In Reply to: Why do people watch Tarantino? posted by Victor Khomenko on January 29, 2006 at 07:26:07:
As was pointed out to me about Reservoir Dogs is the reversal of humanit which DOES exist in this society and which most simply do not want to discuss. Early in that film their some guys who are at the core monsters who seemingly are run of the mill ruffians arguing over the merits of whether and why to tip a waitress. They aregue over such issues as to why the other guy gets the name Mr. Black while he's stuck with Mr. Pink. They are at the reservoir of society - junk yard Dogs.Now I was not overly impressed with Reservoir Dogs because for me that's still not enough to hang your hat on - so yes as a commentary displaying this part of life in a "raw" manner is unnerving but for me it is a rough copy for Pulp Fiction. Pulp novels have charicatures of real people interlacing with oneanother. Pulp Fiction is more accessible because it's inhumanity is presented in an outside looking in approach - it's theatrical as the pieces move in and out weaving in the absurd (the watch) with the fantastical (the case) with an underlying theme throughout that it's never too late to redeem yourself no matter how sleazy you may be. Consider that virtually every character in Pulp Fiction is walking a line of redemption to either take it for yourself or give it to another.
The failed boxer (what does an uneducated boxer who pummels people for a living do after a sub standard career in boxing?), the gang leader where honour among thieves is more important than the respect for life, the two centeral hit men (one in it for the job, the other trying to justify what he's doing) Tarantino's character who has tried to get out of the life and shacks up with a good girl, but his past associates look him up, the fixer (a sociopath), the bored gang memeber's girlfriend who's redemtion comes from a bag of pills -- she has it "all" but she has no freedom - if and when she tries to leave she'll be killed, the taxi-driver who needs excitement through other people's lives, the bank robber thrill seekers starting out their road to criminality.
Sure there is senseless murder -- but this is coming from people who live senseless lives...some of them are trying to make it make sense. Though some argue the merits for Reservoir Dogs as the better film so one day I shall see it again.
Regardless of the subject matter -- Tarantino is a master at what he does and the thing I would do if you don't like what he writes about is not to view it. You now have a good idea what he is intereested in - so you know that his next movies will likely also be about this. Smart people don't waste their time reading the 12th novel from an author they hated the first 11 times. And no matter what anyone says to you -- is it really going to make you LIKE a Pulp Fiction? At best you may be able to understand why people do but is that even important?
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Follow Ups
- Re: Why do people watch Tarantino? - RGA 19:37:02 01/29/06 (6)
- Re: Why do people watch Tarantino? - Victor Khomenko 06:20:20 01/30/06 (5)
- Re: Why do people watch Tarantino? - RGA 22:13:37 01/30/06 (3)
- On Violence With Serious Intentions. - AudioHead 09:29:12 01/31/06 (2)
- Take a look at the Irreversible - Victor Khomenko 15:50:48 01/31/06 (1)
- Re: Take a look at the Irreversible - RGA 16:35:30 02/01/06 (0)
- Re: Why do people watch Tarantino? - Analog Scott 21:25:58 01/30/06 (0)