Quentin Tarantino, Will You STFU

by Julian Spivey

Photo: Miramax Films

 
I have a request for writer/director Quentin Tarantino …

​Will you shut the fuck up?

Everything that comes out of your mouth these days seems to be dumber than the thing you said before. I know you like being a provocateur, but I don’t think you need the limelight this much, do you? Shouldn’t you be more concerned with that 10th film you’ve always said you're retiring on?

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Rosanna Arquette, who had a role in Tarantino’s 1994 smash “Pulp Fiction,” spoke out against the director’s frequent use of the “N-word” in his films – a criticism often levied against the popular director.

She said: “[Pulp Fiction is] iconic, a great film on a lot of levels. But personally, I am over the use of the [slur] – I hate it. I cannot stand that [Tarantino] has been given a hall pass.”

Arquette also called the use of the slur “creepy,” and admitted to harboring some resentment toward the movie, because she stated she was the only actor on the project that didn’t see some back end money following the film’s release, which she blames on the film’s producer, the controversial Harvey Weinstein, who’s currently serving time for a series of sexual assaults.

Tarantino couldn’t let the swipe pass without commenting, and his response is incredibly hypocritical and narcissistic – though who can really be surprised by that second part.

Tarantino released the following statement to media outlets on Tuesday, March 10:

“Dear Rosanna,

I hope the publicity you’re getting from 132 different media outlets writing your name and printing your picture was worth disrespecting me and a film I remember quite clearly you were thrilled to be a part of?

Do you feel this way now?

Very possibly.

But after I gave you a job, and you took the money, to trash it for what I suspect is very cynical reasons, shows a decided lack of class, no less honor.
There is supposed to be an esprit de corps between artistic colleagues.
But it would appear the objective was accomplished.

Congratulations
Q“

Are you fucking kidding me, Tarantino?

If you’re not familiar with why I ask this, let me remind you of the controversy Tarantino stirred merely months ago when he went on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast and claimed Paul Dano was “the weakest fucking actor in SAG,” during a conversation about director Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood.” For some reason, he also felt the need to add that he didn’t care for Owen Wilson or Matthew Lillard as actors, either.

So, for Tarantino to talk about “class,” “honor” and especially “an esprit de corps between artistic colleagues” is laughable, hypocritical and confirms that he’s a raging asshole.

Thankfully, Tarantino got hammered by many, including high-profile actors like Toni Collette, who responded to a reporter’s question to Dano during a 20th anniversary screening of “Little Miss Sunshine” in January with: “Are we really going there? Fuck that guy! He must’ve been high … it was just confusing. Who does that?”

Maybe the backlash to Tarantino’s unnecessary jab at Dano and his hypocritical response to Arquette will teach the writer/director that we don’t care to know every opinion he has, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Tarantino over the years, it’s that he fucking loves the sound of his own, whiny voice.