Cinema Speculation
 First edition cover | |
| Author | Quentin Tarantino |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Edoardo Ballerini Quentin Tarantino |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Film |
| Publisher | Harper |
Publication date | November 1, 2022 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 400 |
| ISBN | 978-0-06-311258-2 |
| OCLC | 1348950198 |
Cinema Speculation is a 2022 nonfiction book by American filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, published by Harper on November 1, 2022.
Background
[edit]Cinema Speculation is Tarantino's debut work of nonfiction and combines "film criticism, film theory, a feat of reporting, and wonderful personal history."[1] The book is a collection of essays organized around "key American films from the 1970s" which Tarantino saw in his youth,[2] ranging from blaxploitation films to all the Best Picture nominees of 1970.[3] It was inspired by the film writing of critic Pauline Kael.[4]
Contents
[edit]The first and last chapters are autobiographical. Two other chapters are a homage to film critic Kevin Thomas, and a comparison of two generations of film-makers. The rest of the chapters are essays about the following films:
- Bullitt
- Dirty Harry
- Deliverance
- The Getaway (1972)
- The Outfit
- Sisters
- Daisy Miller
- Taxi Driver (two chapters)
- Rolling Thunder
- Paradise Alley
- Escape from Alcatraz
- Hardcore
- The Funhouse
Publication
[edit]The book was initially scheduled to be published on October 25, 2022;[5] Cinema Speculation was published by Harper on November 1, 2022.[6] It is the second book in a two-book deal Tarantino signed with HarperCollins in 2020.[4] Tarantino promoted the book with a nationwide book tour.[7] The book's cover features a photograph of Steve McQueen with director Sam Peckinpah on the set of the 1972 action crime thriller The Getaway.[8]
Reception
[edit]Cinema Speculation received favorable reviews, with a cumulative "Rave" rating at the review aggregator website Book Marks, based on twelve book reviews from mainstream literary critics.[9] The book debuted at number five on The New York Times nonfiction best-seller list for the week ending November 5, 2022.[10] Kirkus Reviews gave the book a starred review, writing, "Whether you agree with his assessments or not, he provides the original reporting and insights only a veteran director would notice, and his engaging style makes it impossible to leave an essay without learning something."[11] The Daily Telegraph reviewer Jasper Rees gave the book 3 out of 5 stars, writing, "At times it's like leafing through yellowing back issues of Screen International. At others you feel Tarantino would have made a brilliant Tinseltown gossip columnist."[12]
See also
[edit]- New Hollywood
- Exploitation film
- American independent cinema
- Cinephilia
- A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies - 1995 documentary film similar in content
References
[edit]- ^ Zilko, Christian (May 29, 2022). "Quentin Tarantino Announces Film History Book 'Cinema Speculation' Coming This Fall". IndieWire. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ Shutler, Ali (May 30, 2022). "Quentin Tarantino to release new book 'Cinema Speculation' later this year". NME. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ Quentin Tarantino's "Cinema Speculation" Is an Obsessive Insider's View of Hollywood|The New Yorker
- ^ a b Shaffer, Claire (November 17, 2020). "Quentin Tarantino Lands Book Deal, Including "Once Upon a Time in...Hollywood" Novelization". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- ^ "Quentin Tarantino book 'Cinema Speculation' to land Oct. 25". Associated Press. May 27, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ "Cinema Speculation". HarperCollins. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ Raup, Jordan (October 5, 2022). "Quentin Tarantino to Embark on Nationwide Book Tour for Cinema Speculation". The Film Stage. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ Williams, Owen (May 30, 2022). "Quentin Tarantino's Cinema Speculation To Be Published This Autumn". Empire. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ "Book Marks reviews of Cinema Speculation by Quentin Tarantino". Book Marks. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ "Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction". The New York Times. November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ "Cinema Speculation by Quentin Tarantino". Kirkus Reviews. October 27, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- ^ Rees, Jasper (November 1, 2022). "Cinema Speculation by Quentin Tarantino review: like a monologue from a relentless 19-year-old geek". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.