For many people, Quentin Tarantino’s legacy rests chiefly on his unique dialogue style and cultural references—but thinking of him as a writer and pastiche master sells his films short. In truth, QT has the visual dexterity to create some of the most memorable film images of the past 25 years. Each of his films contains brilliant camerawork, from bravura long takes to whip-smart editing, but taken as still frames there’s beauty to behold.
By now, Tarantino’s use of Ultra Panavision 70 for his latest film is widely known—The Hateful Eight will be the widest 70mm release since 1992’s Far and Away. But unlike the many 70mm films that were sand-and-sandal epics (Ben-Hur, The Greatest Story Ever Told) or war films (Battle of the Bulge), The Hateful Eight is largely confined to one location: Minnie’s Haberdashery, a shop in Reconstruction-era Wyoming. Those constraints make for an interesting test of the format for Tarantino and his longtime cinematographer Robert Richardson; the extreme depth of field that makes 70mm perfect for sweeping landscapes hasn't traditionally been used for long interior sequneces.
So on the verge of a cinematic rarity that will surely yield at least a handful of mesmerizing shots, we wanted to take a look back at Tarantino’s career to select our favorite single frames from the director's previous eight films. These selections aren’t taking into account the rest of the shot—whether it’s a long take or a split-second—the scene it takes place in, or the production involved in capturing the given image. This is all about appreciating the compelling single images that stick in viewers’ memories long after a film is over.
