As cinephiles await news about Quentin Tarantino’s tenth and purportedly final film, the second book in his deal with HarperCollins finally has a release date. “Cinema Speculation,” Tarantino’s book of film criticism and movie history, hits bookstores on October 25.
The new book follows Tarantino’s paperback novelization of “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” that came out last summer. While that book expanded upon the backstories of Rick Dalton, Cliff Booth, and other characters in “Hollywood,” “Cinema Speculation” is a different venture altogether. It’s Tarantino’s first non-fiction project, a look at some of the most influential American films of the 1970s through criticism, theory, and personal anecdotes.
Here’s HarperCollins’ official synopsis for “Cinema Speculation”:
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.
“Speculation” completes Tarantino’s two-book deal with HarperCollins. But, as per usual with the director, he has several ideas for other book projects. On the Empire Podcast earlier this year, Tarantino spoke of another “OUATIH” spin-off he’s finished, a compendium of imaginary criticism about Rick Dalton’s movie career. He also hinted about possible novelizations of “Reservoir Dogs” and Tony Scott’s “True Romance,” based on his original screenplay.
Of course, fans know at this point in his career to take Tarantino’s grand plans for movie and book projects with a giant grain of salt. On the Empire Podcast, Tarantino insists the Dalton book, titled “The Man Who Would Be McQueen: The Films Of Rick Dalton,” exists in finished form, but there’s no follow-up news to confirm that. As for Tarantino’s next non-book-related project? It could be any of the following: a stage play that’s yet another version of “OUATIH;” a “Bounty Law” series; directing Timothy Olyphant again in episodes of the “Justified” revival “City Primeval on FX;” a podcast that reunites him with producer Roger Avary; or his tenth movie, which Tarantino claims will be his last.
So, as “Cinema Speculation” fast approaches its Fall release date, fans have plenty of their own to speculate in terms of what comes next for Tarantino. And if we’re being honest, we prefer Tarantino to leave Rick Dalton and “OUATIH” behind for an all-new original project for his final film. Surprise us, Quentin: we know deep down you have a movie like “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” in you. Make it happen, QT.
