Jackie Brown

Nominated for 1 Oscar that year with another 7 wins and 12 nominations was Quentin Tarantino’s Crime-Drama-Thriller ‘Jackie Brown’ starring the foxy Pam Grier. With a run-time of 158 minutes and an estimated budget of $12 million USD this 1997 film not only elevated audience’s heart-rates, but made them hang on every scene as if their own lives depended on it and it quadrupled in profits that year.

Excellent story, execution and exciting dialogue; this film was a magnificent ride into the minds of those who lived ‘fast’ lives and had the ‘street-smarts’ to pull off extraordinary feats. Rated R for strong language, violence, drug use and sexuality, this film is not recommended for children; but adults are sure to not only be entertained but also ask yourself the question how much would you risk to gain the happiness or life you deserve?

Robert De Niro, Samuel L. Jackson, Bridget Fonda, Robert Forster and Chris Tucker all join in on the fun. There isn't one short beat in this film, it's high energy and fast paced from beginning till end. If you like flight-attendants, action and a few laughs, this one makes for a great night of fun!

Pulp Fiction

It's nice to take a trip down memory lane, especially when Tarantino is involved. In 1994, both Quentin  and Robert Avary brought us short fictional stories of crime, drama and thrilling moments by a most appealing cast, John Travolta, Samuel L Jackson, Uma Thurman, Christopher Walken, Bruce Willis, Rosanna Arquette, Phil LaMarr, Ving Rhames and many many others. Laced with the usual violence, heavy drug-use, obscene language and graphic sexual situations; this wildly provocative film won an Oscar that year and another 59 wins and 46 nominations.

With a run-time of 154 minutes, you would think that the audience would lose interest and fast, but this never happens in Tarantino films, because even though the destructiveness may get to you, the dialogue always saves because it is filled of wit, intensity and wisdom. The shots are always unusual, and viewers are vehemently reminded of the passion that went into making these movies.

Tarantino keeps the heart pumping and you on the edge of your seats, he knows what people want and if you're into action, you'll never be dissatisfied. In Los Angeles, there are people who make movies, and then there are people who tell stories so expertly that hit-men, boxers, bandits and gangsters all have lives that intertwine believably.

Django unchained

I can see now why ‘Django Unchained’ was the talk of the town and why my male friends professed over and over again that they needed to re-watch this film. This was 2 and a half hour of pure entertainment! Certainly not what I expected, as it was a glamorous, violent and revengeful type movie stacked full of unpredictable humor, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino (whom you may remember from the series of successful ‘Kill Bill’ movies) and based on the original Django played by Italian Franco Nero nearly 50 years prior this film although adapted from this Western idea proved to be like no other film of its kind because it made a black person ‘Django’ played by Jamie Foxx the hero of the story – in the south – pre-civil war – which is unheard of! It’s difficult to say what genre of film this is because Tarantino carefully melds drama, with action, with comedy, with romance, with so many other things and does so effectively.

With an estimated $100 million USD budget, filmmaker Tarantino gave his audience a widely versed pop soundtrack, exquisite cinematography, laughter, adventure, empowerment and pure un-adulterated show business. He also managed to have a fantastic cast of talented actors to bring his vision to life including the immensely gifted Leonardo DiCaprio, versatile Samuel L. Jackson, hilarious Jonah Hill, beauty Kerry Washington and my favourite German Chistoph Waltz who played ‘Dr. King Shultz; the original Franco Nero as well as Quentin Tarantino also make guest appearances.

Nominated for 5 Oscars, another 20 nominations and 13 wins, it’s easy to say this is becoming the height of Tarantino’s career; and well-deserving. Despite high gore, violence, language and brief nudity, he possesses knowledge on film and pop-culture and knows how to execute what the masses want. It is not only a story of a free-slave post-civil war in America turned bounty hunter to rescue his wife, it is also a story showing how ruthless, jealous, silly humans can be, the pain that was caused and the pain we still continue to cause and how love even then was able to survive and be something worth fighting for! J