Quentin Tarantino is one of the most renowned directors, known for his distinct style of filmmaking involving extended use of strong language and violent action sequences. With movies like Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and Inglorious Bastards, he is both a critically and commercially successful face of Hollywood. But the director had a tough time when his 2007 movie failed miserably at the box office.
Released as a part of a double feature titled Grindhouse, Tarantino’s Death Proof is considered to be the worst Quentin Tarantino movie. Although the filmmaker’s worst movie is also superior to most other works, it had a huge impact on him until another director entered into the narrative and uplifted him from that condition.
Who helped Quentin Tarantino at his lowest?
It is the late English filmmaker Tony Scott who came to help Quentin Tarantino at a time when the Pulp Fiction director saw his career in a very bad position. In a double feature organized by Backstory’s Jeff Goldsmith at the LA Film School in Hollywood to pay tribute to the late director, Tarantino revealed how the Top Gun director came to his rescue.
It was after the release of the 60-year-old filmmaker’s Death Proof. Released alongside Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror as a part of the double feature Grindhouse domestically and as separate movies internationally, none of them worked. Despite moderate to positive reviews, it was a commercial failure.
Reportedly, Death Proof is the most unsuccessful movie in the Oscar-winning director’s career. While speaking about Tony Scott, Quentin Tarantino revealed that he was completely broken after the movie – “I was feeling pretty bad. I felt like the planet Earth had broken up with me.” His True Romance collaborator got his back and assured him that the next one would be better.
The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood director was also taught a valuable lesson by Tony Scott who advised him to feel lucky that he can do the job the way he wants to no matter whether people show up or not- “Maybe people don’t show up. But you’re able to do the work you want to do.”
Quentin Tarantino loved Tony Scott’s works
Quentin Tarantino collaborated with Ridley Scott’s brother on the project True Romance where the Jackie Brown director wrote the screenplay for the 1993 film. According to the filmmaker, the script was not the same as he submitted and was altered in some places but he was not displeased as it not only improved the movie but also resulted in a critical and commercial success.
Tarantino also spoke highly about the late director and expressed his love and admiration by stating- “I loved his sh*t”. Scott was a role model for him and Tarantino admitted that he can never stop praising Scott. He also added that the latter never got the admiration he deserved from the people.
Death Proof can be streamed on Apple TV+.
Source: IndieWire
