Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, best known for films like Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, has had a long career in Hollywood and has definitely left his mark on the film industry. But, he has always maintained that he would be ready to walk away while he is ahead in the game. He had even announced that after making his tenth film, he would quit making movies and has now confirmed that his next film will be his last.
Rumors of Tarantino’s plans to retire have been circulating online for years. However, during an appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher to promote his novel based on his own movie Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood, Tarantino was asked about his decision to retire and the filmmaker revealed he believes it best for one to quit at the peak of their career. Having spent 30 years in the industry, Tarantino is convinced that “directors do not get better."
During the interview, Tarantino even referred to other famous filmmakers, including Don Siegel, and argued that if they had retired at the right time, they would have left a more memorable mark in the industry. In his opinion, Siegel should have ended his career after 1979’s Escape from Alcatraz, but instead, the director went on to make Jinxed and Rough Cut, which did not receive the same amount of positive feedback.
Tarantino has previously referred to his career as a “train boxcar connected to each other." His films so far have repeated similar themes and have been action-packed, not to forget the high levels of violence. Each movie is a great representation of his unique style of filmmaking, which has been highly appreciated by fans and critics alike over the years. Maher, a self-admitted fan of Tarantino's work, urged the filmmaker to reconsider retirement, though the fan-favorite director did not appear to be swayed by the Real Time host.
His resume currently consists of 1992’s Reservoir Dogs, 1994’s Pulp Fiction, 1997’s Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Volume 1 and 2, 2007’s Death Proof, 2009’s Inglourious Basterds, 2012's Django Unchained, 2015’s The Hateful Eight, and 2019’s Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood.
If his next film is indeed his last, fans should expect something equally spectacular from Tarantino. His films are known for having epic climaxes, and the climax of his career shouldn’t be any different. His decision to retire has already spurred a conversation among his fans about what the plot of his last film could be. Whatever it is, Tarantino will not be leaving the industry quietly.
The novelization of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood will be available starting June 29, 2021.
Source: Real Time with Bill Maher