Gordon Liu – This Had Oscar Buzz

Last week we celebrated the 20th anniversary of Kill Bill – Vol. 1, so naturally we had to bring you Vol. 2 this week! Six months after the release of the original (and its shafting at the Oscars), The Bride returned to finish her vengeance list and kill that Bill. Surprisingly, the finale earned stronger reviews and earned praise for David Carradine’s turn as the titular assassin. But even with Uma Thurman’s towering work coming into full focus at the story’s close, Vol. 2 marked one of the last times that Oscar would decide Tarantino wasn’t in their wheelhouse.

This episode, we look at how the two films differ and how some scenes may have played in one long film. We also talk about Daryl Hannah’s career, why we think the film received better reviews than its predecessor, and Beatrix Kiddo’s travel logistics.

Topics also include David Carradine’s position in the 2004 Supporting Actor race, Uma post-Bill, and the most recent Best Picture nominee we haven’t seen.

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We’re here celebrating a 20th anniversary for a beloved film this week, listeners! After his longest break between movies to date, Quentin Tarantino delivered a samurai epic while trying to crack the script for another epic, Inglourious Basterds. That ultraviolent actioner, Kill Bill, would also reunite Tarantino with his Pulp Fiction star Uma Thurman, given a major showcase as an unnamed blood soaked bride bent on vengeance. But Tarantino made so much movie, it had to be split into two.

Vol. 1 arrived in 2003 and became a sizable hit, wild mild critical praise that didn’t quite know what to do with its non-stop violence, time-hopping structure, and incomplete narrative arc. This episode, we talk about Kill Bill – Vol. 1‘s excellent female ensemble, its triumph at the MTV Movie Awards, and the all-timer needle drop “Battle Without Honor or Humanity”.

Topics also include first experiencing the film’s cliffhanger, its strong performance at BAFTA, and early aughts trailer descriptions.

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Tag: Gordon Liu

258 – Kill Bill – Vol. 2

257 – Kill Bill – Vol. 1