Quentin Tarantino FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Original Reservoir Dog

by Dale Sherman

Quentin Tarantino is a man who came to Hollywood and didn't break the rules so much as make plain that he didn't even notice them. Making the films he wanted to see, Tarantino broke through with Reservoir Dogs in 1992 and then cemented his reputation in 1994 with the release of Pulp Fiction . As his fame grew, he spread his love for movies that are far from commonplace through his promotion of older films and theaters and by reviving the stalled careers of actors such as John Travolta, Pam Grier, and David Carradine.

Quentin Tarantino FAQ examines the movies directed by Tarantino, the influences on his work, and the inspiration he gave to others. There are also chapters on certain recurring elements in his films, from fake “product placement” to the music, actors, and even cinematic moments used. The book also reviews his work in television, the articles written about him or by him over the years, his acting career, his public battles, and some of the projects he abandoned along the way. It all comes together to tell the story of a man who forged his own unique path and helped shape the way movies are made today.

Genres: Film

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1400

About the author

Dale Sherman has written biographies and references guides on KISS, Alice Cooper, women in rock music, urban legends in rock, Quentin Tarantino, Mel Brooks, John Waters, M*A*S*H (in all its various forms), and "End of the World" movies, with most still available for purchase.

His fifteenth and newest book - available December 2022 - is FOUR SCORES AND SEVEN REELS AGO, which examines the U.S. Presidency through the lens of Hollywood movies.

His sixteenth book, THE WORST WE CAN FIND, about MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 and similar programs, will be released in June 2023.

He lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife, daughter and too many animals.

Reviews

[Mohammad Hrabal · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب سرشار از جزئیاتی جذاب درباره تارانتینو و فیلم‌هایش هست. بهتر است قبل از مطالعه فیلم‌های زیر را دیده باشید:
1. Reservoir dogs 1992
2. Pulp fiction 1994
3. Jackie Brown 1997
4. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 2003
5. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 2004
6. Grindhouse 2007
7. Death proof 2007
8. Inglourious Basterds 2009
9. Django unchained 2012
10. The hateful eight 2015
11. Once upon a time... in hollywood 2019
12. True romance 1993
13. Natural born killers 1994
*********************************************************************
«بگذارید بگویم که مشکل من با کل این مسئله‌ی تأثیرپذیری چیست: منتقدان به‌ جای تماشا و بررسی فیلم‌های من، فقط سعی دارند با من مسابقه‌ی هوش بگذارند. هر بار به‌ مرور فیلم‌هایم می‌پردازند، مثل این است که بخواهند با استادی شطرنج بازی کنند و می‌خواهند به همه نشان دهند که چه ارجاعاتی در فیلم‌هایم کشف کرده‌اند، هر چند نیمی از آنها صرفاً ساخته‌ی تخیلات خودشان است. به‌ نظر می‌رسد تا فیلمی از من می‌بینند، می‌روند سراغ وبسایت سینمایی «پایگاه اطلاعاتی جهانی سینما» (IMDB) تا ببینند کدام صحنه به کدام فیلم ارجاع می‌دهد. چیزی که ناراحتم می‌کند این است که از این موضوع چماقی برای ضربه زدن به من ساخته‌اند.» (کوئنتین تارانتینو در مصاحبه با پاتریک گلدستاین و جیمز رینی در وبلاگ لس‌آنجلس تایمز، پانزده فوریه ۲۰۱۰) . صفحه ۱۴۳ کتاب
«من از تمام فیلم‌ها سرقت می‌کنم. من از تک‌تک فیلم‌هایی که تا الان ساخته‌ شده، چیزی دزدیده‌ام. عاشق این کارم. کار من اگر چیزی هست، فقط دزدی از این فیلم و آن فیلم و ترکیب آنهاست و اگر مردم این را دوست ندارند، چه بد، به تماشای فیلم‌هایم نروند. هنرمندان بزرگ دزدی می‌کنند، نه ادای دین.» صفحه ۱۵۹ کتاب
​۱۴۰۴/۰۷/۲۶

[Mjkkkjjkjjkjj577 · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is about one of the best post modern - modern directors of the cinema, Tarantino, who was known for his movies that contain many sub culture's like using a cult and popular music in his films and bloody action ، many references to previous cult movies movies and of course, best written dialogs such as reservoir dogs and pulp fiction
see this man's movie...

