QT8: The First Eight

In another audacious and startling statement of intent, he has long insisted that he will make only ten films, which gives The First Eight special importance. This seems absurd, given his talent and a seemingly endless stream of ideas, but maybe he’s right. The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long. Still, his fans will mourn the end of an era when he retires. Of course, it would be very QT to disappear, then come roaring back with another film years later. 

Mystery and questions surround him these days. Will he survive post-Weinstein?  Will he really stop at ten films? Are his best days behind him? 

“non-linear storylines, old music, new music by old composers, and call-backs to great cinema moments that were glossed over because the films are considered cheap and trashy.”

The press around Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood is mixed. Critics responded well, and the box office is positive so far, with a release in China set, and DVD/Streaming sales yet to be realized. It is and will continue to be a hit, but the consensus is that it’s not his greatest film. Of course, expectations are unrealistic. He’s competing with the first-time thrill of his early works, and at this point, audiences have had 21 years of QT, so it’s going to be hard to surprise them now. He still delivers, though, and that keeps his work fresh and highly anticipated. He’s willing to go to the edge, playing with ideas, trying innovative approaches, and when it doesn’t always work, it’s always interesting.  

Tarantino moves through Hollywood like Lt. Col. Kilgore in Apocalypse Now:  “He was one of those guys that had that weird light around him. You just knew he wasn’t going to get so much as a scratch here.” And so ever has it been, at least for the last 21 years. 

Fans of his films will delight in Wood’s documentary, reveling in revisiting the films and hoping anxiously that there is a lot more QT down the road.

QT8 can be seen in theaters on October 21st and tickets are available at Fathom Events.