I loved Death Proof. Zoë Bell is fantastic and Mary Elizabeth Winstead is incredibly easy on the eye. Some of the dialogue is clunky and the car chase at the end is way too long but the acting is spot on and I thought it was great. Kermode is a misery guts.
That’s the first time I’ve ever heard someone call someone “Stalinist” for not acknowledging Four Rooms. I must say that wasn’t on my Mark Kermode bingo card.
This film could've easily been made into 90 minutes, but the pointless dialogue drags it on for a blockbuster length feature. All because QT is a critically acclaimed director, doesn't mean his films have last for 2 hours +.
I love how much Kermode's view on Tarantino has softened in the past five years. 2007, after completely bashing Death Proof: "He can't write, can't direct and has run out of ideas." 2012: "Tarantino said in a recent interview that his worst film is Death Proof, which is right, and frankly that's not bad - so he's got a pretty good filmography."
What you consider a ripoff, most would consider an introduction to obscure films and forgotten classics that were given a second lease on life thanks to his references and homages. Such as: "The Cat o' Nine Tails" "Cat People" "Coffy" "Le Corbeau" "Cruising" "The Damned" "Death Rides a Horse" "Django" "Eastern Condors" "The Entity" "Foxy Brown" "The Great Silence" "Hi Diddle Diddle" "Lady Snowblood" "Navajo Joe" "Passion Plantation" "Slaughter" "Two Mules for Sister Sara" "Under Fire" "Vanishing Point" "The White Hell of Pia Palu" "White Lightening" "Zombie" Go up to any random stranger on the street and ask them if they've heard of any of those films because I'm willing to bet they'll just look at you in confusion and in contempt. Calling Tarantino a "ripoff artist" is just as lazy as calling Lars von Trier a misogynist. The purpose of Tarantino's films is, much like any filmmaker who uses a story that's been done to death, exploring how any film can live again through another.
+Will C Yeah. While watching Tarantino's stuff, all I'm thinking is; "Why don't I watch *insert any movie Tarantino is paying 'homaaaaageeeeee' to* instead of this self-indulgent bilge?"
Backyard Pix Good for you. That doesn't mean everyone else will. Some of us appreciate discovering new movies and reevaluating certain classics because of his ideas and presentations.
I'm almost angry after watching this. It's practically word for word what I've been saying about Quentin Tarantino for years. Especially about Jackie Brown losing money and him deciding never to make a good movie again. But I'm proud to have had a psychic long-distance mind meld with a genius like Mark. I knew I couldn't be coming up with that stuff on my own.
I found the special-edition of this movie in the supermarket bargain-bin for £3, I took a risk having never heard of it. Brilliant... I went in cold, the best way to approach a movie. Everything about it was perfect and not once could I predict the next twist or turn. A proper old-school movie, just like back in the day when they had a story!! Reminded me of Duel with cheerleaders. Cheesy yes, but fun. BRAVO and as for Zoe Bell... Damn! 🏆
First Kermode review I don't agree with and amazed by how much Mark hated it. I loved it. I watched it with my wife and - talk about giving the female viewer satisfaction - it was a pleasure to watch her delight by the end of the movie. the first half of the movie is very very slow and dark so that the second half can give you the total satisfaction. Plus - great songs used. Loved it
Death Proof is a film that cannot be judged based on its ridiculous story, considering that is not what the whole intention of producing this film was. The story and plot were just there as an excuse to show off all the memorable scenes, references to everything, praise to classical music, female protagonists foghting off a psychotic yet cool dude, some of the best stunts seen by cinema, hard work spent just to make a simple relaxing movie, and the cool life with stunning women such as that girl with the crazy hair. You would be surprised on how realistic the social interactions are in the movie, also how the movie flows through almost two hours with nothing special happening.
Agree on Jackie Brown but he had an awesome novel to begin from. That's why the story and characters shine. The book even does the mall caper finale from 3 different viewpoints in sequence, that's not Quentin's idea.
I think if Death Proof had been a lot shorter - with a lot less time in the bar at the start and a shorter chase- it would have been a pretty decent B movie
I wish more than anything that I had that review. They didn't start doing podcasts of the Kermode/Mayo show until May 2005 so there's no way of hearing it unless somebody comes out of the woodwork with a recording of it. But yeah, that sounds like it was one of his best.
Not sure which comment this is in reply to (YT changed the way comment replies work in the last 12 years) but tell me Mr Winesack, are you still listening to K+M all these years later?
i think death proof was brilliant. i enjoy the way quentin tarantino talks and the second set of girls' revenge was like faster pussycat wrapped up in a car chase.
its a good fucking movie, better than all these unoriginal super hero movie remakes you see now a days. its not tarantino at his best but its still a better than average movie
When I saw it in theatres here in Canada, Planet Terror was first, and the audience was entertained... they loved the trailers... then half of them walked out during Deathproof at what was essentially the 3/4th mark of the entire performance.
I watched this about 10 years ago when I was ill at home with swine flu. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. I loved the Tarantino films I’d seen to that point so was completely at a loss to describe what had happened.
Some people seriously struggle to understand the job of an art critic. To criticise a film IS to criticise it's director, production, etc. So people getting fucked off about kermode getting fucked off are missing the point. Let him get angry! It's what turns the cogs of proper future film making.
