Hey, we’re likely to see Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds on quite a few top ten lists this year and we know he’s probably a bigger movie buff than anyone reading this, so it’s only natural he would unleash his personal top movies list as well.
So here he is telling The Hollywood Reporter his favorite films of the year (so far). With Tarantino, it’s not really all that surprising to see Drag Me to Hell on the list and frankly not one I would even want to argue with; great pick! It’s only a top eight so that he has room to potentially add a couple films that he admits to not having seen yet that might make the cut: Avatar, Invictus and The Lovely Bones.
8. An Education
7. Precious
6. Observe and Report
5. Chocolate
4. Up in the Air
3. Funny People
2. Drag Me To Hell
1. Star Trek
The video interview is under the seats if you want to see and hear the man himself “announce” his picks.
Ergh, don’t get me started on Drag Me To Hell. I just don’t get all the praise it’s been getting. I thought it was pretty poor, but absolutely everyone has been kissing it’s arse. I’m probably going to get loads of flack for saying this I imagine. I’d consider myself a Raimi fan, I love the Evil Dead movies and the first two Spiderman movies, but I just couldn’t get into Drag Me To Hell at all. The script was embarrassingly bad, and not in a knowing, funny sort of way, the scares were painfully textbook using OTT music every time, and worst of all was the lead performance by Alison Lohman. She was so bland, the ending made me want to cheer. OK, so the scene with the old lady attacking her in the car was cool, but the rest of the movie just missed the mark totally for me.
Anyway, rant over. Let the backlash begin!
I thought the script was bad totally in a knowing, funny sort of way. The whole thing seemed tongue-in-cheek to me, and I enjoyed just about every second of it. Alison Lohman isn’t very likeable in the film, but her character isn’t supposed to be, I don’t think – makes it rather satisfying at the end, instead of, you know, horrifying. So I guess I kind of agree with what you’re saying, but I think it was intentional, and I enjoyed it.
The person I saw it with is a much bigger horror aficionado than I am, though, and he didn’t enjoy it quite as much. He thought it was pretty derivative.
It’s kind of an interesting list from Tarantino, though – Star Trek and Drag Me to Hell on top, but with An Education thrown on there as well. I shouldn’t be surprised, though – Tarantino’s influences are pretty wide-ranging, shouldn’t be surprising that his tastes are, too.
Yeah I can see where you’re coming from, but I just didn’t think it pulled it off. I didn’t find it funny or scary, so it just sort of failed for me.
But anyway, yeah an interesting list. It’s a bit more mainstream than I’d expect from a geek like Tarantino although it’s nice to see some martial arts in there (Chocolate – got it on DVD, but not had chance to see it yet).
I enjoyed Star Trek too, although I wouldn’t have it so high myself. As I mentioned in a previous post I’ve missed out on loads of the supposedly better films this year though, which is annoying. Going to have to do better next year!
Tarantino always comes up with cool lists. you can tell he really doesn’t give a damn that people might give him crap for having a sci-fi movie, two comedies that critics were split on (observe and report, funny people) and something like Drag Me to Hell.
Hmmm…I was kind-of expecting more foreign picks from him…or maybe I was just hoping. And no District 9?
remember, marc, Tarantino may be rich and famous, but we don’t always get movies over here that they get in other countries until feb. or march. so perhaps he just has not seen the foreign movies that he wanted to see.
True, and I understand all too well – I myself am situated in Toronto. But he WAS at Cannes this year with Inglourious Basterds, so I’m guessing he must’ve seen at least a few of the rarer picks at the festival…
I agree with Marc in that I would’ve expected a few more surprise choices or at least a few other foreign ones. Nothing wrong with his list, just that I expected a film geek like Tarantino to have gone off the beaten track a bit more.
Granted, he has been busy with the release of basterds, so maybe he just doesn’t go searching for HK martial arts films or Ozploitation as much as he used to…
Or he might be tailoring his list to the audience. I do that – if I give my actual top five list to most people who ask me, it would be worthless because they wouldn’t have heard of most of them, and they aren’t asking because they want to run out and rent a bunch of films they haven’t heard of. (Don’t worry, I don’t do that here – you guys get my actual favorites!)
I disagree with your logic jandy, Tarantino above all would most likely delight in dropping an esoteric list if that was what did it for him. That probably is his list. I imagine that he was too busy rushing IB through production and publicity to get into all the nooks and cracks of cinema 2009.
And I certainly believe his admiration for Star Trek and Drag Me To Hell, both of those movies have an emphasis on character action that probably does it for him.
Just my vague guesses on the motivations of the good director.
You’ve got a good point, Kurt. Tarantino isn’t really the type to care about that, is he? I was projecting.
He apparently likes his Seth Rogen.
Well, Seth Rogen is a very likable guy.
YES! I am very pleased to see Observe and Report on his list.
Thats my number one. (and yes Seth Rogen is a very likeable guy.)