Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Cinema Speculation summary
Quentin Tarantino
Hollywood History Through the Eyes of a Contemporary Filmmaker
18 mins
Brief summary
'Cinema Speculation' by Quentin Tarantino is a collection of interviews and essays where the director shares his unique approach to filmmaking. From screenplay to soundtrack, Tarantino explores every aspect of the movie-making process in his distinctive style.
Table of Contents
Cinema Speculation
Summary of 5 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 5
Cool kid
It’s 1970, and the Tiffany Theater is in its heyday. The Tiffany doesn’t show mainstream movies like Oliver! or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Here, you’re more likely to see Alice’s Restaurant or Yellow Submarine.
Tarantino is seven years old. And 1970 is the year that he first visits the Tiffany with his mom and stepdad to see a double feature: Joe and Where’s Poppa? It’s not exactly viewing material for a seven-year-old – in Joe, a father kills his daughter’s junkie boyfriend by bashing his head in and then ends up executing his own daughter.
But apart from the violence of the movie, Tarantino thinks it’s funny. The audience that evening watches the beginning of the movie in repulsed silence, but when Joe enters the movie they begin laughing at almost everything he says. Tarantino laughs along even though he doesn’t understand everything. It doesn’t matter – there’s an audience of adults laughing, he’s soaking up the vibe of the performance, and there’s a lot of cussing going on. For a kid his age, there’s nothing funnier.
Tarantino's parents went to a lot of movies, and he usually tagged along on the proviso that he behaved. And behave he did to avoid staying home with a babysitter. After a movie, Tarantino just loved riding home in the car while listening to his parents talking about what they’d just seen.
He soon realized he was getting to see movies other kids didn’t, and asked his mom about it. Her reply was simple: she was more worried about him watching the news than a movie. He was exposed to many violent images, yes, but in the context of the movie he could “handle” it because he could also understand the plot.
Strangely, though, there was a movie the young Tarantino couldn’t handle – Bambi. He was pretty cut up about Bambi’s mother getting shot and the devastating fire scene. The fact that the movie becomes so tragic so unexpectedly is the reason he believes it’s been messing kids up for generations.
A year or so later, Tarantino’s mom split from his stepdad and, for a few years, exclusively dated Black men. He saw fewer movies during that period because movie nights were usually date nights. But one guy she dated, a football player named Reggie, would do anything to score points with her – including taking the young Tarantino to watch a movie. So one Saturday afternoon, after much discussion about which movie to go to, they settled on Jim Brown’s Black Gunn. It was a double feature with The Bus Is Coming.
When the pair entered the movie theater, The Bus Is Coming was still playing. It was clear that the all Black audience hated the movie with a vengeance, as they were swearing at the screen the whole time. Tarantino found their profanities highly amusing and began to giggle more and more. And when Reggie asked him if he was having a good time, Tarantino told him he thought the audience was hilarious. Reggie replied, “You’re a cool kid, Q.” And with that encouragement, Tarantino joined the crowd and started screaming at the screen too.
The whole experience is particularly memorable for Tarantino. In fact, he says his whole life has been spent trying to get back to that feeling of watching a Jim Brown film back in 1972 in a Black cinema.
Want to see all full key ideas from Cinema Speculation?
Key ideas in Cinema Speculation
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Cinema Speculation about?
Cinema Speculation (2022) is part personal history, part movie criticism, and part film reporting. It takes a look at several key 1970s movies from director Quentin Tarantino’s perspective. While he discusses each movie, he sometimes also indulges in a few what-ifs.
Cinema Speculation Review
Cinema Speculation (2021) is Quentin Tarantino's exploration of his favorite movies and the art of filmmaking. Here's why this book is a must-read:
- It offers a deep dive into Tarantino's filmography, providing insights and analysis on his iconic movies that fans will love.
- Through personal anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories, readers get a firsthand look at the passion and creativity that drives Tarantino's unique approach to filmmaking.
- The book's exploration of cinema history and Tarantino's influences make it a fascinating read for any film enthusiast, elevating the appreciation of the art form.
Who should read Cinema Speculation?
- Film buffs eager to get inside Quentin Tarantino’s mind
- Dirty Harry, Taxi Driver, and Escape From Alcatraz aficionados
- Fans of Don Siegel and Martin Scorsese
Categories with Cinema Speculation
Book summaries like Cinema Speculation
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
31 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Cinema Speculation FAQs
What is the main message of Cinema Speculation?
The main message of Cinema Speculation is an exploration of Quentin Tarantino's iconic films and the impact they have had on pop culture.
How long does it take to read Cinema Speculation?
The reading time for Cinema Speculation varies depending on the reader, but it typically takes a few hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Cinema Speculation a good book? Is it worth reading?
Cinema Speculation is a must-read for any Quentin Tarantino fan. It dives into the mind of the director, providing unique insights and analysis on his films.
Who is the author of Cinema Speculation?
The author of Cinema Speculation is Quentin Tarantino.
What to read after Cinema Speculation?
If you're wondering what to read next after Cinema Speculation, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
- Pitch Like Hollywood by Peter Desberg and Jeffrey Davis
- Spare by Prince Harry
- The Greatest Secret by Rhonda Byrne
- The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man by Paul Newman
- Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
- The Beatles Anthology by The Beatles
- The Body by Bill Bryson
- Pitch Perfect by Bill McGowan and Alisa Bowman
- Zero Sugar / One Month by Becky Gillaspy