Cinema Speculation (2022)

Cinema Speculation is a 2022 nonfiction book by American filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, published by Harper on November 1, 2022.

Background

Cinema Speculation is Tarantino's debut work of nonfiction and combines "film criticism, film theory, a feat of reporting, and wonderful personal history". The book is a collection of essays organized around "key American films from the 1970s" which Tarantino saw in his youth, ranging from blaxploitation films to all the Best Picture nominees of 1970. It was inspired by the film writing of critic Pauline Kael.

Contents

The first and last chapters are autobiographical. Two other chapters are a homage to film critic Kevin Thomas, and a comparison of two generations of film-makers. The rest of the chapters are essays about the following films:

Bullitt

Dirty Harry

Deliverance

The Getaway (1972)

The Outfit

Sisters

Daisy Miller

Taxi Driver (two chapters)

Rolling Thunder

Paradise Alley

Escape from Alcatraz

Hardcore

The Funhouse

Publication

The book was initially scheduled to be published on October 25, 2022; Cinema Speculation was published by Harper on November 1, 2022. It is the second book in a two-book deal Tarantino signed with HarperCollins in 2020. Tarantino promoted the book with a nationwide book tour. The book's cover features a photograph of Steve McQueen with director Sam Peckinpah on the set of the 1972 action crime thriller The Getaway.

Reception

Cinema Speculation debuted at number five on The New York Times nonfiction best-seller list for the week ending November 5, 2022. Kirkus Reviews gave the book a starred review, writing, "Whether you agree with his assessments or not, he provides the original reporting and insights only a veteran director would notice, and his engaging style makes it impossible to leave an essay without learning something." The Daily Telegraph reviewer Jasper Rees gave the book 3 out of 5 stars, writing, "At times it's like leafing through yellowing back issues of Screen International. At others you feel Tarantino would have made a brilliant Tinseltown gossip columnist."