Basically, Tarantino has the clout -- deserved or not -- to do whatever he wants.

Shyamalan threw a public hissy fit (via a book) when the studio head suggested his script wasn't up to snuff, then he later agreed that some of the suggested changes had to be made. Oh, and had to go make it at another studio.

I guess it all depends on your definition of better career, but by my definition it's Tarantino in a landslide. Frankly, I'd be suspect of any definition that didn't include having the greatest degree of artistic freedom.

And I have no reason to suspect anything will change in the future. While Tarantino hasn't enjoyed a huge box office, Grindhouse was his first real dud (fuck Four Rooms); all the rest of them connected with their intended audience and were critically hits. Shyamalan's movies haven't all been well received and, due to higher budgets, have had their box office receipts more scrutinized. Lady in the Water was his first true dud, though.

And no I'm not a Tarantino fan. I've enjoyed more Shyamalan's movies (even going back to his first film, Praying with Anger). However, Shyamalan's movies are targeted at a broader audience, so when they don't hit the majority of the target, it's a higher profile failing. At that level, you can only be off the mark so many times.

Tarantino clearly isn't for everyone (me included) and he isn't trying to be. Except for Grindhouse, he is right on the money with his target everytime. So, as long as he isn't trying to make $150 million epics, no one is going to bother him about what he wants to do next.

RED
http://arrena.blogspot.com