Death Proof (2007)

Genre

Thriller

Director

Quentin Tarantino

Country

USA

Cast

Kurt Russell, Zoë Bell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Tracie Thoms, Jordan Ladd, Rose McGowan, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Quentin Tarantino, Marcy Harriell, Michael Parks, Eli Roth, Omar Doom, Michael Bacall, Jonathan Loughran, Marley Shelton, Monica Staggs

Storyline

Two separate sets of voluptuous women are stalked at different times by a scarred stuntman (Kurt Russell) who uses his "death proof" cars to execute his murderous plans.

Opinion

Back in 2012, Tarantino said "Death Proof" is the worst film he's ever made, not a terrible movie, still the worst. I can't argue with that. But I guess it was supposed to be. It's an homage to Grindhouse films after all. 

The plot is pretty simple: Stuntman Mike, a psychotic yet cool scarred stuntman who goes around in a death proof car - those automobiles used in TV Shows to simulate clashed - to pick up and kill girls based on their appearance. Nothing more.  

The style is totally Tarantino's: long and exhausting nonsense dialogue - maybe this time a little bit too long - served with futile and vulgar topics, typical camera movements of the sixties, spectacular chases, vibrant red blood splashing everywhere just to not take this whole thing too seriously. There is all of this. Unfortunately, if it wasn't Tarantino's, the film would have passed completely unnoticed because it doesn't really have anything special.

Okay, maybe the soundtrack is special. I mean, after all nobody manages to use popular music in the way Tarantino does. You gotta give him that.

The casting of Kurt Russell was perfect though. He finally has the opportunity to go all bad again, and man, he goes bad. Even when he is supposed to be friendly, he exudes a sense of menace that doesn't' leave until the end of the film.

The Hateful Eight (2015)

Genre

Mystery | Western

Director

Quentin Tarantino

Country

USA

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demián Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, James Parks, Channing Tatum, Dana Gourrier, Zoë Bell, Lee Horsley, Gene Jones, Keith Jefferson, Craig Stark, Belinda Owino, Quentin Tarantino

Storyline

During the winter in Wyoming, bounty hunter John Ruth (Kurt Russell) and his fugitive captive Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) race towards the town of Red Rock. Along the road, they encounter Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson), an infamous bounty hunter, and Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins), a man who claims to be Red Rock's new sheriff. Lost in a blizzard, they seek refuge at Minnie's Haberdashery, a stagecoach stopover on a mountain pass. When they arrive, they are greeted by four unfamiliar faces: Bob (Demián Bichir), who's taking care of Minnie's while she's visiting her mother, Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth), the hangman of Red Rock, cow-puncher Joe Gage (Michael Madsen), and Confederate General Sanford Smithers (Bruce Dern). As the storm overtakes the mountainside stopover, the eight travelers come to learn they may not make it to Red Rock after all.

Opinion

As if having to wait until February the 4th for this film wasn't awful enough, I didn't even have the opportunity to see the 70mm version - which according to everyone makes a hell of a difference -, but at least I got to see it in English. Anyway, I feel very, very sorry for the haters, because Tarantino did what Tarantino does best, he made another masterpiece.

Raw, bloody and insane, "The Hateful Eight" is an excellent western as well as a great murder mystery with a great story, stunning cinematography, and sublime music.

Let's start from the storyline. It's simple, at the same time very improbable and absolutely convincing, and it's told in a complex, interesting and unique way that will keep your eyes glued to the screen throughout the entire running time - whether 167 minutes for unlucky people like myself, or 187 minutes for the lucky ones. If I had to compare it to another Tarantino it'd definitely be "Reservoir Dogs", Tarantino's debut film - Michael Madsen and Tim Roth are even in it!

The first "peaceful" half is built almost entirely on witty, philosophical, and deeply engaging dialogue, which serves to set the stage for the characters. Following a big plot twist that brings the narrator, Tarantino himself, back a few minutes to show a scene from another point of view, the second half is what one would call a typical Tarantino.

Just like most of his films, the story is divided into chapters and the events aren't in a chronological order, but each missing piece is unveiled when needed, making the story very thrilling and unpredictable.

The violent action scenes always have a reason to be in the film, and transform the hateful eight's mental violence into pictures. Also these scenes are perfectly balanced with the slow, calm ones.

The setting is excellent. After 30 minutes or so taking place on a stagecoach, the film then entirely takes place in Minnie's Haberdashery, a small cabin in the middle of nowhere. Besides from giving almost a claustrophobic feeling, and recalling once again Tarantino's first time, it shows how much this genius can do with so little.

Everything is spectacular, from the excellent camera work from Robert Richardson to the meticulous set pieces and costumes, to Ennio Morricone's fascinating, enthralling, and sinister musical score that makes the smell of blood palpable from the very beginning.

