One of the dumbest things Quentin Tarantino ever did was set a limit to the number of films he would make. People change, circumstances change and storytellers want to tell stories. For years, QT has said that he only wants to make ten films (as a director) and then he’ll retire and do other things. While I understand why he would tell himself that, I don’t get why he continues to put that entirely arbitrary limit on himself publicly. In any case, he has announced his tenth and “final” film: The Movie Critic. It’s rumored to be another period piece, likely about the infamous critic Pauline Kael (or a character a lot like Kael).
Quentin Tarantino is back for the last time. The filmmaker behind some of the most indelible movies of the past three decades, Pulp Fiction and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood among them, is putting together what sources say is being billed as his final movie.
The Movie Critic is the name of the script that Tarantino wrote and is prepping to direct this fall, according to sources.
Logline details are being kept in a suitcase, but sources describe the story as being set in late 1970s Los Angeles with a female lead at its center.
It is possible the story focuses on Pauline Kael, one of the most influential movie critics of all time. Kael, who died in 2001, was not just a critic but also an essayist and novelist. She was known for her pugnacious fights with editors as well as filmmakers. In the late 1970s, Kael had a very brief tenure working as a consultant for Paramount, a position she accepted at the behest of actor Warren Beatty. The timing of that Paramount job seems to coincide with the setting of the script — and the filmmaker is known to have a deep respect for Kael, making the odds of her being the subject of the film more likely.
The project does not have a studio home; it could go out to studios or buyers as early as this week, according to sources. One frontrunner could be Sony, where Tarantino has a tight relationship with topper Tom Rothman. Sony distributed Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, the filmmaker’s 2019 opus on 1960s moviemaking, and also gave him a unique deal in which the copyright reverts to him over time. Hollywood also won two Oscars after nabbing 10 nominations and grossed over $377 million worldwide.
The rumor going around is that Tarantino has cast Jessica Chastain in the lead, although that doesn’t seem to be confirmed by any of the trade papers? If this is set in the 1970s and it’s about the film industry and movie critics… well, there’s a potential for an exciting ensemble. I wasn’t a huge fan of the ensemble on Once Upon a Time – it seemed a bit janky and hodge-podge, especially with the way Tarantino cast the Manson family, and I still shudder at Tarantino casting Damian Lewis for a cameo as Steve McQueen. How utterly random. Anyway, it will be interesting to see if The Movie Critic does end up being Tarantino’s final film.
people keep saying Tarantino won't really retire and maybe he won't, but dude's been almost comically stone-cold serious about retiring at 60 for almost 15 years pic.twitter.com/BChgWEMmCD
— Brendan Hodges (@metaplexmovies) March 15, 2023
QUENTIN TARANTINO’S final movie is rumoured to be based on movie critic PAULINE KAEL.
Here she is speaking to DICK CAVETT in 1971 about the state of the movie industry.
Who do you think would be a good fit to play her? pic.twitter.com/ifj4bi3Elt
— James Leighton (@JamesL1927) March 15, 2023
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
So is he gonna go for a A lister or is he gonna go for someone who looks like Keel.
Because, and I hate to write this, Jenny Slate would be a better choice.
Meryl is the obvious choice but I like Sigourney Weaver.
As Lizzie Bennett said to Mr. Darcy – “Pay me the compliment of believing what I say.”
Margo Martindale!
Good choice for the tail end of Keel’s life. If the film starts back in earlier parts of her life, a younger actress will also be needed.
Melanie Lynskey
I’m glad he publicly said ten movies only. It means I will live to see the day when there will be no more new Tarantino movies.
There’s already some established leeway in the 10. There was some talked that QT wanted to direct a Star Trek movie and it would not count as one of the 10 (a number he’s been talking about for years). So the thought of him directing film he didn’t write for a quick payday or him experimenting with a prestige TV-type project is not terribly far-fetched.
I’m sorry. My hubs loves his movies. I hope he sticks to his plan. Blech.
This is a man who confessed that he knew his one-time girlfriend and supposed friend were both sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein, yet said nothing and continued to make movies with the rapist. Go away Quentin.
Yes that’s him .
He also said that Roman Polanski did rape his 13 year old victim she was “ willing participant”
I meet did not rape
Ahh. I know he’s problematic AF but I can’t help it – I bloody love a Tarantino film! OUATIH left me a bit ‘hmm’ on first watch but it’s really grown on me and I think it’s brilliant now. And Pulp Fiction is untouchable to me. Django also amazing. I also think Jessica Chastain is incredible so I’m very excited about this possible casting!
People focused too much on Pitt and Margaret Qualley, in my opinion the best part of that movie is the relationship between the girl and DiCaprio’s character. I still get emotional in the “that’s the best acting I’ve ever seen” scene. And of course, the ending.
I would cast Olivia Coleman to play her if it’s based off of the real person.
But I also thought Mindy Kaling.
I know that’s very random, but I would really want to see Mindy’s range. And to see her in something more serious, with a good director pushing her out of her comfort zone.
However, I don’t think Mindy has the gravitas that someone like Tarantino probably wants.
It will probably end up being like Florence Pugh, or someone young.
Pauline Kael was so irreplaceable that after I see a new movie, I wonder what she would have thought of it. She would have been delighted to see more POC creators and projects out there. (would have been interesting to see what she thought of Everything Everywhere All At Once.) And I suspect she would have had mixed feelings about the Marvel/DC flicks (though she probably would have liked the quirkier onces)–and right negative feelings about Christopher Nolan and James Cameron’s recent output–she was not one to bow to “genius uber allies” thinking.