# Of Tarantino's 9 films which do you believe is the best? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [March 22, 2023, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496 "2023-03-22T15:16:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/41 "2023-03-22T20:30:59Z")
Hateful Eight is excellent. I had Pulp ranked first for fairly obvious reasons, but Hateful Eight is very praiseworthy. Perhaps the most interesting element to me is that it’s essentially a bottle episode. Tarantino loves to slap his POV onto genres, and while H8 is his Western, I think it’s perhaps more notable that this is really a properly done bottle episode in how it pretty much takes place entirely in one room. You could argue that Reservoir Dogs is a bottle episode and maybe a more traditional one in that it was really a budget driven choice, but Hateful Eight really uses the concept to drive the story. The claustrophobic aspect ads a ton to the mood and tension of the film. The movie also reminds me of Clue in some regards which is a nice touch. I don’t understand the criticism of the twist at the end. I thought it was well executed and unexpected. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/42 "2023-03-22T20:33:35Z")
_Pulp Fiction_ is possibly my favorite movie of all time, so it was an easy poll for me. I like all of Q’s films, although three (Django Unchained, Hateful 8, and Death Proof) were disappointing because he set the bar so high. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/43 "2023-03-22T21:23:29Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Oh, I’d easily put **Jackie Brown** is his top 2 or 3 in its own right. It’s a great film, even if it isn’t as “typically Tarantino” as his other works. Unsurprisingly for a Tarantino film, the dialogue is top notch. > Pam Grier and Robert Forrester give incredible performances, and it’s almost meditative at points on topics like aging and last chances. It’s a movie with a lot of soul, which isn’t something you always see in his work. Highly recommended. There is almost nothing I can add to this. _Jackie Brown_ is neck and neck with _The Hateful Eight_ as Tarantino’s best film and slips only in wasting De Niro in a role that didn’t utilize his talent. Tarantino showed the screen presence and appeal of Pam Grier, playing a character “on the wrong side of 40” (Grier turned 48 near the end of filming) and the astonishingly deep character acting of Robert Forester in a story about two people reflecting on their mistakes and looking at one final chance go get ahead. But it wasn’t another _Pulp Fiction_, and both critics and the viewing public turned on Tarantino for it. _Reservoir Dogs_ is a not-too-distant third just for the immediacy. The rest of Tarantino’s oeuvre has been blatant homage, overly clever wish fulfillment, and a lot of naked feet. _Pulp Fiction_ had some great scenes (particularly any with Harvey Keitel) but it’s not a great story, and the rest are just indifferent examples of excess in scenery chewing and cinematic bombasticity. I just wonder what Tarantino could have done adapting more of Elmore’s work because he is one of the few directors who seemed to really understand it. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/44 "2023-03-22T21:53:23Z")
As an exercise probably done better elsewhere (and possibly on the Dope before} I wanted to try to map his films to genre while trying to avoid hyphenations and superfluous adjectives. It’s not nearly as clean as I expected. | Movie | Genre | | --- | --- | | Hateful Eight | Western | | Inglourious Basterds | War | | Kill Bill Vols 1 & 2 | Kung Fu | | Death Proof | Grindhouse | | Jackie Brown | | | Django Unchained | | | Once Upon a Time in Hollywood | | | Reservoir Dogs | | | Pulp Fiction | | He doesn’t really have a proper Noir movie. He doesn’t have a true horror movie or slasher film yet, though you could maybe include From Dusk Til Dawn if you wanted to. Most of his films are crime stories but I don’t think that’s a specific enough genre. Reservoir Dogs could be called a heist movie, but the actual heist isn’t in the film, nor is the stereotypical planning and recruiting tropes. Jackie Brown teases some Blacksploitation concepts but doesn’t really fit the mold, which I think is the point. Django is kind of a slavery movie, but I don’t know if that qualifies as a genre. Pulp Fiction suggests pulp comics, but the movie doesn’t really fit a genre which is probably why it’s considered revolutionary. What did I miss? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/45 "2023-03-22T21:58:50Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > What did I miss? All but Django of the uncategorized are pulpy True Crime. (“True” in that genre was ironic long before Tarantino was even born). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/46 "2023-03-22T22:02:49Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Inglorius Bastereds by a mile. Fun, funny, thrilling. Great villain. It’s an amazing movie. Yes. And also, [the opening scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0dAqhxfvlg) is an absolute masterpiece. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/47 "2023-03-22T22:47:24Z")
I went with the **Kill Bills** (Kills Bill?). I love Tarantino, but one thing I’ve never liked about him is his casual sadism. Weirdly enough, despite their ridiculous body counts, the Kill Bill films are possibly his _least_ sadistic movies. Also, they’re great action films - really, his only action films - and I like action more than I like the other genres he works in. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/48 "2023-03-22T23:01:10Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > > [@Mahaloth](#): > > > > Inglorius Bastereds by a mile. Fun, funny, thrilling. Great villain. It’s an amazing movie. > > Yes. And also, [the opening scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0dAqhxfvlg) is an absolute masterpiece Okay, you all have convinced me. I’m going to watch it. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/49 "2023-03-22T23:04:55Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Okay, you all have convinced me. I’m going to watch it. I’d love to hear your thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/50 "2023-03-22T23:31:11Z")