Completely agree with Kermode’s criticisms, though of late I think Tarantino has gotten back on track. For me at least, both Hateful 8 & Once Upon A Time were vast improvement on his post Jackie Brown output with Hollywood delivering the least Tarantino dialogue of his career. No long pointless monologues, no extraneous pop culture references, no clunky anachronistic words that come off forced, no annoying alliteration. All his worst tendencies are dialed back and he lets the characters be. The dicaprio crackup in the bar to full breakdown in trailer which I’ve subsequently found out was Leonardo’s idea & that they worked on together gave the most depth I’ve seen in a Tarantino character/film - it loosened his grip on his normal tightly controlled dialogue ladened world; some air & humanity leaked in which hasn’t really shown up since Brown. The 1 character for me that comes closest to Tarantino’s style is the little actress on set which perhaps due to her age comes off somewhat written - but that’s the minor-est of minor quibbles.. IMO he’s improving and it’s unfortunate that it’s now that he’s hanging it up.
Almost scary how I felt the exact same when I first saw this movie. It was like all the actors tried their best Tarantino impression. Still good fun though.
6:38 absolutely true description of Tarantino, money grabbing, sell out, embarrassing who cannot write. But who has he sold out to and what has he got out of it!
The moment when Kurt Russel looks at the camera and smiles (just before he's about to step in his car and kill the girls is one of the most epic and awesome shots in movie history in my opinion). It gets even better when you watch the movie for the second time, because you know what's comming, and you like it. I also liked that all the main characters where (unexpectadly) killed in the first half, the lapdance scene, the crash scene, the badass girls, in the second half, the abrupt ending, the car chase, the dialogs, the grungy style of the movie, the music ... GOD I LOVE THIS MOVIE - watched it already 5 times and enjoyed it every f*cking single time!!
It's an awesome movie. It started out good, got a bit boring, finished amazing. All the stuntwork is amazing. The scene of Kurt Russell crying, I will never forget. The only criticism I will agree with is that the chracters sound like QT. He has this problem where whenever I hear his characters talking, I feel like he is standing over their back. Also, agree that Jackie Brown is his best film.
I take a lot of Kermode's points about the characters all sounding like Tarantino, but I also genuinely like this film. The final chase sequence is brilliant, I like the stuff about, film industry and stunt work and it's just a cool little throwaway film.
Sure. Friedkin's Bug. I mainly post the bad ones because those are the most entertaining, but if you have a request for a good review, I'll certainly turn it over.
I don't know what he's got against Tarantino. I hear the criticisms, but I just don't buy into them. I don't know what "talks like Tarantino" means. And also, he wouldn't have some courtesy to clap for the guy?
I really like Tarantino but I do agree with Mark on most of the stuff he says about him; Jackie Brown is his best film and while I love most of his other work I do find he has a lot of immature tendencies that were missing from JB, which is a perfect film IMO. Even as a big QT fan I have to admit that Deathproof is a pretty dire film that shouldn't have been greenlit.
Hated this movie when I saw it at the cinema and was going to revisit it after watching a better Tarantino movie recently. Listening to this review again has saved me the bother of doing that so thank you 😊
I'm gonna upload it later since I don't think they took a video of last week's podcast. He's actually rather even-handed about Inglourious Basterds but I won't say anything else.
@Bassbait I think (and I appreciate this discussion because it makes me try to pin this down) it is his willingness to show his characters at length in periods of leisure or periods when, at least to them, nothing important is happening. The local color and verbal play and the idiosyncrasies and banalities of the characters come into focus at the expense of the plot, which is fine to me. You don't see this a lot in American movies, at least not before T-o.
i got the dvd copy where both films are shown with the trailers in between. i was surprised how much i liked them both - can't weigh in on the 2hr version of death proof but id imagine that would stretch it out enough to ruin it.
@Bassbait Feminist, postmodernist, I don't care. What I love about Tarantino is the way you can really take in a scene, breathe in its atmosphere. His films marinate in their own (his) desires, emotions, instincts. You could say this is self-indulgent, but I've never understood why that is a bad thing. Self-indulgence lets you get to know the artist. I feel I'm in the presence of Tarantino himself when I watch his movies. As much as I love Kubrick, Coens, etc, that is a virtue they don't have.
Thanks, I just listened to it, once again I feel he's right about Inglourious Basterds. Unfortunately critics here in the U.S. are giving Tarantino a pass because of his past glory and using hyperbolic praise to describe the movie.
This fella is too cheeky and toooooo smart for my taste. But i love all of his ,,films" he directed and his enormous contribution to cinema. I just hope Tarantino learns something from him
@Bassbait I'm sure I am biased and blinded by my instinctive enjoyment of his films - and what other kind of true enjoyment is there? Justifying reasons for a feeling are usually teased out or even conjured up after the impression has struck us. And then we pretend those reasons are inevitable. (Or this could just be a personal admision.) Eh, I didn't mean to get pretentious. So, what does T-o do that really scratches my itch?
@Bassbait I would say Tarantino is not for you, which is perfectly fine. There are acclaimed directors I can't get into (Malick, Nolan, Spielberg, Jeunet), but I suspect we are just of a different aesthetic temperament, not that they are worthless. They have all found ways to distinguish and individuate themselves, which is praiseworthy.
I was lucky enough to see Grindhouse opening weekend in its original format with both movies stuck together. Both were considerably shorter (by about 20 minutes) than when they were released later. A great recapturing of the grindhouse aesthetic (I think, too young to know grindhouse firsthand) and I sort of enjoyed it on that level. A suped-up zombie and slasher flick stuck together. That said, the fake trailers were still the best part.
