Christopher Nolan Says of Quentin Tarantino Retiring That He's a Purist and a "Cinephile Who Prizes Film History"

Director Quentin Tarantino is working on his tenth feature film, The Movie Critic, and he has made it clear for years that this movie will wrap up his filmography, sending him into retirement. He set out to tell ten different stories in various genres during his career as a filmmaker, and this will cap off his journey on the big screen.

Director Christopher Nolan is releasing his twelfth feature film this week with Oppenheimer, and in the same way as Tarantino, he has created films that are very much his own style, with a box office following and fanbase. When asked about fellow filmmaker Tarantino and his retirement plans during a recent appearance on the “ReelBlend” podcast (via CinemaBlend), and whether Nolan plans to retire early or keep making films until he’s 80 like Martin Scorsese, Nolan said:

“The truth is, I understand both points of view. It’s addictive to tell stories in cinema. It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s very fun. It’s something you feel driven to do, and so it’s a little hard to imagine voluntarily stopping. But I also see… Quentin’s point has always been that — and he never, very graciously, he’s never specific about the films he’s talking about or whatever — but he’s looking at some of the work done by filmmakers in later years and feeling that if it can’t live up to the heyday, it would be better if it didn’t exist. And I think that’s a very purist point of view. It’s the point of view of a cinephile who prizes film history.”

Although Nolan understands where Tarantino is coming from, he’s not sure he entirely agrees. After all, there’s usually at least one element to appreciate in a mixed film from a great director.

“I’m not sure that I would trust my own sense of the absolute value of a piece of work to know whether or not it should have been brought into existence. I’m a big fan, as is Quentin, of films that maybe don’t fully achieve what they try to, but there’s something in there that’s a performance, or a little structural thing, or a scene, you know, that’s wonderful. And so, yes, I understand. I think wanted to keep a sort of perfect reputation of something, but also kind of don’t want to take anything off the table.”

Nolan’s take on Tarantino’s retirement differs greatly from their friend and fellow filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson.

“I know Quentin [Tarantino] likes to say, ‘I’m making 10 movies and then I’m quitting.’ But I could never do that,” Anderson said back in 2018. “I don’t know how he could say that, or how he could take himself seriously when he says that. This is what I want to do as long as I’m able to do it. As long as I’m able to do it, I’m going to do it. I think things can become peculiar when directors don’t act their age maybe, or seeing them try to keep up with the kids or trying to be hip. That’s never a good look.”

I guess we will just have to wait and see if Tarantino can stay away. If he does, at least he made a collection of great films that will live on as his legacy. Nolan’s Oppenheimer hits theatres this weekend. Are you heading to the movies to check it out?