Quentin Tarantino and Tom Cruise from my perspective:
Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs are probably 2 of the best 5 films made in the past 50 years.
I don't like Tom Cruise.
Then why would I roll out of bed in the morning and take a run at Genius Quentin Tarantino? Because earlier this week he shot down any notion that he was making Kill Bill Volume 3. Here's the rub, though, I didn't think either Kill Bill 1 or Kill 2 were all that great.
What are we doing here then? Tarantino has released 10 movies in 30 years. That's hardly prolific. For someone who was supposedly churning out screenplays at a young age, it's almost inconceivable.
You know what it reminds me of? Tiger Woods. Young Tiger was a well documented golf prodigy, winning tournaments as a teen and then becoming the youngest Masters Champion in PGA history. Then something curious happened, as Tiger rolled into his 30's, he touted his relentless work ethic as the secret to his success:
Hitting a thousand balls a day at the driving range.
Staying later at the course than other PGA players.
Implementing a strict weight workout routine outside of golf activities.
But then in 2009, you found out that Tiger exaggerated his prolific practice exploits, he was just another player, but blessed immense talent. What he was really prodigious at was plowing skanks.
Which circles us back around to Tarantino. After Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino had a blank check, he could have made any movie he wanted. He could have made as many movies as he wanted. You know what's more fun than making movies, apparently? Living the Hollywood Lifestyle. To me though, Tarantino never made a great movie after Pulp Fiction.
Editor's Note: My Mom would respectfully disagree. She thought Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was Tarantino's BEST movie.
But my point is, Tarantino is hardly Roger Corman. (Who's still alive by the way, waiting for financing for his next project.)
You know why Steven Speilberg said Tom Cruise saved Hollywood and not Quentin Tarantino?
Because Tom Cruise has been in over 50 movies in a 40 year career and, almost without fail. as soon as Cruise is in one blockbuster, he asks himself "how can I be in a bigger movie?"
Your argument is that Tom Cruise is in a cult? That's more than a fair statement, but let me turn that around on you. You're telling me that Quentin Tarantino is LESS prolific than a cult member? Listen Tom Cruise's filmography has slowed to about one picture per year, but during that year, he's jumping out of aircraft 500 times or grinding out thousands of miles on his motorcycle.
Take away Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, would you rather re-watch a Late-Release Tarantino Movie or Tom Cruise in a Mission Impossible Movie? Again, overall, I'm not a Tom Cruise fan, but as I age, I am a huge fan of his work ethic.
How about Jackie Brown vs Mission Impossible 3 on a lazy Saturday afternoon?
I am sooo depressed.