You’re almost always guaranteed a surprise at a film festival and this year’s 40th annual AFI Fest was no different.
‘Cliff Booth’ Surprise Footage
Quentin Tarantino dropped by the American Film Institute’s annual, five-day international film festival, attending a special IMAX screening of his 2019 hit, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” He not only introduced the film, but he also participated in a Q&A with moderator Jacqueline Coley. That wasn’t all, though.
Much to the delight of every Tarantino enthusiast in the crowd, he surprised them with 17 minutes of exclusive, never-before-seen footage of “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth.” Written by Tarantino and directed by David Fincher, the upcoming film brings Brad Pitt back to his Academy Award-winning role in a whole new era, eight years later.
What Did the Footage Say About the Film?
Early impressions reported by IndieWire suggest a return to Tarantino’s gritty filmmaking roots, the spinoff echoes the noir sensibility of “True Romance,” “Reservoir Dogs,” and “Pulp Fiction.” This iteration shows a darker, more cold-blooded edge to Cliff Booth, closer to the sociopathic character portrayed in Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time” novelization than the easygoing stuntman we’ve come to know and love.
Set in June 1977, the surprise footage revealed that Booth is back in Hollywood, working as a projectionist at the New Beverly Cinema (a clever nod that apparently got laughs from the crowd, because Tarantino actually owns it in real life). But that’s not all Cliff is doing, he allegedly moonlights as a “fixer” who’s up to no good. Obviously 17 minutes isn’t long enough to get a good feel for the overall plot but there seemed to be hints. The footage also showcased an intriguing dynamic between Cliff and his pawnshop-owner father, played by Peter Weller.
What Are the Official Details?
Pitt comes back as Cliff Booth (and as a producer) to a very different Hollywood, set in 1977. With Fincher taking the directing reins, the film promises a darker, more “Finchian” approach to the Tarantino universe. Supported by a stellar ensemble, including Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth” looks to bring the same rich period detail and pop-culture nostalgia for the late 1970s that made its predecessor an instant classic for the late 1960s.
Full cast: Brad Pitt, Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Peter Weller, Matt Groove, JB Tadena, Corey Fogelmanis, Karren Karagulian.
“The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth” will release in IMAX Theaters globally Nov. 25 and on Netflix Dec. 23.
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