Quintessential Tarantino

by Edwin Page

From Reservoir Dogs in 1992 to the recent Kill Bill series, the films of Quentin Tarantino have always provoked a reaction from audiences and critics alike, many attracting a cultlike following. In this book, Edwin Page discusses each of the eight films that Tarantino has either written or directed, or both, in an attempt to find out how the former video store clerk has realized his fantasy and become one of the world’s most successful and well-known directors.

Examining the inspiration and influences behind each film, as well as identifying the common threads that run through all of his work, this book aims to show the depth and complexity behind Tarantino’s trademark “guns and gangsters” style.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2005

About the author

With over eighty books published since 2005, British born writer Edwin Page is one of the most prolific authors of the early 21st Century.

Known largely for his historical fiction, he is the author of the widely acclaimed Where Seagulls Fly. He has also written a number of popular stories relating to slavery in the U.S. These include The Hanging Tree, Runaway and Oona.

Edwin Page has a 1st Class degree in Film & Literary Studies and has had numerous short stories, articles and poems published in a variety of publications. Born and bred near Cambridge, he went to university in Plymouth and Carlisle, and now lives in western Cornwall.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable and insightful book, giving an in-depth analysis of the final productions of True Romance, Natural Born Killers, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, From Dusk 'Til Dawn, Jackie Brown, Four Rooms and the ER and CSI episodes directed by Tarantino.

Payne reveals many of the nuances and intended outcomes of the artistry of Tarantino's body of work and is balanced enough to also quote the bad as well as good reviews.

This book really puts Tarantino's work under the microscope, and in my opinion shows why his work is so notable. 8 out of 12.

PS: It should be noted that this book dies not cover the films that have roused concerns about his on-set behaviour; and indeed this book was published before those films were made. fyi

2012 read

[Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s basically a collection of amateur’ish essays on Tarantino’s films. It isn’t bad per se… it just kind of recounts the plot of each movie with some light analysis throughout. Probably more useful for a film student than a casual read. Also only goes up to Kill Bill 2 as the book was published in 2006. It was interesting (and will be for most die-hard Tarantino fans) but nothing to write home about.

[Ming · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible. There's film analysis, and then there's fawning fanboy adoration, where even the director's farts are considered sacred and artistic. This sits solely in the latter camp. The author writes like Tarantino is a rock star and he's a groupie that would, like, totally die and go to heaven if QT would sleep with him.

In one of the most ridiculous examples of groveling fanboy behavior, the author even attributes long Steadicam shots in QT's episode of ER to him! Anyone who's ever seen ER will know that it's a signature of the series as a whole. Talk about grasping at straws.

I like Tarantino as much as anyone, but this book is just juvenile, unadulterated gushing. Swap out "Quentin Tarantino" for "Justin Bieber" and it could sit on the shelf next to all the teen idol biographies.

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

BOOO-RING. Was expecting a book about Tarantino at first and even when I realized it was mainly focusing on his films I thought "okay, that's pretty cool too" but oh my god this book is so repetitive first of all. It constantly mentions how Tarantino uses literary devices and "high and low art" like yeah yeah I get it. I nearly fell asleep after the first 30 pages. Really disappointed tbh since I am a huge Tarantino fan. I'll be waiting for a proper biography, call me when someone writes something decent.

[Karl · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun to put all of the pieces of his movies together. He is a disturbed man but makes significant movies.

[Jeff Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book focuses more on film influences on Tarantino, and the links between his films.
A decent read.