Iâm late to Rewatchables, a podcast on The Ringer podcast. As far as I can tell, itâs a throwback podcast where the hosts and sometimes a guest consider an old, often classic film, rewatch it and discuss that rewatch in a very specific formatâhow the film holds up, whatâs best about it, whatâs worst about it, who stands out the most on a new, updated viewing, etc. On one of the most recent episodes of Rewatchable, none other than Quentin Tarantino stopped by to discuss Christopher Nolanâs âDunkirk.â
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The episode is notable for three reasons: one, Tarantinoâs presence, obviously, but also because Tarantino apparently listens to Rewatchables (must be nice), and asked to specifically be on the show to discuss âDunkirkâ at his behest which is obviously a huge compliment to both the podcast and Nolanâs film. The third reason is notable more if youâre a regular listener of the show; Rewatchables generally tackles films that are 10-20 years old and âDunkirk,â which only came out in 2017, is only two years old making it the youngest movie ever discussed on the show.
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But perhaps more notable, in discussing the film, Tarantino revealed that itâs now his #2 film of the 2010s decade. He hasnât revealed it, but Tarantino is clearly working on a Best of The Decade list and maybe heâs going to reveal that soon? (He used to do a yearly top 10, but stopped doing it a few years back, presumably because fellow filmmakers were offended at his condescending âNice Tryâ category.)
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Tarantino explained that âDunkirkâ was number seven on his list as the best films of the decade, but a third rewatch opened up the film to him in a way like never before, vaulting it into the #2 slot. âIt wasnât until that third time where I was gauging it for [my best of the decade list], that I could finally see past the spectacle into the people, into the people of the story. I could finally see the forest for the trees,” he explained.
READ MORE: Christopher Nolan Says âDunkirkâ Is His Most Experimental Movie, Explains How Shooting On Film Saved Key Sequence
Itâs interesting to listen just to hear Tarantino kind of rave about another living filmmaker, which he doesnât do often, usually often doing the opposite (for example, he takes a lot of swipes at âAd Astra,â tangentially in the podcast).
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His admiration and respect for Nolan is very real and with âDunkirk,â the filmmaker puts himself up there with the greatest filmmakers of all time, Tarantino says.
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âItâs a symphony, everything works,â Tarantino says at one point in his glowing review of the movie, also saying he thinks the movie is Nolanâs best and that the score by Hans Zimmer and its minimalist screenplay were snubbed at the Oscars (as well as suggesting Best Picture should have been in the cards).
READ MORE: Christopher Nolan Talks âVisceral Experience Of ‘Dunkirk’
Other things gleaned in the podcast? Tarantino isnât a big fan of âInception,â and says his top three Nolan films are 1. âDunkirk,â 2. âBatman Beginsâ and 3. âThe Prestige.â Itâs a really interesting podcast, definitely makes the case for Tarantino as knowledgeable, sharp, entertaining film criticâheâs already said he has a book on film criticism/his favorite films in the works which will eventually come out one dayâand is an all-around solid, compelling listen. Give it a spin below and hope that Tarantino reveals his Best Of The Decade list soon.
testedRDR on January 1st, 2020 at 14:27 UTC »
“It’s a symphony, everything works,” Tarantino added, claiming it was also his favourite Nolan movie (“Batman Begins” is #2 and “The Prestige” #3).
theplasmasnake on January 1st, 2020 at 14:01 UTC »
What’s #1?
BooshAC on January 1st, 2020 at 12:23 UTC »
I don’t think any film has been as relentlessly stressful as Dunkirk. Just constant anxiety.