Quentin Tarantino on why his films don't feature original scores

[Hlao-roo 388]

http://blog.spout.com/2008/05/22/cannes-qu...e-live-blogged/

[Elmo Lewis 6]

All right, two points for honesty.

[crocodile 6,294]

There wasn't need so far. But wait, didn't Robert Rodriguez compose a couple of cues for Kill Bill 2?

Karol

[Luke Skywalker 1,284]

All right, two points for honesty.

and -2 points for bad language

[Red 73]

There wasn't need so far.

Karol

That was my first thought.

[Hlao-roo 388]

We could probably get into an interesting discussion here about what sorts of films actually need scores.

[Charlie Brigden 5]

I'd rather original score over another dull hipster soundtrack.

[Bryant Burnette 451]

The thing about Tarantino's movies is that he uses the non-original music in much the same way as other directors use score, and he does it really well. I mean, the man is practically a genius at it.

If you'd told me that his use of a piece by Zamfir -- Zamfir!!! -- would be so well-done that it would get me choked up, I'd have told you that you were crazy. But I'll be damned if it didn't happen.

I'd love to see what Tarantino's musical appreciation skills would lead to if he worked with a really top-flight composer -- Williams, say; or Shore, or Howard, or Elfman (and Giacchino does so well with homage that I bet they'd kill together) -- but he does so well with non-original music that I'll be perfectly happy if that's all he ever does.

One of my favorite Tarantino musical moments is in Death Proof, during the scene

in which Stuntman Mike kills the carload of women. The song is pretty darn catchy, and when he goes racing past them so that he can turn around and hit them head-on, the volume cranks up to a deafening level, the drumbeat mixing with the roar of his car's engine.

It's a beautiful moment from a sound-design standpoint, and it works as character development, too; the song reflects Stuntman Mike's out-of-date, creepy enthusiasm, and turns from being kitschy to being kinda terrifying.

That's what Tarantino is great at, taking music that ought to mean one thing, and twisting it into meaning something else.

But I love the guy's movies. If you don't, it's probably not too impressive.

[FattyMcButterpants 1]

I don't care whether it works in his movies, the guy is an ignorant idiot for saying that.

I don't know how many times top notch composers out there thought "why do I have to put my music over such a garbage movie?"

[Bryant Burnette 451]

I don't care whether it works in his movies, the guy is an ignorant idiot for saying that.

I don't know how many times top notch composers out there thought "why do I have to put my music over such a garbage movie?"

QT is undoutedbly an arrogant, loudmouthed, opinionated fellow . . . but calling him an idiot is probably waaaaay off-base. "Jerk," that's a distinct possibility. Taken out of context, those words sound a lot worse than he probably meant them.

He's the kind of guy for whom the music in his movies is obviously a very important, very personal, element. He seems to come up with ideas based around the music, in at least some cases; if I were a filmmaker, and that was how I wrote, then I'd probably be unwilling to allow a composer to replace that music, too.

But I'd probably try and be a little more tactful when talking about it.

That said, I'd be willing to bet my left foot that Tarantino knows as much or more about film music as practically anybody on this board. The guy seems to be a walking encyclopedia on the subject of film.

[Indiana_Fett 0]

"I think a case can even be made that with Leone and Morricone that they are the best director-composer team in the history of film. It's like you can't even imagine Leone's movies without Morricone's music. It's even more important than Hitchcock and Herrmann or any other director composer relationship in history." - Quentin Tarantino

It's just not for him, I suppose.

[Bryant Burnette 451]

"I think a case can even be made that with Leone and Morricone that they are the best director-composer team in the history of film. It's like you can't even imagine Leone's movies without Morricone's music. It's even more important than Hitchcock and Herrmann or any other director composer relationship in history." - Quentin Tarantino

It's just not for him, I suppose.

No, it doesn't seem to be, but the above quote indicates that he has a respect for the process, an understanding of the process, and even a love for it -- as an audience member.

When it comes to his own movies, he uses music that has personal meaning to him, which is just to say that he builds emotion with music that has emotional meaning for him; he's making movies he would want to watch, in other words, and using music he would want to listen to in order to help achieve that. This results in music (and movies) that may be off-putting to some people, I guess, but it is music that is densely layered into the movie, in the same way the best scores are. The music in Tarantino movies always means something; it's always revaling something about the characters, or moving the narrative forward. He's not a composer or a musician himself, but that doesn't mean he lacks musical skill of a certain type. After all, in order to be a really good DJ, you have to have skill in creating a musical experience; that's what Tarantino does, and he's awfully damn good at it, if you ask me.

