Muses and Maestros: Thurman and Tarantino

Part of a continuing series about the most talented pairings of filmmakers today. On deck, Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino.

The players: Quentin Tarantino and Uma Thurman
The works: Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2

Uma Thurman has only appeared in three pictures with Quentin Tarantino, but when the two have worked together they craft quite unique characters. Mia Wallace, at first glance, seems like a trophy wife hanging on the arm of top gangster, but when Vincent (John Travolta) takes her out, she is surprisingly cerebral. Conversation regarding a rumored foot rub catches her off-guard and she reprimands Vincent and Jules for being more gossipy than a "sewing circle". Yet, those scenes all pale in comparison to the events that lead up to the infamous adrenaline shot. This is where Thurman truly shines.

Right up there in terms of popularity to Mrs. Wallace is, of course, The Bride. one of cinema's most famous heroines and for good reason. Thurman underwent an exhaustive physical regiment in order to play The Bride and the training paid off onscreen (particularly this sequence Ben analyzed). Few initially thought that Thurman would be able to hold her own against actors familiar with the kung fu genre, but doubters were silenced when the film debuted.

Best film: Thurman and Tarantino's first collaboration is the high mark that both will always be remembered for, and for that reason Pulp Fiction takes the cake.

The Best of the Decade

Over the last ten years, the cinema has given us a great deal to be thankful for: a rebirth of the Batman franchise, a series of examinations of what it means to live in this particular decade, and a mass of character studies whether they be animated or popcorn thrillers. As much as I have enjoyed the offerings, a list must be culled together for the end of the year. Except this year is different, this year ten films must be selected from hundreds. Below are some of the best of the aughts. Enjoy! 10) There Will Be Blood Paul Thomas Anderson's magnum opus, a scathing look at extremism in America and the evils of greed and profiteering from religion. It also features the best performance of the decade with Daniel Day-Lewis as oil-man Daniel Plainview. 9) Up A beautiful tale that entrances all ages, Up managed to captivate children and tell a tale that adults cherish as well. 8) The Dark Knight Maybe just a comic book film, but it is the best comic book film

Paprika vs. Inception

Months before Inception hit the theaters forums were alive with rumors that Christopher Nolan either accidentally or intentionally stole some details from another film, the Japanese anime Paprika. The biggest point of comparison for some bloggers and forum runners was the fact that both of the films featured a device that allowed a person, or people, to travel into another’s dreams and delve into their subconscious. Minor points of comparison include scenes in Paprika where the character Paprika breaks through a mirrored wall by holding her hand to it, as well as a scene where a police detective falls his way down a hallway. Claims have been made that Inception abounds with imagery similar to or exactly like the anime movie, but with the recent release of the film on DVD and Blu-Ray, and with Paprika available for several years now, an examination of the two plots can be made more fully. Let us begin with the primary claim— Inception stole the idea of a dream

Armond White or: How I Learned to Stop Caring and Ignore the Troll

Whether it is his glowing review of Norbit , his thrashing of Toy Story 3 , or just his general pompousness, you are aware of Armond White. His dismissal of Toy Story 3 came at a convenient time when the film was sitting pretty with a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. "But Toy Story 3 is so besotted with brand names and product-placement that it stops being about the innocent pleasures of imagination—the usefulness of toys—and strictly celebrates consumerism." A claim that could have been taken at face value had he not followed it with this sentiment " Transformers 2 already explored the same plot to greater thrill and opulence." I am sure if one were inclined to interview Michael Bay at his most enlightened he would have never crafted an answer that insightful regarding hidden parables in his Transformers vehicle. White was at his most incensed when forced to sit down and type out his thoughts regarding Precious , but praised Norbit for its reflection o

Never Mind Pop Film

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