What's funny is that Jackie Brown's characters were all ready established for Tarantino to give them Dialogue, because they were all based on a book called "Rum Punch", which most likely meant that all the characters would be diverse and not all act like QT. That's probably why Jackie Brown is Quentin's best film.
Exactly. Btw just recently watched Jackie brown and my god it is so superior to the stuff he brings out now like Django, inglorious. Once apon a time in hollywood
the reason the dialogue in jackie brown is good is because it's based on a Elmore Leonard novel, i.e. Tarantino had more to rely on for his screen play.
This is why his films will date quickly. No-one in the future will see what all the fuss was about. Style over substance. Substance lasts, style does not.
in comparison to Pulp Fiction: budget 8 m returns 280+ m That is a big difference, at least to Quentin it was. & I remember just how disappointed audiences were with Jackie Brown. Box office draws declined instantly when people began to realize it wasn't Pulp Fiction 2
I wasn't a big fan of Death Proof. It was self indulgent instead of a low budget exploitation. Even the graininess is more of an effect than using cheap stock because the production can't afford it.
I agree that the dialogue can be unrealistic but I think overall it’s a good movie. At the end of the day it’s about cars ramming into each other and getting cathartic violent revenge, so it’s hard to not enjoy it.
Thank God there is a critic willing to call Tarantino out on his decline in quality. Critics here in America continually praise Tarantino because of his past glories (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction) and describes his films' increasing deficiencies as strengths. I can't wait to see Kermode's take on Inglourious Basterds.
What claptrap did tarantino make before jackie brown? dogs or fiction? i liked them both. it was fairly ingenious to make a film about a killer stuntman in a film called death proof and make it the most tedious film i can remember.
Why does Kermode get all bent out of shape over petite things like whether Death Proof is Tarantino's 5th film or the name and spelling of 'Inglourious ....' . It makes me think he's trying too hard to hate on Tarantino .
Because just the act of putting "the xth film of Quentin Tarantino" in every trailer and even in the beginning of a movie is so pretentious and self-flattering he could at least have made up the numbers right.
ThisIsWideAngle As if it would be less pretentious to say 'The 5 & 1/4' film by ... Nobody would say Fellini was being self-flattering by naming his 8th and 1 half film > '8 1/2' . Is Tarantino supposed to be ashamed of his work ?? Kermode tries too hard to knock Tarantino .
He's right. 'Inglourious Basterds' was another nail, and 'Django' was another (admittedly both were partly saved by Christoph Waltz) but they are both very self-indulgent, which I think is the key idea. And 'The Hateful 8' still more of the same; which is MORE AND MORE AND ENDLESS DIALOG SETPIECES PUNCTUATED BY VIOLENCE. Tarantino loves his own voice, his own shots, his own influences, is such a fan that he CANNOT PRACTICE DENIAL.He cannot choose, edit, throw out, cut, lessen. abstain, fast, shut up, sit down or not do something. He is the ideal american film-maker (as opposed to a true vulgarian pig like Michael Bay, who cannot even hold a camera or write one sentence). He is like a kid in a candy store. But not an adult artist. Never an adult artist. A talented adolescent but always and adolescent.
The kung fu wasn't my favourite part of the first movie but i enjoyed the second without it's action. I agree with Kermode about the final scene with Bill rambling on about comics. Where he's sounding like Tarrintino.
But he's trying so hard, and no intelligent, truly intelligent person who watches and understands Tarantino's films can fail to see the literary, comedic and filmic excellence in what he does REGARDLESS of whether you personally enjoy the themes or film itself. The talent is undeniable.
Considering that Tarantino has been the critics darling since 92 you have to wonder it Kermode genuinely feels this way or if he's just trying to be different. I don't think there is a director in history who's easier on his critics then Tarantino. He the only director I've ever heard of who actually respects film criticism an a genuine profession as opposed to recognizing them for the talentless hacks that they truly are. Tarantino's even created a character, in inglorious basterds, who was a film critic. I didn't really like death proof but I (and most critics) thought that it's saving grace was that the women actually talked like young woman. So it's beyond ironic that the biggest beef this Kermode had with the flick is the very same thing that his peers adored about it. But I'm sure he's not just being different for the sake of being different.
Oh I wouldn't doubt it. (Though I haven't heard about it till now) It's defiantly my least favorite movie of his. All I was saying was that Kermode, picked the one thing (the dialogue) that most critics liked about it and picked it apart, just to be different. I thought what RUINED this flick was that on the page, stunt man Mike was a bad ass. It was Russell's idea (as said in the making of, on the dvd) to make the character a wimp. I'm just guessing that because Tarantino was such a Kurt Russell fan that he didn't have the heart to tell him how bad of an idea it was. An actor is not a writer. I've watched the movie with, like four of my friends and everything's fine until he first gets shot by the girls and he pulls over to the side of the road, crying and spitting whiskey on his wounds. This is when most people check out. Tarantino is famous for being funny without trying. But with that part. They were trying harder then transformer movies. Which are pretty much just bad comedies with explosions. If I made death proof. I would have made stunt man Mike the fucking terminator. Now imagine that movie.
to be fair, four rooms was only a segment. he didnt direct the whole thing. if mark wants to count four rooms, then he should count sin city as well, considering tarantino directed a scene from that
I hold Reservoir Dogs, Inglourious Basterds and Pulp Fiction in very high esteem, while the rest of his films (including Django Unchained) are less than notable. I'm a big fan of Quentin Tarantino, but Mark Kermode is literally right about the guy. Every word of what he said is true.
