The modern film industry has very much become the era of the director; a period in which the names of popular filmmakers are enough to sell films. One of today's most influential filmmakers is Quentin Tarantino, the acclaimed director behind Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Inglorious Basterds, Django Unchained and this Christmas's The Hateful Eight. In a recent interview with Vulture, Tarantino took the time to discuss the future of cinema.
"The trick is to try to be way ahead of that curve, so they're not chuckling at your movies 20 years down the line," said Tarantino. "With Pulp Fiction, people were like, "Wow, I have never seen a movie like that before. A movie can do that?" I don't think that's the case anymore."
Tarantino's films, namely Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, ushered in a new era in which studios looked to independent filmmakers. While Tarantino is continually supportive of indie films and self-financed production, he doesn't believe that blockbuster cinema is the enemy.
"My pessimism isn't about franchise filmmaking," said Tarantino. "That's been going on since I was born. You can talk about Transformers now, but you could talk about the Planet of the Apes movies and James Bond."
Though he's a two time Academy-Award winning screenwriter, Tarantino doesn't necessarily view award season as the final word on the best of film.
"I don't know if we're going to be talking about The Town or The Kids Are All Right or An Education 20 or 30 years from now," he said. "Half of these Cate Blanchett movies - they're all just like these arty things. I'm not saying they're bad movies, but I don't think most of them have a shelf life. But The Fighter or American Hustle - those will be watched in 30 years."
The aforementioned films, The Fighter and American Hustle, were both by director David. O. Russel, who Tarantino calls "the best actor's director, along with myself, working in movies today". While Tarantino still feels a bond with other filmmakers, he doesn't necessarily view it as a competition.
"I'm in competition with myself," he said. "David O. Russell can have the biggest hit of the year, and that doesn't take anything away from me. I couldn't have been happier that Rick Linklater was at the Oscars this year."
Though Tarantino's career has been an acclaimed and fruitful one, he's suffered public backlash and controversy for many of his films, namely the use of racial slurs and excessive violence. However, Tarantino moves on with his career despite facing criticism.
"Social critics don't mean a thing to me," he said. "It's really easy to ignore them, because I believe in what I'm doing 100 percent. They might be a drag for a moment, but after that moment is over, it always ends up being gasoline to my fire."
December's The Hateful Eight is set to be Tarantino's eighth film (if both Kill Bill volumes are counted as a single entry), and Tarantino has said that he would like to retire following his tenth feature. Though he puts effort into everything he does, Tarantino hopes his final films will have the most impact upon his legacy.
"It would be wonderful to make my tenth movie my best movie -- go out with a big bang," he said. I just make one thing at a time. There are a few movies I'd like to do, but once I'm done with Hateful Eight and I've had a little time to myself, anything I think I'm going to do now, I know it's what I won't do later. I've got to leave myself open for the right story that talks to me."
While he may only have a few more films left in him, Tarantino's influence on the film industry and pop culture in general is everywhere. His films will stand as classics of their time, and become inspirational sensations for generations hence.
"I'm a legit filmmaker of my generation who's leading the pack," he said. "Before I ever made a movie, my mission statement was that I wanted to make movies that, if young people saw them, it would make them want to make movies. That is one thing I can definitely say I've done."