I have never seen Jackie Brown, and strangely it’s not available streaming anywhere. Anybody know why? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/51 "2023-03-22T23:47:09Z")
No, though I kind of hated that movie. It failed to capture my attention entirely. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/52 "2023-03-22T23:50:39Z")
I found a reddit post saying it has to do with Miramax trying to consolidate the streaming rights of all its films. So as licenses expire they’re not immediately selling the rights to another service. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/53 "2023-03-23T00:14:06Z")
I’m enjoying this thread. I did a little searching but don’t see anything similar for other notable directors like Wes Anderson, Scorsese, Coen Bros, Kubrick, Hitchcock…there’s a bunch of them. We recently ran though this with bands. With that said, I have a hankering to rewatch Tarantino’s movies. I have a newly remodeled basement, new couch (well, will Friday), new TV and sound system. Only problem is we are entering the lighted, non-snowy part of the year when I want to be outside. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/54 "2023-03-23T00:37:10Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Django is kind of a slavery movie, but I don’t know if that qualifies as a genre. Tarantino said he considers it a “Southern.” ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/55 "2023-03-23T01:34:13Z")
Maybe so, but I’m pretty sure there’s no “Southern” carousel on any of the streaming services. It’s a bit contrived. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/56 "2023-03-23T03:34:07Z")
What I love about it is for one brief moment, I thought they were about to go full Sci-Fi (The Thing trappings)…I thought they’d managed to hide the twist. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/57 "2023-03-23T03:59:02Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I love Tarantino, but one thing I’ve never liked about him is his casual sadism. That’s why I hate The Hateful 8, except I think it is the actors he’s being sadistic to. “How much will they take because they think we’re making art?” Apparently, a LOT. “Spill some more blood on them!” ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/58 "2023-03-23T05:55:40Z")
I thought Once Upon A Time… dragged a lot and gave me the impression QT had made it for himself rather than anyone else, more so than any of his other films. The Bruce Lee bit was just embarrassing. It was definitely the most disappointed I’ve been watching a QT film, although I wouldn’t argue with anyone who says Deathproof is worse. I’ve also never had the slightest urge to watch KB1 or KB2 again after initially seeing them in the cinema. I always enjoy watching IB, as someone else said, the set pieces are terrific. JB I went years without seeing after the first time, so when I watched it again I enjoyed it as a new film virtually. You can sort of tell it’s not an original QT story. I think it was the first time I ever saw a ‘15’ certificate at the cinema and I remember it was a bit of a thrill to do so. Django, well it is too long, but I think I like it, mostly because Sam Jackson is just magnificent in it. And I really rate LDC so that helps. RD I can see why it set QT down the road of superstardom, but it never really grabbed me particularly. H8, I saw on Netflix because the cinema chain I was a member of had a dispute with the distributor, must’ve been his first film since Deathproof I had only seen on the small screen. Maybe that affected my view of it, but I don’t remember being blown away and can barely remember the story, despite it being relatively recent. Pulp Fiction is my favourite. Someone further up the thread was trying to classify the films by genre. I’d put PF under comedy as it makes me laugh, a lot. I must’ve seen it at least half a dozen times. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/59 "2023-03-23T09:23:59Z")
I don’t have time or attention span to read all the responses, so I apologize if any of this has already been brought up. First of all, I read an interview with him long ago (that I’m far too lazy to try and find right now) that kill bill 1&2 only counts as 1 movie. And Deathproof doesn’t count at all. And speaking of Deathproof, of the few comments I did read in this thread, you all seem to hate it because it’s bad. But that was the WHOLE POINT. Both Planet Terror and Deathproof were SUPPOSED to be horrible homages to horrible grindhouse schlock. And both of them were brilliantly ridiculous and terrible. Which I count as a win. But anyway, here’s my order… Depending on my mood, all of these are tied for first… Pulp fiction/inglorious basterds/Jackie brown A nebulous “second place” goes to Hateful eight (the extended Netflix version), Django unchained, Reservoir dogs. If Deathproof counts, then Deathproof. Then Kill Bill 2, then 1. Both of which I still enjoyed, but they get worse each time I see them. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496/60 "2023-03-23T13:26:42Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > you all seem to hate it because it’s bad. But that was the WHOLE POINT. That’s…not really a defense! There’s bad, and then there’s _bad_. DP was the second. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-tarantinos-9-films-which-do-you-believe-is-the-best/981496.md?page=4)