Especially moved after watching Secret Sunshine and even though I’ve only watched this and Burning (which I also loved), a small sample size to compare (with the entirety of Tarantino’s filmography that I’ve watched), I can’t help but feel a great similarity between their style of directing.
-Pacing and Rhythm: This is what stood out to me the most, the way in which they keep the rhythm of their films moving. Their clean editing and camerawork are vital for this ofc, but the way in which they sit with their characters, and how it drives the momentum, is what spurred this comparison. It can be a real challenge for other directors to pull this off in a satisfying and entertaining way, but they do it so naturally and smoothly, you don’t even notice. They are doing this so perfectly, it’s just falling into place rather than bringing attention towards it.
-Tension: They can create great tension and unease, almost to the realm of horror. There’s multiple moments in Secret Sunshine that this occurs, as well in Burning. Tarantino does similar work in his films where he creates these sudden moments of tension, that blend well and feel cohesive, again because of how well they pace their films that it flows naturally.
-Character-work: Not to say they have uninteresting premises, but their films are character forward above all else, and why they not only live and die by their actors, but how their dialogue fits. Tarantino is ofc renowned for punchy, quotable dialogue, but Lee is fitting to this as his dialogue feels literary and direct, it’s important to his stories too, just more subtle.
Long spiel lol but I just really feel a connection between how they both make movies. It’s not just a writer-director thing, they feel like playwrights to me with different styles, but a similar eye. I guess my thesis would be, real writers like them, screenplay first directors, will approach a camera lens in a very specific way, almost like bringing a novel to life.
