Tarantino

Episode 67 – Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Novelization

Quentin Tarantino's ethos was once described, efficiently, by the online writer Film Crit Hulk thusly: “Never hate a movie.” That ethos never had a better distillation than the film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood except for one joyous example — its novelization. On this episode I’m joined again by Tyler Coates and Ted Haycraft to discuss the expansion of the beloved movie. We talk:

  • the “literary” value of Tarantino’s prose;

  • how Tarantino mixes film criticism with that prose;

  • which character benefits most from the novel’s expansion of the film;

  • and why part the value of Tarantino releasing something new is his promotional circuit interviews.

Also:

  • The reputation the 2019 film has developed two years out;

  • the (innocuous?) oddity of there being no people of color in the movie;

  • how the movie will likely age if its historical context is forgotten;

  • and the fates of the characters after the end credits and last page.

Tyler Coates is currently an editor for the Hollywood Reporter. Past work has appeared in The Awl, Brooklyn Magazine, Esquire, GOOD, Gothamist, Nylon, Out, Town & Country, and the Village Voice. His work can also be found out at his website.

The paperback novel of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is currently available from Harper Collins.

Episode 54 – 'Miami Blues'

Four years before Pulp Fiction set off a trend of quirky, violent crime films in the ’90s, writer/director George Armitage adapted the first of Charles Willeford’s Hoke Moseley novels with this violent, titularly Miami-based gem starring a gorgeous and unhinged Alec Baldwin. On this episode former guests Kyle Smith and Tyler Savage discuss:

  • this 1990 Jonathan Demme-produced film;

  • its exuberant personality;

  • the long-lasting influence of Willeford (Tarantino initially said he was aiming for the author with Pulp Fiction);

  • and Armitage’s career from Roger Corman, Gross Point Blank, and the chaotically studio-edited The Big Bounce.

Also:

  • Fred Ward’s late-’80s/early-’90s streak;

  • alternate castings over the years for Hoke Moseley;

  • whether Jennifer Jason Leigh is playing an under- or overage sex worker;

  • and the rise and fall of that ’90s crime film trend.

Kyle Smith is writer/director of the films Blue Highway and Turkey Bowl, which debuted at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival. Currently in development on his third feature, you can find Kyle and his film thoughts on Letterboxd.

After playing the festival circuit in a pandemic-ravaged festival season, Tyler Savage’s second directed-feature, Stalker, which he also co-wrote, will be released Vertical Entertainment in early 2021. Savage also wrote/directed Inheritance, along with associate producer credits on Song to Song, Knight of Cups, and Voyage of Time.

Miami Blues is available on Blu-ray from Shout! Factory (though it’s sold out on their website) and streaming on Amazon Prime.