Nine down, one to go.
With the blockbuster success of ONCE UPON A TIME IN…HOLLYWOOD, which has proved to be another winner for the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie and Al Pacino in the mix, Quentin Tarantino is on course to complete his ten-film legacy – or so he seems to think.
So, it was inevitable that there would be a (semi) official documentary about this film-making legend, whose films are not so much releases but events for a fan following who have consumed everything he has done as quickly as Samuel L. Jackson does that Big Kahuna Burger in PULP FICTION (1994)
Written and directed by actress/producer Tara Wood, QT8 – QUENTIN TARANTINO – THE FIRST EIGHT doesn’t contain any face-to-face interviews with the director, who appears via animated representation or archive footage through the documentary’s hour-and-forty running time, opting instead for a number of reflections from the likes of those who have collaborated with him in the twenty-one years that have seen the emergence of eight well-loved critical and commercial successes.
Actors Christophe Waltz, Diane Kruger, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kurt Russell, Michael Madsen, the late Robert Forster, Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Roh and producer Stacey Sher are all in relaxed and reflective mood as they recount some of the moments that have defined the films in the likes of DJANGO UNCHAINED, INGLORIOUS BASTERDS, JACKIE BROWN, PULP FICTION and RESERVOIR DOGS. It’s a revealing group of anecdotes and much of the joy is to see how this core group of actors have recalled some of those stand-out elements.
Although at times it perhaps comes across as a little sycophantic, with everyone talking so wonderfully about Tarantino, for once the acclaim and respect is clear for everyone to see. Madsen talks of the torture scene in RESERVOIR DOGS and how that sequence came together and Kruger reflects on some of the history of BASTERDS. It is great also to see Leigh (albeit briefly) reflect on her own experience and the fact she had never played guitar before performing in THE HATEFUL EIGHT.
The interviews are inter-cut with some animated sequences which reflect the evolution of Tarantino as a film-maker and how it started to come together after RESERVOIR DOGS‘ debut at the Cannes Film Festival.
Commentary on the use of racist language in films like PULP and DJANGO is also focused on briefly and both Foxx and Jackson emphasise here that the terms are not used in a derogatory fashion, despite the protestations of film-makers like Spike Lee
There is a bit of reference to Miramax and Harvey Weinstein, which is not dwelt on as much given the amount of exposure the company gave Tarantino in terms of PULP FICTION‘s success at the box-office, but the truth behind the producer is here in part, which has been chronicled recently with the outcome of the trial that has led to his downfall.
An incident involving Uma Thurman during the filming of the KILL BILL films is also touched on briefly and Tarantino is quoted in the documentary as having regrets.
QT8 is definitely going to be on Tarantino’s fans watch-lists, but the overall feeling is expect an official Tarantino-endorsed documentary once his tenth (and alleged final) film is out in the theatres. It’s enjoyable enough, but a little disappointing that Tarantino does not appear to give his own reflections on his working relationship and method when it comes to directing actors and writing screenplays.
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