He's maybe not for everyone, but Tarantino is an extremely canny fellow, and he's absolutely one of THE finest filmmakers working today, for my money.

I only wish he'd make movies a little more frequently.

[crocodile 6,294]

He's the kind of guy for whom the music in his movies is obviously a very important, very personal, element. He seems to come up with ideas based around the music, in at least some cases; if I were a filmmaker, and that was how I wrote, then I'd probably be unwilling to allow a composer to replace that music, too.

He once said that he selects music already when writing script and it helps him shape the story. That's why many of his sequences (especially in his later movies) are so graceful, I think. The music isn't just dropped there.

Karol

[Koray Savas 2,095]

But wait, didn't Robert Rodriguez compose a couple of cues for Kill Bill 2?

No.

[Maglorfin 195]

Come to think of it, I actually can't imagine Pulp Fiction with a score.

[Bryant Burnette 451]

Come to think of it, I actually can't imagine Pulp Fiction with a score.

Neither can I. The man does a tremendously good job of picking out songs; they define the scenes they're in. Possibly, someday, he's going to lose this ability and deliver something awful . . . but it hasn't happened yet.

[Vaderbait1 1]

The guy is a jerk, and he's not the best at picking the songs to go in his movies BUT he does have a point.

If you're in charge of a multi-million dollar movie, and you bring in a composer, what if you don't like his stuff? I've often been overly critical of music, and as a director I could easily see myself not liking 100% what a composer did, even if it were Williams, for each and every scene and I would consider that MY movie didn't turn out like I wanted.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,765]

If you're in charge of a multi-million dollar movie, and you bring in a composer, what if you don't like his stuff?

You reject his score.

[Vaderbait1 1]

If you're in charge of a multi-million dollar movie, and you bring in a composer, what if you don't like his stuff?

You reject his score.

And what if you don't like the replacement? Like I said, you're not going to like 100% of a score, even if it's amazing. You'll think it didn't work in one scene or whatever. Thus I would never be happy with the finished work, even if Williams had scored Star Wars for me. Get it? Directors can be anal and it's their baby, I can understand not wanting to trust someone else with it.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,765]

If you're in charge of a multi-million dollar movie, and you bring in a composer, what if you don't like his stuff?

You reject his score.

And what if you don't like the replacement? Like I said, you're not going to like 100% of a score, even if it's amazing. You'll think it didn't work in one scene or whatever. Thus I would never be happy with the finished work, even if Williams had scored Star Wars for me. Get it? Directors can be anal and it's their baby, I can understand not wanting to trust someone else with it.

Then they get other composers for certain scenes, ala Spider-Man 2.

[Henry B 49]

That always works well.

[Bryant Burnette 451]

and he's not the best at picking the songs to go in his movies

Then who, pray tell, is?

[Koray Savas 2,095]

Quentin Tarantino, Wes Anderson, and Zach Braff are the best at song placement IMO.

[Bryant Burnette 451]

Quentin Tarantino, Wes Anderson, and Zach Braff are the best at song placement IMO.

Yes, Wes Anderson is awfully good, too -- I'd accept his name as an answer to that particular question.

[Mr. Breathmask 480]

If you're in charge of a multi-million dollar movie, and you bring in a composer, what if you don't like his stuff?

Then you have failed as a director in giving your composer the proper instructions.

Quentin Tarantino, Wes Anderson, and Zach Braff are the best at song placement IMO.

Add Martin Scorsese.

[Maglorfin 195]

Quentin Tarantino, Wes Anderson, and Zach Braff are the best at song placement IMO.

Add Martin Scorsese.

And Spielberg (CMIYC).

[Vaderbait1 1]

If you're in charge of a multi-million dollar movie, and you bring in a composer, what if you don't like his stuff?

Then you have failed as a director in giving your composer the proper instructions.

I don't think so. No matter how carefully chosen the words are, words don't correlate into music notes.

[FattyMcButterpants 1]

And what if you don't like the replacement?

You have Troy.