The Auteur Theory of Quentin Tarantino’s Films: a Case Study of Pulp Fiction (1994), Kill Bill Series (2003-2004) and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Lam, Wai Jian (2020) The Auteur Theory of Quentin Tarantino’s Films: a Case Study of Pulp Fiction (1994), Kill Bill Series (2003-2004) and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

The researcher’s case study is to argue the Auteur director status of Quentin Tarantino, by using content analysis on his three films from different career stages, Pulp Fiction (1994), Kill Bill Vol 1 & 2 (2003-2004) and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019). The discussion of Auteur Theory was started in the mid 1950s, when François Truffaut wrote and published an “Une certaine tendance du cinéma français” (A certain tendency in French Cinema) in the French journal Cahiers du Cinéma. It argued the quality of films should reflect the director’s personal vision, contradicting that era of American Star System. The theory has been celebrated by the French film critics and directors such as Jean-Luc Godard. In 1962, Andrew Sarris released an essay “Notes on the Auteur Theory” that strengthen the fundamentals of the theory. He mentioned a director must accomplish technical competence in their technique, personal style in terms of the film looks and feeling and lastly the interior meaning. On the other hand, Quentin Tarantino, started his directing career in 1992, by releasing Reservoir Dogs (1992) and later in 1994, he released Pulp Fiction (1994). With his signature filmmaking style, like non-linear storytelling, robust dialogues and violence aesthetics, his films have been a big success, he received awards and acclamations from the industry, he then kept on making films, like the latest film Once Upon A Time in Hollywood (2019). However, his directing and filmmaking style are being questioned and scholars argue he is not qualified to become an Auteur director, even though his signature style influences the film industry. Hence, the researcher’s case study will focus on Quentin Tarantino’s signature filmmaking style in directing, scriptwriting, cinematography and music and lastly, argue his status as an Auteur director by referring to 1962 Andrew Sarris’s Auteur Theory.