Driver" se tivesse sido dirigido por Brian de Palma (um dos cineastas a quem o filme foi oferecido antes de chegar às mãos de Scorsese).
Outra coisa legal são as pequenas descobertas sobre os gostos peculiares do autor, como descobrir que Tarantino foi um enorme fã de Stallone e de "Rocky" (e que gosta ainda mais de "Rocky II"), ou que ele considera "O Massacre da Serra Elétrica" um dos pouquíssimos filmes PERFEITOS da história do cinema.
Eis aqui a lista dos filmes que dão a partida em cada capítulo do livro (alguns eu já havia visto, outros já estou louco para ver devido ao entusiasmo com que Tarantino escreveu sobre eles):
- "Bullit", de 1968 - já vi;
- "Perseguidor Implacável" (Dirty Harry), de 1971 - já vi;
- "Amargo Pesadelo" (Deliverance), de 1972 - já vi;
- "Os Implacáveis" (The Getaway), de 1972 - quero ver;
- "A Quadrilha" (The Outfit), de 1973 - quero ver;
- "Irmãs Diabólicas" (Sisters), de 1973 - quero ver;
- "Daisy Miller", de 1974 - quero ver;
- "Taxi Driver", de 1976 - já vi;
- "A Outra Face da Violência" (Rolling Thunder), de 1977 - quero MUITO ver;
- "A Taberna do Inferno" (Paradise Alley), de 1978 - quero ver;
- "Fuga de Alcatraz", de 1979 - já vi;
- "Hardcore", de 1979 - já vi;
- "Pague para Entrar, Reze para Sair" (The Funhouse), de 1981 - já vi.