Cinema Speculation

By: Quentin Tarantino

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Quentin Tarantino

Instant New York Times bestseller

The long-awaited first work of nonfiction from the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: a deliriously entertaining, wickedly intelligent cinema book as unique and creative as anything by Quentin Tarantino.

In addition to being among the most celebrated of contemporary filmmakers, Quentin Tarantino is possibly the most joyously infectious movie lover alive. For years he has touted in interviews his eventual turn to writing books about films. Now, with Cinema Speculation, the time has come, and the results are everything his passionate fans—and all movie lovers—could have hoped for. Organized around key American films from the 1970s, all of which he first saw as a young moviegoer at the time, this book is as intellectually rigorous and insightful as it is rollicking and entertaining. At once film criticism, film theory, a feat of reporting, and wonderful personal history, it is all written in the singular voice recognizable immediately as QT’s and with the rare perspective about cinema possible only from one of the greatest practitioners of the artform ever.

The audiobook is narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, and features Quentin Tarantino reading the first and last chapters. A perfect listen for all fans!

©2022 Quentin Tarantino (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

How Quentin Tarantino thinks about movies

I'm only about halfway through, but I like this book so much I wanted to write a review now.

This book is incredible, and I feel lucky to have been able to hear it. If it were just a series of takes on various films it would still be terrific, but I think it's more than that. As you move through the book, it becomes clear that what you're really getting is a window into how Tarantino thinks about genre films, how he breaks them down. It's like listening to someone who understands chess describe the board, again and again, with different layouts.

One of the thing that jumps out at me is the difference between these genre films and today's big IP franchises. The genres allow for a lot of freedom to move around and change things up, which is missing in today's franchise system. And I really liked what he said about various incarnations of the Parker character, about Peckinpah's relationship to the studios and to genre films, about Steve McQueen.

I feel like I'm picking up the vocabulary to describe why I like the films that I do, and a new way of thinking about a lot of great films from the 70s.

Quentin Sounds Like Edoardo

I loved this book but was taken aback by how much Quentin Tarantino sounds like Edoardo Ballerini. Here I am expecting Tarantino's machine gun-speaking style throughout the book and instead, I hear the dulcet tones of Edoardo Ballerini. Or more like Quentin Tarantino sounding just like Ballerini. Amazing impersonation! There's nothing wrong with the rat-tat-tat of the Tarantino speech pattern. I rather enjoy it, but I did not think Tarantino had it in him to go full Ballerini. And yet he did, for about 8 some odd hours. What a talented narrator/author! I wish I knew why he reverted back to the I think too fast for my mouth to catch up to me style he used at the beginning of the book. Oh, well, who am I to question the genius of Quentin Tarantino? Is it true he's seen every movie ever made?

The Man Who Knows Everything About Movies

Tarantino's knowledge of the 7O's decade of cinema is a gem to learn. I now have a list of books and movies to indulge myself with from the information he had passed on in his book Cinema Speculation from when he was learning about films himself.

More!!

If Tarantino sticks to his word and makes one more movie before retirement I wouldn’t complain as long as we kept getting books like this.

The Floyd epilogue hits.

Interesting insights from one of our great filmmakers .

Part memoir, part series of essays reflecting on films of the 60s and 70s that were seemingly formative and impactful to Tarantino’s creative development.
Not what I expected but an enjoyable listen nonetheless.

if you love films, especially from the 70s, read.

A great read. How 70s filmsnhave inspired Tarantino's has always been evident but this explains how they forged his creativity and molded him as a young kid.

I feel the same about 90s films. great read!

Two thumbs up!

For any and all QT fans or aspiring cinephiles. Equally entertaining and educational. A must read.

The effects of country music and suicide

An exploratory expedition through the annals of cinema. A literary triumph of deft prose rhythm.

Fantastic

Any movie lover will find this book entertaining and informative. It covers the best period in American film.

Fun

Movies with America's best known movie buff! It's excellent from start to finish and my only wish is that Quentin had read the entire book himself. Not that the narrator wasn't good, it's that he's not Quentin reading what is so obviously Quentin's words.