Bruce Willis’ Direct-to-Video Movies: Quentin Tarantino’s Defense
Renowned director Quentin Tarantino has publicly praised Bruce Willis for his performances in direct-to-video films, expressing that he was “truly impressed” by the actor’s abilities in these projects, despite their mixed critical reception. Willis, a celebrated star, has faced substantial criticism for his involvement in a series of films that went straight to video, but Tarantino’s endorsement highlights the merit he sees in these often-overlooked works.
Before receiving a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia, Bruce Willis had a prolific career, appearing in numerous direct-to-video films. Many critics have harshly judged these projects, leading to the Golden Raspberries (Razzies) creating a special category for Willis, which they later revoked following his health news. However, during a recent episode of the Video Archives Podcast, Quentin Tarantino took the opportunity to defend Willis’ body of work in this arena after immersing himself in several of these films.
“These movies that he’s been making for these companies have really gone under fire in a really big way,” Tarantino commented. “There’s been these kinds of expose articles written about them and talking shit about these movies.” Reflecting on his initial reaction, Tarantino recalled, “What the f* is this, what the f* is Bruce Willis doing this stuff for?” Intrigued, he “decided to watch a few of them to see how Bruce equipped himself” and was pleasantly surprised by the enjoyment he found in them.
“I was really impressed by Bruce Willis in these movies,” Tarantino expressed. “I thought he was really charming in them. He’s really fun.” The director acknowledged that it was evident Willis was working with an earpiece during shooting. “You can never have a scene where he says a line, somebody else says a line, and he says a line back,” he explained. “You’re getting one line out of him at a time, so there’s always a cut. But he’s making it work. He’s not phoning in his performances.“
Tarantino elaborated, “I ended up watching about six of them; they’re very easy to watch. They’re very entertaining. There might not be a classic among them, and certainly nothing like One-Armed Executioner, but those who criticize these films have likely never watched genuine exploitation cinema before.” He highlighted Vice, Trauma Center, and Deadlock as standout films among those he viewed. “In Vice, Bruce looks like a million dollars,” he noted. “He’s terrific; it’s a good role for him, and he’s a lot of fun in it. I wish he had more to do because he’s really good.“
In these various projects, Bruce Willis often received top billing and was prominently featured in marketing materials, despite sometimes only working on set for a day or two. In fact, in 2022 alone, he appeared in a remarkable dozen direct-to-video films, demonstrating his enduring presence in the film industry.
What is your take on Bruce Willis’ direct-to-video films? Which ones have you enjoyed the most?
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