The Question of Quentin

At Cannes, looking distressingly like Mr. Tom HanksThere’s another epic conversation going on at The House Next Door, with Jason Bellamy and Ed Howard trying to get to the heart of the Quentin Tarantino thing — brilliant pop-culture collage artist, egomaniacal plagiarist, both or neither? And how has his early success affected his creativity and his personal style in the seventeen years since the arrival of “Reservoir Dogs”?

Part One, which went up Monday, finds Bellamy and Howard batting Tarantino’s output back-and-forth in depth, considering the strengths and weaknesses of every one of his films. (They do overlook his marvelous grindhouse-inspired script for “From Dusk Till Dawn”, which the rest of the world seems to have forgotten, as well.)

Part Two, posted today, tackles “Inglourious Basterds” in exhausting detail dissecting references and plot points in depth. Spoilers abound, so don’t read it if you haven’t seen the movie … but if you have, it’s an excellent read.