Cinema Speculation

2022 nonfiction book by Quentin Tarantino

978-0-06-311258-2OCLC1348950198

Cinema Speculation is a 2022 nonfiction book by American filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, published by Harper on November 1, 2022.

Background

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]

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

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

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]

References

^ 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.