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Something about me? I have been a nerdy cinephile for as long as I can remember. Putting the two together is living my best life. That notwithstanding, I was born to express, not to impress, so I blog because I don't have friends. In other news, I like hashtags because they look like waffles, prefer my puns intended, and I always give 100% unless I'm donating blood. Thanks for reading.
When Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese were hating, we dealt with it but this Quentin Tarantino hypocrisy is just getting stale. Stop me if this sounds familiar: Quentin Tarantino walks into a podcast to pour gasoline all over the comic book movie craze. He lights it on fire and roasts marshmallows.
That was November 4 of this year when he sat down with the Los Angeles Times. And now, the indie film storytelling wunderkind is back at it. This time, the actual actors are in his sanctimonious crosshairs, as he spewed his vitriol on the “2 Bears 1 Cave” podcast, hosted by Tom Segura.
Tarantino’s focus was supposed to be “Who are the real movie stars in Hollywood,” but the man got sidetracked by spandex.
“I mean that is one of the — and I’m not even putting them down frankly, to tell you the truth. But that is one of the — the legacy of the Marvel-ization of Hollywood movies,” said Tarantino.
“You love these movies, these Marvel movies,” Segura joked.
“I don’t love them. No, I don’t — I don’t hate them. All right. But I don’t love them. Right. I mean, look, I used to collect Marvel comics like crazy when I was a kid,” Tarantino said.
Stand back, CBM fans. That smell filling your nostrils is someone’s pants on fire.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
(Credit: Mariah Tauger/Los Angeles Times)
Mediaite wrote it best when the publication shared: “Quentin Tarantino is once again targeting the superhero film market for warping Hollywood beyond recognition.” He truly believes that, even though he is credited for being one of the master architects of Hollywood storytelling.
Let’s not take anything away from the legendary mind that brought us Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Django Unchained, and Kill Bill, Vol. 1 (my personal Tarantino Mount Rushmore). He’s brilliant, but the guy’s short-term memory just isn’t what it used to be.
As we offered earlier this month, this circus ringmaster against Marvel and DC films is also the person who:
- Had an impressive collection of comic books as a child
- Wanted to make a Luke Cage and Silver Surfer movie before any cinematic universe was forged
- Created his own comic books about a Django and Zorro crossover
So, there’s that.
Back in 2019, Coppola, Scott, and Scorsese noted their grievances against CBMs. Well, it was more of a “Get off my lawn” diatribe, but it was clear they were vexed with how comic book characters have stormed Hollywood. Since then, Quentin Tarantino has piled on that bandwagon and gone on a podcast tour. Here’s another tidbit from the Tom Segura interview:
Part of the Marvel-ization of Hollywood is… you have all these actors who have become famous playing these characters. But they’re not movie stars. Right? Captain America is the star. Or Thor is the star. I mean, I’m not the first person to say that. I think that’s been said a zillion times, you know, but, you know, but it’s like, you know, it’s these franchise characters that become a star.
The Tarantino Paradox
To use the Seinfeld reference, it’s like cheering for laundry. The director’s thoughts are people don’t go to the movies to cheer for Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Robert Pattinson, Henry Cavill, or Chadwick Boseman. The goal is to see the superhero. At least, in his mind.
Good point. Only two things: Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix.
They won Oscars for their performances! Black Panther and Joker were nominated for Best Picture. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, a golden statue usually reserved for whatever Disney and Pixar are pedaling.
It’s difficult to say those people are not actors when they have been in the conversation to be named among the best Hollywood has to offer. True, many go to the movies to see the “character,” but they go back to see the actors.
(See Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart in Logan, Michael B. Jordan in Black Panther, RDJ in Avengers: Endgame, or even Michael Caine in Batman Begins.)
The actors in CBMs are among some of the most famous in Tinseltown, and–this is what we are really talking about–the movies are some of the most profitable. We get it. The aforementioned directors are some of the most prolific auteurs in cinematic history. It’s not like moviemaking has passed them by, but damn, c’mon. Their pants are down and their back ends are showing.
If you’re interested in hearing Quentin Tarantino drop trou and show CBM fans how he really looks, the podcast is below. (It’s actually a good conversation, aside from the “hypocratic” oath.)
Something about me? I have been a nerdy cinephile for as long as I can remember. Putting the two together is living my best life. That notwithstanding, I was born to express, not to impress, so I blog because I don't have friends. In other news, I like hashtags because they look like waffles, prefer my puns intended, and I always give 100% unless I'm donating blood. Thanks for reading.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.