While Death proof is definitely Quentin's weakest film Mark is being way too harsh on the film. He didn't even address the best car chase scene in recent cinema, the great acting, the very clever structure and the heightened sense of realism that oozed from the screen as if the characters are your close friends.
He wasn't crazy about it or the Grindhouse project in general but he thought it was better than Death Proof and didn't understand why the latter got the star treatment at Cannes while Planet Terror was side-lined.
, and I think he's somewhat envious of say QT as he sees himself (the incredibly fanatic film enthusiast) in him, and is taking his own resentment for his lesser self, out on QT lmao. It's painfully obvious that he's begging for people to be aware that 'he sees something' or rather, 'doesn't see' what other people do in Tarantino (continued)...
I know and the fact that "kamode" says it's probably bad, and he's never seen it is the height of stupidity. It reminds me of something a republican politician would say. How they always try to outlaw (and fail) violent movies they've never seen.
It was entertaining enough but nothing to shout about, and I believe Kermode pretty much the same thing. I give points to Robert Rodriguez for casting Jeff Fahey who for my mind is an undervalued actor who it's a shame never became a larger star than what he did. It's sad to think the film he is probably most remembered for is The Lawnmower Man.
It's not as self-indulgent or dreadfully boring as Death Proof, but, fuck, it's one stupid film. This whole project felt more like a mockery of exploitation films than a tribute. Flashy and indulgent writing, cringeworthy casting of flavor of the month celebrities, fucking CGI effects (really?!) and a distinct lack of actual sleaze.
I never understood this. After Sin City, it's clear Rodriguez has found refuge in being lazy and deliberately making trash because he can. Say what you will about Death Proof but at least it's sincere, Planet Terror is just mean-spirited, boring and obnoxious.
I love Kermode and his reviews, I have great respect for him and his film knowledge, which far surpasses not only mine but the better half of film lovers in general, but I absolutely cannot stand it when he exaggerates his point beyond reason. Saying that Quentin Tarantino "cannot direct" simply because he despised his last film is completely disproportionate. Everyone knows that simply isn't true, whether you like Death Proof or not. His occasional lack of objectivity irritates me.
The bad dialogue, yeah. Actors and actresses need to improvise and ad-lib in order to make the dialogue sound real. On a Tarantino film, there is no ad-libbing or improv, so that's why the dialogue sounds a bit clunky. Another example is The Room, where everybody sounds like Tommy Wiseau.
Grindhouse may have failed tarantino pushing him to go to basterds and django which then pushed him to h8tful but it inspired filmmakers who've never experienced grindhouse films, unlike kermode. Rossatron made a great analysis video diving into it th-cam.com/video/rgyEuwG37X4/w-d-xo.html
"....and on the plus side?"
"I like the theme from 'Cruising'...well, in 'Cruising'."
"You know how we know? We paid twice!" Hahaha! Mark I love you. The best film critic of all time. Razor tongue galore! :-)
I liked Four Rooms.
Although Jackie Brown is indeed awesome but tragically unacknowledged.
Simon - “so how many points are there?…I’m just planning my afternoon”
😂😂😂😂
the dialogue in death proof is insipid and vapid. Kermode is spot on with his criticism of QT's characters all sounding exactly like QT.
I love Tarantino and I love this rant. I also like Death Proof, though I must admit it doesn't come near to any of his other films.
lol the best part is when he compares Tarantino to Stalin!
I loved Death Proof. Zoë Bell is fantastic and Mary Elizabeth Winstead is incredibly easy on the eye. Some of the dialogue is clunky and the car chase at the end is way too long but the acting is spot on and I thought it was great. Kermode is a misery guts.
That’s the first time I’ve ever heard someone call someone “Stalinist” for not acknowledging Four Rooms. I must say that wasn’t on my Mark Kermode bingo card.
This revisionism is perhaps the most Stalinist thing to exist.
This film could've easily been made into 90 minutes, but the pointless dialogue drags it on for a blockbuster length feature. All because QT is a critically acclaimed director, doesn't mean his films have last for 2 hours +.
I love how much Kermode's view on Tarantino has softened in the past five years. 2007, after completely bashing Death Proof: "He can't write, can't direct and has run out of ideas." 2012: "Tarantino said in a recent interview that his worst film is Death Proof, which is right, and frankly that's not bad - so he's got a pretty good filmography."
I think when Kermode said "and that's not that bad" he was quoting Tarantino's opinion about Death Proof, I'm sure he still despises it!
Agree 100% with Kermode on Tarantino.
Me too. What annoys me the most about him is how much is rips off other people. Cinema isn't that old, why can't he just be original?
What you consider a ripoff, most would consider an introduction to obscure films and forgotten classics that were given a second lease on life thanks to his references and homages. Such as:
"The Cat o' Nine Tails"
"Cat People"
"Coffy"
"Le Corbeau"
"Cruising"
"The Damned"
"Death Rides a Horse"
"Django"
"Eastern Condors"
"The Entity"
"Foxy Brown"
"The Great Silence"
"Hi Diddle Diddle"
"Lady Snowblood"
"Navajo Joe"
"Passion Plantation"
"Slaughter"
"Two Mules for Sister Sara"
"Under Fire"
"Vanishing Point"
"The White Hell of Pia Palu"
"White Lightening"
"Zombie"
Go up to any random stranger on the street and ask them if they've heard of any of those films because I'm willing to bet they'll just look at you in confusion and in contempt. Calling Tarantino a "ripoff artist" is just as lazy as calling Lars von Trier a misogynist. The purpose of Tarantino's films is, much like any filmmaker who uses a story that's been done to death, exploring how any film can live again through another.
