The Worst:
5. Death Proof
In 2007 Tarantino paired with director Robert Rodriquez (Sin City, Desperado) to create something to pay homage to bloody exploitation pictures of the 60s and 70s. The result is "Grindhouse," a double feature containing the films Planet Terror (directed by Rodriquez) and "Death Proof" (helmed by QT). But after a brilliant first-half effort from Rodriguez, "Death Proof" paled in comparison and that element of dialog that the director is famous for seemed lacking and slowed the movie down to a snail's pace. Stuntman Mike's (Kurt Russell) car is awesome though, and the final showdown car chase was fantastic, but after an hour of boring dialog it proved too little, too late.
4. From Dusk Till Dawn
Ireland didn't think too highly of this film due to its harsh content. The film, screenplay by Tarantino and directed by longtime friend Robert Rodriguez, was about two brothers that escape from a court hearing and make a run to Mexico. While in Mexico, they encounter blood-thirsty Vampires in a strip joint. Despite featuring gore-mastermind Tom Savini it only grossed $25 million. It was released in 1996, and the Emerald Isle released its ban on the film in 2000.
3. Four Rooms
A sloppily pieced together series of vignettes about a hotel bellhop and the four rooms he visits during his first night on the job, Tarantino's portion of the film centers on whether or not someone can get a Zippo lighter to light 10 times in a row. The results are hilarious and the film has its moments, but on the heels of "Pulp Fiction's" release it was unexpected and seemed out of place for QT.
2. Destiny Turns On The Radio
Bad plot, bad acting, unbelievable ending. Quentin Tarantino plays Johnny Destiny and keeps showing up to guide people along the proper paths. If you think this sounds out of place for QT, it is. Perhaps if he had written the screenplay for it instead of just starring in it the film might have been a better effort, but that's unlikely.
1. Natural Born Killers
Tarantino was one of four screenwriters on Oliver Stone's film that glorified serial killers. The story of Mickey and Mallory Knox, played by Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis, satirized mass murder and portrayed the media as a hunger driven, unapologetic beast. This attention whoring couple that loves violence as much as each other seeks fame and glory by brutally murdering people in an attempt to keep the tabloid media sated with stories of their antics. Robert Downey Jr. stars as Wayne Gale, a reporter more interested in getting the big stories from and about the couple, than respecting their victims.
Natural Born Killers is a modern-day telling of Bonnie and Clyde, only instead of having main characters that one can sympathize with and even come to like, Killers' killers are nothing short of despicable. Throw in ridiculous, over-the-top killings; such as the gruesome murder of Mallory's parents-- carried out as a game show parody-- and it makes this attempt at satirizing the media and the American public's attitude toward violence just an uncomfortable ride along a cold-hearted killing spree.
Up next for QT is a major project he's been working on for years: a loose remake of the 1978 WWII drama Inglorious Bastards, about a group of American soldiers due for court-martial who escape and become unsung heroes in the war. This one is due in 2010, and Tarantino will reteam with perennial favorites Tim Roth and Michael Madsen. Rumor has it that it may be released as a miniseries instead of in theaters due to its epic six-hour length; or it may be split up like Kill Bill was. Stay tuned to find out if it makes either of the two aforementioned lists!
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