Quentin Tarantino's Long Takes: Art & History

The cinema of Quentin Tarantino

Chapter 1

From video clerk to indie darling

Chapter 2

The elements of Tarantino style

Chapter 3

The shared cinematic universe

Chapter 4

Rewriting history on the silver screen

YOUR GOAL

Master of The cinema of Quentin Tarantino

Ch 2 · The elements of Tarantino style

Glossary

trunk shot (noun)
A camera angle filmed from low down inside a car's trunk, looking up at the characters standing outside. Quentin Tarantino famously uses this element of style in his movies to put the audience right in the action, making you feel like you're the one trapped inside looking up.

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schopenhauer Tarantino's Trunk Shot

Pop the trunk and look on down, we're staring right back up at you

schopenhauer The art of the long take

The art of the long take

schopenhauer Tarantino uses extended camera shots to build tension and showcase acting.

Music instead of a traditional score

schopenhauer Tarantino curates existing pop songs to create iconic movie moments.

Pulp and Play

BETA

schopenhauer Sort classic movie scenes to master the history and style of Quentin Tarantino's films.

Fun Fact

Blue Swede's hit: This upbeat track showcases Tarantino's signature style of using nostalgic 1970s radio hits to contrast the dark, tense crime themes of Reservoir Dogs.

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Glossary

nonlinear (adjective)
Not arranged in a straight line or sequential order. This narrative structure was famously used to order the events of Quentin Tarantino's 1994 film Pulp Fiction.

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Gossip

What is the most iconic Tarantino visual trademark?

Quiz

Which of the following Tarantino films famously features a trunk shot looking up at characters?

schopenhauer The view from the trunk

Fun Fact

The ear scene: The infamous torture scene in Reservoir Dogs was filmed in a real, disused mortuary that was extremely hot during production.

Quiz

Which award-winning actor played the terrifying Colonel Hans Landa in the long opening scene of Inglourious Basterds?

schopenhauer Scrambling time with non-linear plots

Quiz

How long does the intense, suspenseful opening interrogation scene of Inglourious Basterds last?

Quiz

Which 1970s song by Blue Swede is memorably featured in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs?

Quiz

What signature camera angle involves looking up at characters from inside a vehicle's storage compartment?

Quiz

Instead of hiring a traditional composer for his early films, where did Quentin Tarantino source most of his music?

Quiz

In Pulp Fiction, how are the three distinct, overlapping storylines presented to the audience?

Quiz

What surf rock song by Dick Dale plays during the iconic opening credits of Pulp Fiction?