All about Tarantino
“Forget it, it’s too risky”
With these five words, Tarantino reels his audience in for a cinematic treat that is Pulp Fiction. His quirky characters, witty dialogue, non-linear plot, profanity, references to pop culture and, of course, the obligatory bloodbath, are all part of his signature style. But what makes Tarantino greater than the sum of all these elements? What is the thing that brands a film as ‘Tarantinoesque’?
Non-utilitarian dialogue
Where most screenwriters decide “less is more”, where “white space is as important as black ink”, Tarantino does the opposite. His movies are packed with punning, humorous, smart dialogue. These realistic conversations give us insight into the characters, their idiosyncrasies, and what makes them tick. Be it the back and forth between Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield about Royale with Cheese, or analyzing Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” in Reservoir Dogs, the mundane, everyday conversation breathes life into the characters.
His own tweaked Universe
Tarantino delves into minutiae, making his story authentic and all the more real. Although they don’t exist in reality, everyone who has watched Pulp Fiction knows the fictitious Bible passage recited by Jules Winnfield, or how the five-dollar shake is a pretty fucking good milkshake. Be it the Big Kahuna burger or the Red Apple Cigarettes, these fictitious products makes the cinematic universe his own, allowing leeway to tell alternate reality stories, say the death of Hitler or the Manson Murders.
Creation of Character
Across thousands of characters introduced to audiences in cinema each year, the Bride’s yellow tracksuit from Kill Bill or the rope burns around Aldo Raine’s neck from Inglourious Basterds, stand out. But a signature isn’t enough. He keeps in mind the essence of the actor when writing his characters, channeling their style and molding them into a new person. Christopher Waltz’s two iconic dramatis personae, Col. Hans Landa and Dr. King Shultz, both embody his charming nature and affinity for witty speech. By infusing his actor’s personality into the character, and giving them wiggle room to flesh out the gaps, he inspires exceptional performances.
Suspense
Lt. Archie Hicox has just ordered three whiskies, but he fails to use the traditional German sign for three. Major Hellstrom notices.
In the dilapidated farmhouse of Monsieur LaPadite, Col. Hans Landa smokes his calabash, making casual conversation, slowly but surely, confirming his suspicions about a family of Jews hiding beneath the very floorboards he stands upon.
Calvin Candie realizes that he has been taken for a fool. He brings out a skull to demonstrate that he is anything but one.
Skilled at ratcheting the tension to unbelievable levels, Tarantino allows the moment to marinate. He’s a man who knows to keep his audience at the edge of their seat, and daring to do the unconventional and the uncomfortable. Through his morally ambiguous characters and his predilection for aesthetic violence, we’ve learned to expect the unexpected as an audience.
His unabashed approach to inducing kinetic mayhem on screen is what makes his films distinguished. His bold, energetic style leaves a seismic impact on fully loaded cinema and this is what turns them into trademarked Tarantino films.