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A plethora of facts, tidbits and trivia information for the movie buff, Quentin T fan or just entertainment movie historian. It was amazing the detail and depth of information that this author and book provided. I also enjoyed and appreciated where the author discussed some information that is seen as in conflict depending on the source. It was an eye opening and educational foray into the world of entertainment behind the scenes that I had never thought about or read before.

Prior to this book I had only watched a few Quentin Tarantino movies (Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2, Reservoir Dogs, From Dusk till Dawn and Natural Born Killers) and in full honesty never gave a whit of a thought to how it was produced, paid for, etc. I had wondered how sometimes it was supported when the movie was very graphic or violent, but there are movies for every entertainment sector (hello 50 shades) so why not? Ironically the one's I had watched are violent ones and in my household met with mixed reviews..to yes that is amazing to why are we watching it I don't get it. After reading the information, who played and was potentially going to play roles in the movies, how they stayed true or deviated from the script, etc. I am more interested in watching some more of the Quentin Tarantino movies. I feel I will definitely have more set opinions on the endings after reading how some directors/producers changed the endings or scenes in the script.

Now, this is not a quick read or an easy read. This is an educational read with a fun flare in my opinion. I could not read it straight through, nor should one try because I feel I would have lost some of the history or true fun trivia with each movie if I had tried. If you enjoy movie trivia, knowing how something was created, the behind the scenes moments and other entertainment knowledge or are just an ardent QT fan I would recommend this book to have and to also pull out when watching a QT movie! It has been great throwing out some FAQ about movies as I have watched them with friends recently...everyone was like what,...how did you know that!

What do you think of books like this? What books have you found that really help you enjoy a movie or actor/producer/director/writer more?

full review at www.meghanvarner.blogspot.com

[Will Coombs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a major Quentin Tarantino fan reading this book like seeing one of his movies for the first time absolutely thrilling. Getting to find out so much of his personal life and all of the crazy life experiences he's had throughout his long and successful career was truly amazing. The only reason I gave it 4/5 was because it didn't include once upon a time in Hollywood although it wasn't out yet it was still extremely disappointing that my favorite Tarantino movie wasn't in this book. I highly recommend this book to any cinema buff looking to expand there knowledge on one of the greatest directors hollywoods ever seen.

[Fede Casillas · Rating 4 out of 5]

You don’t read this book because you want to increase your IQ. You read it because you know who Zed is. And you know that Zed’s dead. And you know why people like squirrels but hate rats. And why you should believe in tips. And all that knowledge is not enough. You want to know it all. And this book delivers.

[Andrew Kidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherman's book is very interesting on several levels. For one thing, like its subject's own films, instead of placing events in a neat chronological order the way, it jumps backwards and forward in time at the various stages in Tarantino's career, and it's overall quite well written. But the crucial flaw is in the title: at times, at rare times it comes off more as a book version of a Tarantino fan site than the serious work of inquiry it is elsewhere, and well-researched and impeccable pieces of journalism alternate between frustratingly incomplete ones. I wanted to know more about such things as the rift that developed between Quentin and Roger Avary, or the movies that he arranged to release under his Rolling Thunder banner, but these and other important aspects of Tarantino's career that would interest his fans are frustratingly brief. A chapter on recurring motifs in the director's work is similarly too brief, but at least I give the author marks for not misusing the word "tropes" as too many others would have done. Given the excellent writing and research throughout much of the book, I would attribute these flaws to the rush to publish the book in conjunction with the release of THE HATEFUL EIGHT. Still, Tarantino is still a relatively young director, and the author has made it clear that he too is also a child of the same generation; maybe in another decade or two, he will return to his subject, and write the definitive book on the definitive American independent film director of the Nineties.

[Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I lov trivia books and this one on one of my fave directors is also covered in quite a lot of detail .