+Will C Yeah. While watching Tarantino's stuff, all I'm thinking is; "Why don't I watch *insert any movie Tarantino is paying 'homaaaaageeeeee' to* instead of this self-indulgent bilge?"
Backyard Pix Good for you. That doesn't mean everyone else will. Some of us appreciate discovering new movies and reevaluating certain classics because of his ideas and presentations.
+Will C So do I, but without the help of an ego-maniac who was once a great filmmaker.
I'm almost angry after watching this. It's practically word for word what I've been saying about Quentin Tarantino for years. Especially about Jackie Brown losing money and him deciding never to make a good movie again. But I'm proud to have had a psychic long-distance mind meld with a genius like Mark. I knew I couldn't be coming up with that stuff on my own.
I found the special-edition of this movie in the supermarket bargain-bin for £3, I took a risk having never heard of it. Brilliant... I went in cold, the best way to approach a movie. Everything about it was perfect and not once could I predict the next twist or turn. A proper old-school movie, just like back in the day when they had a story!! Reminded me of Duel with cheerleaders. Cheesy yes, but fun. BRAVO and as for Zoe Bell... Damn! 🏆
First Kermode review I don't agree with and amazed by how much Mark hated it. I loved it. I watched it with my wife and - talk about giving the female viewer satisfaction - it was a pleasure to watch her delight by the end of the movie. the first half of the movie is very very slow and dark so that the second half can give you the total satisfaction. Plus - great songs used. Loved it
Death Proof is a film that cannot be judged based on its ridiculous story, considering that is not what the whole intention of producing this film was. The story and plot were just there as an excuse to show off all the memorable scenes, references to everything, praise to classical music, female protagonists foghting off a psychotic yet cool dude, some of the best stunts seen by cinema, hard work spent just to make a simple relaxing movie, and the cool life with stunning women such as that girl with the crazy hair.
You would be surprised on how realistic the social interactions are in the movie, also how the movie flows through almost two hours with nothing special happening.
jackie brown is a masterpiece
Yep.
I don't always agree with Kermode. But he is spot on about Jackie Brown. It's his most grown up film.
wahh, finally someone who dishes out the true story on Tarantino
Agree on Jackie Brown but he had an awesome novel to begin from. That's why the story and characters shine. The book even does the mall caper finale from 3 different viewpoints in sequence, that's not Quentin's idea.
"I love CRUISING" - Mark Kermode
This review nails Death Proof and Tarantino perfectaly.
Kermode has it in reverse. Planet Terror was first and then Death Proof was the second part of Grindhouse.
'Maybe he said something about his face' 😂
I think if Death Proof had been a lot shorter - with a lot less time in the bar at the start and a shorter chase- it would have been a pretty decent B movie
I wish more than anything that I had that review. They didn't start doing podcasts of the Kermode/Mayo show until May 2005 so there's no way of hearing it unless somebody comes out of the woodwork with a recording of it. But yeah, that sounds like it was one of his best.
Not sure which comment this is in reply to (YT changed the way comment replies work in the last 12 years) but tell me Mr Winesack, are you still listening to K+M all these years later?
i think death proof was brilliant. i enjoy the way quentin tarantino talks and the second set of girls' revenge was like faster pussycat wrapped up in a car chase.
well i love death proof.the music is standard quentin brilliance and loved kurt russel in it.he looked super cool
Isn't Robert Rodriguez Planet Terror shown first though? Or did they just stick it before Death Proof on the DVD?
It was definitely first in the theater too.
its a good fucking movie, better than all these unoriginal super hero movie remakes you see now a days. its not tarantino at his best but its still a better than average movie
Hes way too harsh on Death Proof i think it was pretty decent
very well said. Quentin does my head in.
When I saw it in theatres here in Canada, Planet Terror was first, and the audience was entertained... they loved the trailers... then half of them walked out during Deathproof at what was essentially the 3/4th mark of the entire performance.
Looking back, that was a bit harsh.
I watched this about 10 years ago when I was ill at home with swine flu. It was one of the worst experiences of my life.
I loved the Tarantino films I’d seen to that point so was completely at a loss to describe what had happened.
Some people seriously struggle to understand the job of an art critic.
To criticise a film IS to criticise it's director, production, etc.
So people getting fucked off about kermode getting fucked off are missing the point. Let him get angry! It's what turns the cogs of proper future film making.
Completely agree with Kermode’s criticisms, though of late I think Tarantino has gotten back on track. For me at least, both Hateful 8 & Once Upon A Time were vast improvement on his post Jackie Brown output with Hollywood delivering the least Tarantino dialogue of his career. No long pointless monologues, no extraneous pop culture references, no clunky anachronistic words that come off forced, no annoying alliteration. All his worst tendencies are dialed back and he lets the characters be. The dicaprio crackup in the bar to full breakdown in trailer which I’ve subsequently found out was Leonardo’s idea & that they worked on together gave the most depth I’ve seen in a Tarantino character/film - it loosened his grip on his normal tightly controlled dialogue ladened world; some air & humanity leaked in which hasn’t really shown up since Brown. The 1 character for me that comes closest to Tarantino’s style is the little actress on set which perhaps due to her age comes off somewhat written - but that’s the minor-est of minor quibbles.. IMO he’s improving and it’s unfortunate that it’s now that he’s hanging it up.
