Quentin Tarantino Declares Black Hawk Down Best Film of Century

Quentin Tarantino has named Black Hawk Down as the best film of the 21st century during a recent appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast. This declaration has sparked conversations among film enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. Tarantino, known for his distinctive style and strong opinions, included the 2001 war film directed by Ridley Scott in a curated list of his top films, which features other notable works such as Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation and Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Black Hawk Down dramatizes the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, where U.S. forces faced a fierce ambush while attempting to capture a Somali warlord’s lieutenant. The film received critical acclaim upon its release, winning two Academy Awards in 2002 for Best Film Editing and Best Sound. Tarantino’s acknowledgment of the film as a “masterwork” adds a new layer of appreciation for its artistic merit.

In a recent interview, Bruckheimer responded to Tarantino’s comments, attributing the film’s success to Scott’s direction. “Look, Ridley Scott’s a brilliant director, and it’s a great movie,” Bruckheimer stated. He emphasized the film’s authenticity, noting, “It captures the essence of what that period was like and takes you inside that world.” Bruckheimer highlighted that both F1: The Movie and Black Hawk Down share similarities as process films, immersing viewers in experiences that they might never encounter in real life.

Tarantino elaborated on his evolving perspective of Black Hawk Down, explaining that his initial viewing left him overwhelmed by its intensity. “I liked it when I first saw it, but I actually think it was so intense that it stopped working for me,” he shared. However, after multiple rewatches, he recognized the film’s technical brilliance and emotional impact, describing it as achieving a level of visual storytelling reminiscent of Apocalypse Now.

The director praised the film’s ability to maintain tension throughout its nearly three-hour runtime, remarking, “My heart was going through the entire runtime of the movie.” His comments underscore the film’s lasting impact on audiences, reinforcing its status as a significant work in modern cinema.

Currently, Black Hawk Down is available for streaming on platforms like Kanopy and Hoopla in the United States, although viewers in the United Kingdom and Australia do not have access. Meanwhile, Bruckheimer’s latest project, F1: The Movie, is set to premiere on Apple TV starting December 12, 2023.

As discussions continue around Tarantino’s selection, it remains clear that Black Hawk Down holds a prominent place in the landscape of contemporary film, resonating with both critics and audiences alike.