Quentin Tarantino Critiques Modern Cinema

Oscar-winning filmmaker Quentin Tarantino recently expressed his discontent with contemporary movies, calling them “simply stupid.” He reflected on how his fondness for going to the cinema has diminished, saying, “These days, the idea of what a movie is inspires more contempt than tolerance.” Tarantino compared recent films unfavorably to those from the 1980s, claiming they seem almost as antiquated as films from the 1930s.

He acknowledged that while the ’80s films weren’t great, he could “forgive” them because he had a genuine love for the moviegoing experience back then.

It’s interesting—Tarantino has a reputation for not liking 1980s films, a stance that some may find debatable. However, there’s more nuance. He noted, “Since the pandemic…it feels like there’s hardly a new film that hasn’t been dissected to death. Flaws and miscast actors ruin too many releases from what I call the tasteless sausage factory of Hollywood.”

He did mention a few films he enjoyed after the pandemic, such as the 2021 remake of West Side Story and Horizon: An American Saga (Chapters 1 and 2, projected for 2024). Yet, he confessed that nothing quite recaptured the magic he used to feel, which is why he finds solace in reading books these days.

One film that stood out for him was The Rip, a Netflix thriller starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Tarantino praised it as an exciting police drama, commending both Joe Carnahan’s direction and the impressive cast, particularly highlighting the script’s excellence.

However, he wasn’t shy about his mixed feelings towards other films. He found The Rip somewhat forgettable and holds no desire to watch another rendition of West Side Story—although he appreciates Kevin Costner’s contribution in that version. Tarantino mentioned there’s a second chapter to Horizon, but it hasn’t been released yet.

Reflecting more broadly on the film industry, he noted a decline in quality since President George W. Bush’s presidency, particularly after his re-election in 2004. According to him, the industry became more ideologically driven and dismissive of its audience, leading to a decline in quality. He lamented that post-pandemic, things have worsened even further.

Tarantino pointed out that 2019 was Hollywood’s last decent year, with a lineup that included hits like Joker, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Uncut Gems. Although that year had its share of poor films, he considers it a standout in over ten years. Since then, he feels like each successive year has been a struggle, only marked by a few exceptions like Top Gun: Maverick.

While the full text of Tarantino’s critique hasn’t been published yet, it seems he alludes to the core issue in Hollywood being a kind of laziness. He touches on “audience pandering,” which seems to echo this sentiment. He argues that Hollywood’s focus on identity politics has undermined genuine storytelling, making films less relatable and impactful. He believes that a movie must convey the truth of the human experience to resonate, and if it fails to do that, it simply won’t work. In short, he suggests that audiences can easily sense when a film lacks authenticity.