Tarantino digs his outlaw genius status

Obviously, the making of “Grindhouse” was a fantasy come true for the hyper-hyper Tarantino who never seems to take a breath when he’s talking. His hands move all the time — like he’s directing the Boston Pops on the Fourth of July — and Tarantino’s cadence is so rapid that the people around him often break a sweat just listening to him.

He’s more than a character, he’s an experience in high-def 3-D. And he usually has empowering images of women in his films. They kick ass. Perhaps that’s why just about every actress is willing to risk getting battered and bruised to be a part of a Tarantino film.

“I’ve been such a huge fan of Quentin’s for so many years that it was so fun to read something like this that has so many great female roles,” said Dawson. “Just that dialogue. I don’t care what situations you put your characters in, if you’re riding with Quentin, it’s going to be amazing and so much fun to work on. It’s been an amazing opportunity.

“And it was fun kicking Kurt Russell’s ass, too!”

McGowan, who had the opportunity to work with both directors, concurred.

“Quentin is really fast-paced and pretty hyper, but he’s really in control,” McGowan says. “You really don’t ab lib in his movies, you really stick to it as with Robert, too. Robert’s really intense, really focused and the set’s really quiet because there’s so much going on in his head at the same time he’s behind the camera and shooting. And, he’s basically in his head editing at the same time and he goes home at night and edits. With Quentin, it’s loud and crazy, but controlled because he knows exactly what he wants.”

Possibilities are limitless
If “Grindhouse” scores big at the box office this weekend, Tarantino and Rodriguez will likely be hailed as outlaw geniuses. “Hopefully, the idea is when that movie’s over and they freeze-frame and you walk out of the theater — that if someone walks up to you and says ‘hey babycakes, howya doin’? You can go ‘Pow!’” Tarantino said.

But regardless of how well the film is received, the two best friends are already thinking franchise.

“One thing that was really funny is that there are many, many different sub-genres that would play at the Grindhouse,” Tarantino said. “There are all of these possibilities. I’ve always wanted to do a blaxploitation movie or women in prison. I’ve always wanted to do a spaghetti western. There are all kinds of things.

“I think the way to start off is to make them horror. That way you wouldn’t have to explain too much. This gives us kind of a wonderful umbrella to do it. The weight of the world wouldn’t be riding on it if it fell into the Grindhouse. It would just be what it is. I wouldn’t have to reinvent cinema in order to do it.”

Miki Turner is a freelance TV producer/writer in Los Angeles. She can be reached at .

MORE FROM MOVIE INTERVIEWS

Comedian Mo’Nique gets serious in ‘Precious’

Comedian Mo’Nique gets serious in ‘Precious’   Richard Gere on ‘Amelia’ role Newsweek: A chat with the 'Wild Things' creators Carey Mulligan gets ‘An Education’ on the ’60s Barrymore wheels into directing with ‘Whip It’   Add Movie interviews headlines to your news reader: