Quentin Tarantino, the legendary filmmaker, celebrates his 60th birthday today. And what better way to mark the occasion than with a surprise cake ambush by none other than Jamie Foxx? Last night, in front of a crowd of 2,000 people at the iconic London Palladium, Tarantino was caught off guard by Foxx’s sweet gesture. Unfortunately, there are no photos of this memorable moment as it happened at the end of a two-night event promoting Tarantino’s recent memoir, Cinema Speculation. To ensure an immersive experience, everyone in attendance had to turn off their mobile phones and secure them in lockable pouches. This rule is no surprise, considering Tarantino’s strict no-phone policy on his film sets and during his live appearances.
Originally planned as a one-off event, Saturday night turned out to be a warm-up for the main event on Sunday. As the iconic song “Whole Lotta Love” by Ike and Tina Turner faded, the house lights dimmed, and the familiar jingle of Pete Moore’s “Asteroid” (known to all British moviegoers over 40) signaled the start of the show. The audience eagerly speculated about the identity of the host, relieved when Last Night in Soho director and Tarantino confidante, Edgar Wright, took the stage.
Fully aware of the London Palladium’s rich history in British light-entertainment, Edgar Wright kicked off the evening with a tribute to some of the greatest performers who have graced its stage. From Bruce Forsyth to Ken Dodd and even “Ronnie f*cking Corbett,” Wright highlighted the “baddest mother*ckers in showbusiness.” Tarantino, not one to be fazed, expressed his admiration for Palladium favorite Tommy Steele. Wright also humorously mentioned that the term “Tarantinoesque” has officially made its way into the “O.E.F.D” (Oxford English f*ckin’ Dictionary). He joked that this adjective has been used to describe 70 percent of all thrillers released since 1992, and 100 percent of Guy Ritchie’s movies.
Surprisingly, the evening saw a decrease in the use of profanity, both from Wright and in discussions about Tarantino’s own films. As the master of ceremonies, Wright smoothly transitioned into asking Tarantino about his journey as a filmmaker.During a conversation about his history with London, Quentin Tarantino revealed that the city was the first to embrace his film, “Reservoir Dogs,” as a mainstream hit. He recalled the moment he realized its success when he was recognized buying videos at Tower Records. Tarantino’s childhood as a movie buff was also a topic of discussion, with him sharing how his mother took him to see inappropriate films at a young age. He found it amusing that his British contemporaries were forbidden from accessing such material. The conversation took an unexpected turn when an audience member complained, but Tarantino brushed it off and continued. Film criticism was also touched upon, with Tarantino emphasizing the importance of reviews and their role in the industry. The evening ended with Tarantino reading from his book and receiving praise from Jamie Foxx. Overall, it was an engaging and lively event.
Obviously, there was so much more to both nights than just this. But as the saying goes, you absolutely had to experience it firsthand.
