Weekend Vid Picks: Quentin Tarantino, Remember Him?

Quentin Tarantino is such an iconic presence but such an unprolific filmmaker that every time a new movie of his comes out, it takes a few moments to remember why, exactly, we should care. So if you’re trying to decide whether to check out the man’s latest opus, the Brad Pitt-starring Inglourious Basterds, mayhaps these clips will influence your opinion?

One of Tarantino’s two greatest skills as a filmmaker has always been his facility with film history. You get a real sense of that knowledge (not to mention a sense of what he does instead of going outside and getting some fresh air) when he tells you his favorite 20 movies that have been released since he started making movies.

This video essay by The L Magazine is certainly not safe for work (unless you have headphones) but is a stunning reminder of the other thing Tarantino does well — craft clever dialogue that, in L Magazine’s words, lets characters “use words to get on top of one another.”

And like or hate the man, you gotta admire the artful dig he made at G.I. Joe (not to mention J.J. Abrams and Joe director Stephen Sommers) on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Mainly because it comes from a place of truth: The man really does take pride in his work.

And thanks to Hollywood’s increasingly corporate culture, few making films these days can claim that degree of pride. Which is why a Tarantino film, at least for cinephiles, is a good time at the movies.

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