Tarantino reveals his all-time favorite screenplay – it's not what you think
Quentin Tarantino, the name synonymous with razor-sharp dialogue and structurally audacious filmmaking, has finally declared his ultimate cinematic screenplay obsession. It’s a revelation that challenges conventional wisdom and shines a spotlight on a largely overlooked gem from the French New Wave.
A shift from blockbusters: melville’s ‘le doulos’ takes the crown
Before he was crafting modern classics like Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino harbored ambitions of becoming an actor. Though he quickly realized his true calling lay in the written word, his early influences remain potent. In a recent interview with Film Comment, Tarantino didn't cite a Hollywood heavyweight or a widely celebrated work. Instead, he pointed to Jean-Pierre Melville’s 1962 neo-noir thriller, Le Doulos, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, as the screenplay that has captivated him above all others.
Le Doulos, a film often eclipsed by Melville's more popular titles like Breathless, is a masterclass in narrative complexity. The film unfolds a labyrinthine story of betrayal, secrets, and unexpected twists within the gritty world of the French underworld. But what truly sets it apart, according to Tarantino, is Melville’s deliberate obfuscation for the majority of the runtime.
“Le Doulos has probably been my favorite screenplay of all time,” Tarantino explained. “I loved the madness of seeing a film that, until the last 20 minutes, you don't know what the hell is going on. And then those last 20 minutes explain it all.” That’s a bold strategy, especially considering the modern demand for immediate gratification. Yet, Tarantino argues that Melville’s approach doesn’t alienate the viewer; quite the opposite.
“I know that when I go to see a movie and I start to get confused, I emotionally disconnect,” he continued. “But for some reason, that doesn’t happen with Le Doulos.” The payoff, he insists, is all the more rewarding for the audience’s patience. Le Doulos isn’t about spoon-feeding information; it’s about immersing the viewer in a world of ambiguity and then, with surgical precision, revealing the truth.
This choice underscores Tarantino's enduring appreciation for filmmakers who prioritize narrative architecture over conventional storytelling. It's a testament to the power of a well-constructed screenplay to sustain a complex narrative—and to leave audiences breathless in the final act. The film stands as a potent reminder that sometimes, the greatest rewards come from embracing a little confusion.