The acting is top-notch. Yes, Jennifer Jason Leigh is spectacular as Daisy Domergue and she even got an Academy Award nomination, but let's not forget about the rest of the cast. At his sixth collaboration with Tarantino, Samuel L. Jackson does a wonderful job as Major Marquis Warren, once again in the role of a divine executioner. He really gives his best when teaming with Tarantino, he performs his words like no other, and delivers some very interesting and intelligent monologues. Needless to say this was an Oscar worthy performance. Tim Roth gives a performance as Oswald that feels like Christoph Waltz's in "Inglourious Basterds", which is a good thing. Kurt Russell, Walton Goggins, Michael Madsen, Demián Bichir and Bruce Dern also do a great job with the characters.

In a nutshell, all people love of Tarantino's films - witty dialogue, bloody violence, non-linear storytelling and black humour - is in "The Hateful Eight". So if you are a fan, like myself, you can't miss this.

When the handbill says "dead or alive", the rest of us just shoot you in the back from up on top a perch somewhere and bring you in dead over a saddle. But when John Ruth the Hangman catches you... You hang! - Major Marquis Warren

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Genre

Crime | Drama

Director

Quentin Tarantino

Country

USA

Cast

Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Quentin Tarantino, Kirk Baltz, Randy Brooks, Edward Bunker

Storyline

Joe Cabot (Lawrence Tierney), a small-time crime boss, assembles six strangers with reputations as good thieves to steal a lot diamonds. When the police arrive at the scene before the burglars can even make their getaway, it becomes apparent that one of them is an undercover police officer.

Opinion

Reservoir Dogs is a disturbing, sadistic, violent, yet brilliant film destined to become a cult, and a unique directorial debut from a unique and outstanding director. The film, more about the consequences of the heist rather than the heist itself, tests the trust between the criminals. 

28-year-old Quentin Tarantino already proves to be a master of cinema, brilliantly writing and masterfully directing this outstanding piece of art. The beauty of Tarantino's direction is that the perspective is of someone who knows - and loves - cinema, not having studied it, but having seen it.

Some people said that the violence was unnecessary and didn't add anything to the plot, but it has an important role on the character development. It is because of the violence that we can learn more about the characters' personalities - not all of them, though.

The soundtrack couldn't be anything but spectacular, including Blue Swede's "Hooked on a Feeling"  that won't get out of my head easily now. 

With a top-actors cast, there is no surprise the acting is superb. Harvey Keitel is wonderful as Mr. White. Steve Buscemi freaks out for much of the film, still gives a great performance as Mr. Pink. Tim Roth, passed out and dying on the floor for most of the time, does a great job as Mr. Orange, carrying the emotional weight of the film. Lawrence Tierney as Joe, Michael Madsen as Mr. Blonde, and Chris Penn as Nice Guy Eddie are great as well. The problem in the acting is Quentin Tarantino, his character, Mr. Brown, is not great, and he is not a great actor.

Quotes

Mr. Pink: I don't wanna kill anybody. But if I gotta get out that door, and you're standing in my way, one way or the other, you're gettin' outta my way.

Mr. Pink: I can say I definitely didn't do it because I know what I did or didn't do. But I cannot definitely say that about anybody else, 'cause I don't definitely know.

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

Genre

Action | Crime | Thriller

Director

Quentin Tarantino

Country

USA

Cast

Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Gordon Liu, Michael Parks, Bo Svenson, Jeannie Epper, Samuel L. Jackson, Larry Bishop, Sid Haig, Perla Haney-Jardine, Helen Kim, Chris Nelson, Laura Cayouette, Clark Middleton, Stephanie L. Moore, Lawrence Bender

Plot

The Bride (Uma Thurman) continues her quest of vengeance against her former boss and lover Bill (David Carradine), the reclusive bouncer Budd (Michael Madsen) and the treacherous, one-eyed Elle (Daryl Hannah).

Opinion

I thought splitting Quentin Tarantino's epic film into two parts was a shame, but I am glad it happened because the two episodes are very different even though the stories are tied together.

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 is astonishing, and, although it is not filled with action, it still is enjoyable and entertaining. 

The film cleverly alternates between funny moments, such as the Bride's training with the Cantonese Martial Arts Master, and dramatic moments, such as memories, in black and white. 

Those who had complained about the lack of witty dialogue in the first episode will be happy to know that Quentin Tarantino once again demonstrates a mastery of dialogue: it is the real essence of the film - the scene in which Bill is speaking with the Bride while he makes a sandwich and Bill's final monologue are unforgettable. 

The acting is good. Uma Thurman really fits in with her character, and Daryl Hannah is dazzling. However, David Carradine is the real deal: he is mesmerizing as Bill and he totally steal the show.

Quotes

Bill: As you know, I'm quite keen on comic books. Especially the ones about superheroes. I find the whole mythology surrounding superheroes fascinating. Take my favorite superhero, Superman. Not a great comic book. Not particularly well-drawn. But the mythology... The mythology is not only great, it's unique.

[...] Now, a staple of the superhero mythology is, there's the superhero and there's the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When that character wakes up in the morning, he's Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic Superman stands alone. Superman didn't become Superman. Superman was born Superman. When Superman wakes up in the morning, he's Superman. His alter ego is Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red "S", that's the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kents found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears - the glasses, the business suit - that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent. He's weak... he's unsure of himself... he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race. Sorta like Beatrix Kiddo and Mrs. Tommy Plimpton.

