I is for Inglourious Basterds
Tarantino does WWII. Tarantinos 2009 alternative take on the events of World War II was an enormous success upon its release and after the underperformance of Death Proof was seen as a return to form for the director. Featuring an Academy Award winning performance from Christoph Waltz as the Jew Hunter Hans Landa, Basterds is a bizarre mix of dark humour, gratuitous violence and rewriting history at will for a very Tarantino take on war. Also featuring over-the-top shenanigans from Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo Raine and his crew of Basterds, the film grossed $300 million at the box-office and currently holds a
88% Fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes.
J is for Jackie Brown
Released in 1997, Jackie Brown was Tarantinos third feature length film. Starring Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton and Robert De Niro, the film pays homage to the classic blaxploitation films of the 1970s while incorporating Tarantinos trademark dialogue and pacing. The screenplay was written by Tarantino based on the novel Rum Punch by Elmore Leonard. While Jackie Brown was not as iconic or fondly remembered as Reservoir Dogs or Pulp Fiction, it was still a commercial success and currently holds an 86% rating at
Rotten Tomatoes.