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!

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?

Fantastic for movie nerds

This was a fun fun ride through Hollywood. Really fun personal chapters at the start and end that are just love.

fand of 70's movies

I really like this book and Quetins love of movies comes through and what kind of movies he makes now comes up

So much more than I expected!!

So very interesting!! I learned so much ! Very well read from the most brilliant director of our times!!