The Bride: Ah-so. The point emerges.

Bill: You would've worn the costume of Arlene Plimpton. But you were born Beatrix Kiddo. And every morning when you woke up, you'd still be Beatrix Kiddo. 

The Bride: Are you calling me a superhero?

Bill: I'm calling you a killer. A natural born killer. You always have been, and you always will be. Moving to El Paso, working in a used record store, goin' to the movies with Tommy, clipping coupons. That's you, trying to disguise yourself as a worker bee. That's you tryin' to blend in with the hive. But you're not a worker bee. You're a renegade killer bee. And no matter how much beer you drank or barbecue you ate or how fat your ass got, nothing in the world would ever change that.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Genre

Adventure | Drama | War

Director

Quentin Tarantino

Country

United States | Germany

Cast

Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, Til Schweiger, Mélanie Laurent, August Diehl, Julie Dreyfus, Sylvester Groth, Jacky Ido, Denis Ménochet, Mike Myers, Rod Taylor, Martin Wuttke, Gedeon Burkhard, B.J. Novak, Omar Doom, Léa Seydoux, Richard Sammel, Alexander Fehling, Christian Berkel, Söhke Möhring, Samm Levine, Paul Rust, Michael Bacall, Rainer Bock, Bo Svenson, Enzo G. Castellari, Samuel L. Jackson, Harvey Keitel

Plot

In Nazi-occupied France, young Jewish refugee Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent) witnesses the slaughter of her family by Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). Shosanna narrowly escapes and flees to Paris, where she forges a new identity as the owner and operator of a cinema. Elsewhere in Europe, Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) organizes a group of Jewish soldiers to engage in targeted acts of retribution. Known to their enemy as "The Basterds," Raine's squad joins German actress and undercover agent Bridget Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) on a mission to take down the leaders of The Third Reich. Fates converge under a cinema marquee, where Shosanna is poised to carry out a revenge plan of her own.

Opinion

The tagline says it all: you haven't seen war until you've seen it through the eyes of Quentin Tarantino. Inglourious Basterds is a brilliant, brave, exuberant, comic, dark, violent and glorious film.

Quentin Tarantino's pleasure to tell stories leads him to rewrite history, by telling the - fictional - assassination of Adolf Hitler, set in the only possible venue: a cinema.

The dialogue, the continuous tension, and the use of several languages - English, German, French and German -, on which irony is mostly based, make of this film a jewel of cinema. Also, the film is smooth and there is no heaviness resulting from its long running time.

The Spaghetti-Western score is magnificent, and the opening scene's song, The Verdict (Dopo la condanna), written by Ennio Morricone, is absolutely stunning.

The acting is pretty much great. Christoph Waltz is spectacular: he built a deep, detailed and realistic character, the kind of Nazi everyone would be afraid of. Brad Pitt's performance is not very good, and his Italian is pretty painful to be heard. August Diehl well plays the other sadistic German, very important in the final plot twist. Michael Fassbender is great as Lieutenant Archie Hicox, he has the chance to show off his almost perfect German, and he gets extra points for delivering the line, "There's a special rung in hell for people who waste good Scotch". 

Quotes

Lt. Aldo Raine: You probably heard we ain't in the prisoner-takin' business; we in the killin' Nazi business. And cousin, business is a-boomin'.

Bridget von Hammersmark: I know this is a silly question before I ask it, but can you Americans speak any other language besides English?

Rating

9.0/10

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

Genre

Action | Crime

Director

Quentin Tarantino

Country

United States

Cast

Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Julie Dreyfus, Sonny Chiba, Chiaki Kuriyama, Gordon Liu, Michael Parks, Michael Bowen, Jun Kunimura, Kenji Ohba, James Parks, Jonathan Loughran, Yuki Kazamatsuri, Sakichi Sato, Ambrosia Kelley

Plot

The Bride (Uma Thurman) wakens from a four-year coma and seeks revenge on an assassination squad led by Bill (David Carradine) after they try to kill her and her unborn child. 

Opinion

Like all of Tarantino's film, you  love it or you hate it. Presented as a bizarre action film, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is fascinating, unforgettable and definitely not a movie for children.
In this film comes to attentions Tarantino's love for Oriental culture: martial arts, katanas and tributes to Japanese directors - the Bride's costume reminds Bruce Lee's in Game of Death.
The score, by The RZA, is overwhelming. The fighting sequences are spectacular, loved the last one.
The performance from Uma Thurman is brilliant. Lucy Liu manages to give a decent performance, and probably Tarantino has the merit for it. 

Buy on Amazon.com | Buy/Rent on Amazon Instant Video

Quotes

Hattori Hanzo: Revenge is never a straight line. It's a forest, And like a forest it's easy to lose your way... To get lost... To forget where you came in.

Title Card: "Revenge is a dish best served cold" - Old Klingon proverb

Rating

8.2/10