Almost scary how I felt the exact same when I first saw this movie. It was like all the actors tried their best Tarantino impression. Still good fun though.
Death Proof was awesome! THe dialogues as always are brilliant!!! You gotta be kidding.. I love this movie.
6:38 absolutely true description of Tarantino, money grabbing, sell out, embarrassing who cannot write. But who has he sold out to and what has he got out of it!
"Plot...and I use the term loosely" hahahahaha
The moment when Kurt Russel looks at the camera and smiles (just before he's about to step in his car and kill the girls is one of the most epic and awesome shots in movie history in my opinion). It gets even better when you watch the movie for the second time, because you know what's comming, and you like it. I also liked that all the main characters where (unexpectadly) killed in the first half, the lapdance scene, the crash scene, the badass girls, in the second half, the abrupt ending, the car chase, the dialogs, the grungy style of the movie, the music ... GOD I LOVE THIS MOVIE - watched it already 5 times and enjoyed it every f*cking single time!!
It's an awesome movie. It started out good, got a bit boring, finished amazing. All the stuntwork is amazing. The scene of Kurt Russell crying, I will never forget. The only criticism I will agree with is that the chracters sound like QT. He has this problem where whenever I hear his characters talking, I feel like he is standing over their back.
Also, agree that Jackie Brown is his best film.
I take a lot of Kermode's points about the characters all sounding like Tarantino, but I also genuinely like this film. The final chase sequence is brilliant, I like the stuff about, film industry and stunt work and it's just a cool little throwaway film.
Sure. Friedkin's Bug. I mainly post the bad ones because those are the most entertaining, but if you have a request for a good review, I'll certainly turn it over.
Death proof ain't Tarantino's best film but Kermode's criticism of him is a bit over the top sometimes. Maybe Tarantino nicked his girlfriend.
+bangkokstevie Exactamundo. I think there is something personal that isnt being mentioned.
+bangkokstevie Probably he knows Tarantino is big enough to take it. T isn't exactly a wallflower.
I don't know what he's got against Tarantino. I hear the criticisms, but I just don't buy into them. I don't know what "talks like Tarantino" means.
And also, he wouldn't have some courtesy to clap for the guy?
I really like Tarantino but I do agree with Mark on most of the stuff he says about him; Jackie Brown is his best film and while I love most of his other work I do find he has a lot of immature tendencies that were missing from JB, which is a perfect film IMO. Even as a big QT fan I have to admit that Deathproof is a pretty dire film that shouldn't have been greenlit.
I mostly disagree with kermode here, but I keep coming back to this review because its just so funny. I love a good rant and this one is really great.
Hated this movie when I saw it at the cinema and was going to revisit it after watching a better Tarantino movie recently. Listening to this review again has saved me the bother of doing that so thank you 😊
Silly Kermode. By 4th he meant 4th film he directed ! Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown then Death Proof.
But he also directed the two Kill Bill films in between Jackie Brown and Death Proof.
Okay now that is confusing.
What about Four Rooms?
He did a segment of it, not a full length feature.
Luke Ellis Ummm....so? He was also a writer on the film "It's Pat" which is one of the worst films ever made!
I'm gonna upload it later since I don't think they took a video of last week's podcast. He's actually rather even-handed about Inglourious Basterds but I won't say anything else.
I watched it the other day, it was quite good in my eyes
@Bassbait I think (and I appreciate this discussion because it makes me try to pin this down) it is his willingness to show his characters at length in periods of leisure or periods when, at least to them, nothing important is happening. The local color and verbal play and the idiosyncrasies and banalities of the characters come into focus at the expense of the plot, which is fine to me. You don't see this a lot in American movies, at least not before T-o.
I love Death Proof. Every bit of it.
i got the dvd copy where both films are shown with the trailers in between. i was surprised how much i liked them both - can't weigh in on the 2hr version of death proof but id imagine that would stretch it out enough to ruin it.
+Andrew Deen Maybe i should see the shorter version. I've only seen the long version and it is really really long.
Legendary
@Bassbait Feminist, postmodernist, I don't care. What I love about Tarantino is the way you can really take in a scene, breathe in its atmosphere. His films marinate in their own (his) desires, emotions, instincts. You could say this is self-indulgent, but I've never understood why that is a bad thing. Self-indulgence lets you get to know the artist. I feel I'm in the presence of Tarantino himself when I watch his movies. As much as I love Kubrick, Coens, etc, that is a virtue they don't have.
"I like the theme from cruising...except I like it in cruising" lool witty old Kermode xD
Thanks, I just listened to it, once again I feel he's right about Inglourious Basterds. Unfortunately critics here in the U.S. are giving Tarantino a pass because of his past glory and using hyperbolic praise to describe the movie.
This fella is too cheeky and toooooo smart for my taste. But i love all of his ,,films" he directed and his enormous contribution to cinema. I just hope Tarantino learns something from him
@Bassbait I'm sure I am biased and blinded by my instinctive enjoyment of his films - and what other kind of true enjoyment is there? Justifying reasons for a feeling are usually teased out or even conjured up after the impression has struck us. And then we pretend those reasons are inevitable. (Or this could just be a personal admision.) Eh, I didn't mean to get pretentious. So, what does T-o do that really scratches my itch?
i love kermode... go on son!
