“Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood” may be how movie buffs refer to Quentin Tarantino’s illustrious career sooner rather than later.
Tarantino, 58, insisted that he only has one movie left in him before he retires from filmmaking during his appearance on “Real Time with Bill Maher” on Friday.
Tarantino, the Oscar-winning director behind films like “Pulp Fiction,” “Reservoir Dogs” and “Inglorious Basterds,” has previously said in interviews that he plans to retire from filmmaking after his tenth film.
While on the talk show, he doubled down on the sentiment, telling Maher that his decision is based on a precedent that he believes exists in movie history.
“You’re too young to quit and you’re at the top of your game,” Maher emphasized.
“That’s why I want to quit,” Tarantino quickly responded. “Because I know film history and from here on end, directors do not get better.”
Maher went on to say that “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood,” Tarantino’s ninth and most recent film, is his best work yet.
Tarantino hinted that the true reason for his planned exit from filmmaking is more personal — or controversial — than he’s willing to publicly admit.
“I don’t have a reason that I would want to say out loud that’s going to win any argument in the court of public opinion or Supreme Court or anything like that,” he said.
He added: “At the same time, working for 30 years doing as many movies as I’ve done is not as many as other people but that’s a long career. That’s a really long career. And I’ve given it everything I have.”
Tarantino appeared on “Real Time” to promote the novel version of “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.” The long-awaited book is the director’s first work of fiction and based on his Academy Award-winning film of the same name.
The novel comes out June 29. You can pre-order a copy on Amazon.
Watch “Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood” on Amazon Prime Video.
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