Grindhouse (2007)
Cherry / Pam: Rose McGowan
Wray: Freddy Rodríguez
Dr. Dakota Block: Marley Shelton
Dr. William Block: Josh Brolin
J.T.: Jeff Fahey
Sheriff Hague: Michael Biehn
Tammy: Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson
Abby: Naveen Andrews
Joe: Nicky Katt
Lt. Muldoon: Bruce Willis
Machete: Danny Trejo
Stuntman Mike: Kurt Russell
Warren / The Rapist: Quentin Tarantino
Abernathy: Rosario Dawson
Kim: Tracie Thoms
Herself: Zoe Bell
Shanna / Jody: Jordan Ladd
Dov / Tucker: Eli Roth
Lee: Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Dimension Films and the Weinstein Company present a film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. Featuring additional segments directed by Rob Zombie, Eli Roth, and Edgar Wright.
Running time: 191 minutes
Rated R for strong graphic bloody violence and gore, pervasive language, some sexuality.
Release Date: April 6, 2007
Review Date: April 6, 2007
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Under the impression that going just to see a movie isn't enough, Grindhouse is Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's gift to move theaters nationwide. The fact that a ticket to see this treasure costs no more than one to see heartless, lifeless garbage like the Epic Movies of the world is astounding.
While advertised as a simple throwback to the exploitation films of the 1970's, Grindhouse instead features two very different and wonderful films that would draw praise on their own - and a few uproariously amazing fake movie trailers sprinkled in just to make the whole experience that much more fun.
We are thrown right into the fire with a trailer for Robert Rodriguez' Machete, featuring Danny Trejo and Cheech Marin. I won't spoil anything, but all I can say is thank God that this is actually going to be made into a real picture. But we're at the Grindhouse to see the movies that have already been made, which Rodriguez delivers in full force with Planet Terror.
A chance encounter between newly retired go-go dancer, Cherry (McGowan), and her ex-boyfriend, Wray (Rodriguez), untangles an interesting story on its own in Planet Terror. But the army of mutated zombies quickly destroying and eating everything in their community makes the timely encounter just a little more interesting. Now it's a matter of gory, sexy, and badass survival in one of the bloodiest and most graphic films I have ever seen. Not that that's a bad thing.
McGowan and Rodriguez truly shine in their roles as they are just campy enough to add a few laughs during the shockingly disgusting film, but not so campy that we can't take them seriously. That's the true strong point of Grindhouse; the whole feature may be paying homage to exploitation movies, but still remembers that if it's just a straight-up exploitation movie, the whole thing will be a waste of time. Tarantino makes every bit as sure to make Death Proof not suck as Rodriguez does with Planet Terror.
Death Proof, the second half of this double feature, is quite a bit slower than its predecessor, but still has all those touches of Tarantino (even a Big Kahuna Burger mention!) that keep the audience hooked from frame one until the credits roll. I don't think any director alive today can make the most basic human interaction as interesting as Tarantino does, and it's all even better when you throw in a really fast car. In addition, Kurt Russell turns in his best performance in ages as the slasher, Stuntman Mike. All apologies, but if there's a different term for a slasher that uses a stunt car instead of a knife to kill his innocent and gorgeous female victims, I haven't heard it.
There isn't much more I want to explain about these two films for fear of spoiling anything. Each and every frame is given an amazing attention to detail that I dare not risk to spoil. The dialogue is brilliant in moments and just brilliantly cheesy in others. The missing reels and damaged film clips come in at perfect points, adding even that much more to the experience.
The icing on the gritty Grindhouse cake comes in the form of the various film trailers, which - outside of Machete - play in between the two features. I was in tears I was laughing so hard during Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright's Don't, and loved the other trailers almost every bit as much. If any of the films that we're given sneak previews of were real, I might have to go out and see them. Although, I'd probably avoid the restaurant that's "next door to the theater."
There are films and then there are movie going experiences. Grindhouse really is unlike anything that's ever hit the silver screen. All of the parties involved show a passion that is all but non-existent in most major Hollywood features, and bring forth something as enjoyable as it is truly special.
Even though Grindhouse is a horror / slasher film showcase, this may be the most fun I've ever had at the movies. If you consider yourself to be a film fan in general and can handle the language, blood, and guts, you owe it to yourself to see this movie. Right now.
**** (out of ****)