@Bassbait I would say Tarantino is not for you, which is perfectly fine. There are acclaimed directors I can't get into (Malick, Nolan, Spielberg, Jeunet), but I suspect we are just of a different aesthetic temperament, not that they are worthless. They have all found ways to distinguish and individuate themselves, which is praiseworthy.
I was lucky enough to see Grindhouse opening weekend in its original format with both movies stuck together. Both were considerably shorter (by about 20 minutes) than when they were released later. A great recapturing of the grindhouse aesthetic (I think, too young to know grindhouse firsthand) and I sort of enjoyed it on that level. A suped-up zombie and slasher flick stuck together. That said, the fake trailers were still the best part.
What's funny is that Jackie Brown's characters were all ready established for Tarantino to give them Dialogue, because they were all based on a book called "Rum Punch", which most likely meant that all the characters would be diverse and not all act like QT. That's probably why Jackie Brown is Quentin's best film.
Exactly. Btw just recently watched Jackie brown and my god it is so superior to the stuff he brings out now like Django, inglorious. Once apon a time in hollywood
the reason the dialogue in jackie brown is good is because it's based on a Elmore Leonard novel, i.e. Tarantino had more to rely on for his screen play.
"Maybe Quentin said something about his face." hahaah brilliant, Kermode is spot on (as always)
Can't wait for when Quinten comes round to his show next year
This is why his films will date quickly. No-one in the future will see what all the fuss was about.
Style over substance. Substance lasts, style does not.
in comparison to Pulp Fiction:
budget 8 m
returns 280+ m
That is a big difference, at least to Quentin it was. & I remember just how disappointed audiences were with Jackie Brown. Box office draws declined instantly when people began to realize it wasn't Pulp Fiction 2
I wasn't a big fan of Death Proof. It was self indulgent instead of a low budget exploitation. Even the graininess is more of an effect than using cheap stock because the production can't afford it.
I agree that the dialogue can be unrealistic but I think overall it’s a good movie. At the end of the day it’s about cars ramming into each other and getting cathartic violent revenge, so it’s hard to not enjoy it.
There is a lot more to reservoir dogs and pulp fiction than this person has understood.
Kermode likes those films even if he missed some details
Thank God there is a critic willing to call Tarantino out on his decline in quality. Critics here in America continually praise Tarantino because of his past glories (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction) and describes his films' increasing deficiencies as strengths. I can't wait to see Kermode's take on Inglourious Basterds.
What claptrap did tarantino make before jackie brown? dogs or fiction? i liked them both.
it was fairly ingenious to make a film about a killer stuntman in a film called death proof and make it the most tedious film i can remember.
Why does Kermode get all bent out of shape over petite things like whether Death Proof is Tarantino's 5th film or the name and spelling of 'Inglourious ....' . It makes me think he's trying too hard to hate on Tarantino .
He wanted Kill Bill to be another Jackie Brown, so now he's upset with Tarantino for doing something new.
Because just the act of putting "the xth film of Quentin Tarantino" in every trailer and even in the beginning of a movie is so pretentious and self-flattering he could at least have made up the numbers right.
ThisIsWideAngle
As if it would be less pretentious to say 'The 5 & 1/4' film by ... Nobody would say Fellini was being self-flattering by naming his 8th and 1 half film > '8 1/2' . Is Tarantino supposed to be ashamed of his work ?? Kermode tries too hard to knock Tarantino .
93thelema777 Because it´s not the same thing.
He's just mad that all Tarantino's films aren't done a certain way.
Might sound completely over the top but Death Proof really is one of the worst films I have ever seen.
Full Metal Hobbit Oh I've seen a lot of great films :). Maybe you haven't seen enough good films if you think Death Proof is great.
He's right. 'Inglourious Basterds' was another nail, and 'Django' was another (admittedly both were partly saved by Christoph Waltz) but they are both very self-indulgent, which I think is the key idea. And 'The Hateful 8' still more of the same; which is MORE AND MORE AND ENDLESS DIALOG SETPIECES PUNCTUATED BY VIOLENCE.
Tarantino loves his own voice, his own shots, his own influences, is such a fan that he CANNOT PRACTICE DENIAL.He cannot choose, edit, throw out, cut, lessen. abstain, fast, shut up, sit down or not do something.
He is the ideal american film-maker (as opposed to a true vulgarian pig like Michael Bay, who cannot even hold a camera or write one sentence). He is like a kid in a candy store. But not an adult artist. Never an adult artist. A talented adolescent but always and adolescent.
The kung fu wasn't my favourite part of the first movie but i enjoyed the second without it's action. I agree with Kermode about the final scene with Bill rambling on about comics. Where he's sounding like Tarrintino.
But he's trying so hard, and no intelligent, truly intelligent person who watches and understands Tarantino's films can fail to see the literary, comedic and filmic excellence in what he does REGARDLESS of whether you personally enjoy the themes or film itself. The talent is undeniable.
