Acclaimed directorQuentin Tarantinoclaims that television is less memorable than movies, and uses hit westernYellowstoneas a modern example. Tarantino shot to global prominence as a pioneer of American independent cinema of the 1990s, with his directorial debutReservoir Dogsachieving critical acclaim in 1991. His follow-upPulp Fiction’s ensemble castcemented his status as a wunderkind writer-director who excelled at juggling multiple storylines and actors, and his auteur status has helped single him out as one of the most iconic and interesting directors in the industry, and he is well-known for his stylish movies and outspoken opinions.
PerIndie Wire, in a recent appearance onThe Joe Rogan Experience,Tarantino spoke about his views on the state of modern television, and dubsYellowstoneas being “just a soap opera.“He elaborates on his views about TV in general, and how it has become more cinematic in recent years, and how the characters tend to play greater prominence than the storyline. Check out Tarantino’s full comments below:
Everyone talks about how great television is now. And it’s pretty good, I gotta say. But it’s still television to me. What’s the difference between television and a good movie? Because a lot of TV now has the patina of a movie. They’re using cinematic language to get you caught up in it. I didn’t really get around to watching ‘Yellowstone’ the first three years or so. Then I watch the first season and I’m like ‘Wow, this is fcking great!’ I’ve always been a big Kevin Costner fan, he’s fcking wonderful in this.’
And I get really caught up in the show, I’m having a great time watching, And the first season, I’m kind of talking like, ‘Oh, this is like a big movie. While I’m watching it, I’m compelled. But at the end of the day it’s just a soap opera. They introduce you to a bunch of characters, you learn their backstories, you know everybody’s connection with everyone else… and then everything else is just your connection to the soap opera.
What These Comments Mean For Tarantino’s Potential Venture Into TV
It Now Feels Unlikely The Director Will Explore TV Projects
Tarantino has always been a staunch defender of movies as the ultimate mediumfor viewers to enjoy, but he has spoken positively about television in the past, with the director known to be a fan of TV shows likeRawhideandKung Fu. He has also made a couple of appearances behind the camera in scripted television shows in the past, directing episodes of both medical dramaER, in 1995, and atwo-part episode ofCSI: Crime Scene Investigation, in 2005.
If Tarantino works in TV after retiring from filmmaking, it could well be in the form of a miniseries or limited series, as opposed to a multi-season show.
However, it seems that his views on TV have hardened in recent times, andhis current comments suggest that he may not be interested in a return to the small screen, as he had previously suggested. Conversely, his reveal that he enjoyedYellowstoneseason 1suggests that Tarantino does enjoy long-form storytelling, and the cinematic nature of Taylor Sheridan’s writing and imagination has made the show a hit. But it has not been without problems, and the Kevin Costner controversy has, in some ways, dwarfed the narrative legacy of the series.
Our Verdict On Tarantino’s Comments
The Enigmatic Director Will Always Favor Movies
Tarantino’s comments do have a degree of truth to them, and with such a vast range of TV shows being produced these days, production companies seem to be trying to make things more cinematic, which is not always a good thing. He clearly favors a more contained story that begins and ends in a finite time period, instead of sprawling shows that span multiple years, and sometimes lose their way narratively. IfTarantinoworks in TV after retiring from filmmaking, it could well be in the form of a miniseries or limited series, as opposed to a multi-season show.
Source:Indie Wire
Quentin Tarantino
Discover the latest news and filmography for Quentin Tarantino, known for Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill.