Considering that Tarantino has been the critics darling since 92 you have to wonder it Kermode genuinely feels this way or if he's just trying to be different. I don't think there is a director in history who's easier on his critics then Tarantino. He the only director I've ever heard of who actually respects film criticism an a genuine profession as opposed to recognizing them for the talentless hacks that they truly are. Tarantino's even created a character, in inglorious basterds, who was a film critic. I didn't really like death proof but I (and most critics) thought that it's saving grace was that the women actually talked like young woman. So it's beyond ironic that the biggest beef this Kermode had with the flick is the very same thing that his peers adored about it. But I'm sure he's not just being different for the sake of being different.
Oh I wouldn't doubt it. (Though I haven't heard about it till now) It's defiantly my least favorite movie of his. All I was saying was that Kermode, picked the one thing (the dialogue) that most critics liked about it and picked it apart, just to be different. I thought what RUINED this flick was that on the page, stunt man Mike was a bad ass. It was Russell's idea (as said in the making of, on the dvd) to make the character a wimp. I'm just guessing that because Tarantino was such a Kurt Russell fan that he didn't have the heart to tell him how bad of an idea it was. An actor is not a writer. I've watched the movie with, like four of my friends and everything's fine until he first gets shot by the girls and he pulls over to the side of the road, crying and spitting whiskey on his wounds. This is when most people check out. Tarantino is famous for being funny without trying. But with that part. They were trying harder then transformer movies. Which are pretty much just bad comedies with explosions. If I made death proof. I would have made stunt man Mike the fucking terminator. Now imagine that movie.
to be fair, four rooms was only a segment. he didnt direct the whole thing. if mark wants to count four rooms, then he should count sin city as well, considering tarantino directed a scene from that
I hold Reservoir Dogs, Inglourious Basterds and Pulp Fiction in very high esteem, while the rest of his films (including Django Unchained) are less than notable. I'm a big fan of Quentin Tarantino, but Mark Kermode is literally right about the guy. Every word of what he said is true.
This film is my guilty pleasure
While Death proof is definitely Quentin's weakest film Mark is being way too harsh on the film. He didn't even address the best car chase scene in recent cinema, the great acting, the very clever structure and the heightened sense of realism that oozed from the screen as if the characters are your close friends.
He wasn't crazy about it or the Grindhouse project in general but he thought it was better than Death Proof and didn't understand why the latter got the star treatment at Cannes while Planet Terror was side-lined.
, and I think he's somewhat envious of say QT as he sees himself (the incredibly fanatic film enthusiast) in him, and is taking his own resentment for his lesser self, out on QT lmao. It's painfully obvious that he's begging for people to be aware that 'he sees something' or rather, 'doesn't see' what other people do in Tarantino (continued)...
Planet Terror was actually hell of a lot better than Death Proof.
I know and the fact that "kamode" says it's probably bad, and he's never seen it is the height of stupidity. It reminds me of something a republican politician would say. How they always try to outlaw (and fail) violent movies they've never seen.
Um, are you trying to make a pun on Kermode and COMMODE? I have no idea what "kamode" means.
It was entertaining enough but nothing to shout about, and I believe Kermode pretty much the same thing. I give points to Robert Rodriguez for casting Jeff Fahey who for my mind is an undervalued actor who it's a shame never became a larger star than what he did. It's sad to think the film he is probably most remembered for is The Lawnmower Man.
It's not as self-indulgent or dreadfully boring as Death Proof, but, fuck, it's one stupid film. This whole project felt more like a mockery of exploitation films than a tribute. Flashy and indulgent writing, cringeworthy casting of flavor of the month celebrities, fucking CGI effects (really?!) and a distinct lack of actual sleaze.
I never understood this. After Sin City, it's clear Rodriguez has found refuge in being lazy and deliberately making trash because he can.
Say what you will about Death Proof but at least it's sincere, Planet Terror is just mean-spirited, boring and obnoxious.
The 5* in question:
R. dogs
Pulp fiction
Jackie Brown
Kill Bill vol 1 & 2
Death Proof
I have to say, Deathproof is utter shite....
I love Kermode and his reviews, I have great respect for him and his film knowledge, which far surpasses not only mine but the better half of film lovers in general, but I absolutely cannot stand it when he exaggerates his point beyond reason. Saying that Quentin Tarantino "cannot direct" simply because he despised his last film is completely disproportionate. Everyone knows that simply isn't true, whether you like Death Proof or not. His occasional lack of objectivity irritates me.
deathproof's shit script is not allowed the pass of being a grindhouse picture/homage. Planet terror was cool though.
i didnt know what people meant whne they said a film review can be and art form now i do
TBH Inglorious Basterds is one of Tarrintino's best! At least he got back on form.
The bad dialogue, yeah. Actors and actresses need to improvise and ad-lib in order to make the dialogue sound real.
On a Tarantino film, there is no ad-libbing or improv, so that's why the dialogue sounds a bit clunky.
Another example is The Room, where everybody sounds like Tommy Wiseau.
He only directed a segment of four rooms
@Flipflopab if only i was danny dyer. few men possess such an acting talent. how he gets passed year after year for the oscars, i'll never know.
Thanks man. :)
Grindhouse may have failed tarantino pushing him to go to basterds and django which then pushed him to h8tful
but it inspired filmmakers who've never experienced grindhouse films, unlike kermode.
Rossatron made a great analysis video diving into it
th-cam.com/video/rgyEuwG37X4/w-d-xo.html
‘Film critic’
@TheeOneWhoTalks He's a gardening implement then?
@TulseLuper
To be fair, he could use that same response for you. Big deal, he likes Tarantino. He's just giving his point of view.