Death Proof
Cinemateket is screening every single one of Tarantino's films through January and February. I'll go see as many of these as I can. First up on my retrospective, Death Proof from 2007.
Originally part of a double feature with Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror - the double feature was released as Grindhouse - this was a film meant to be enjoyed in the dark with your lap filled with popcorn. The Grindhouse event was a cult celebration of the drive-in double feature experience of the 60's and 70's. The original theatrical release (in the US at least) featured both films with a bunch of fake trailers in-between (some of which were later made into real films, Machete perhaps being the most successful one).
I really do enjoy Death Proof, but it's absolutely best enjoyed at the cinema. The added effects of worn film reels, poor projection, and choppy sound just doesn't work when viewed on a TV.
Every part of the film plays around with cult classic themes and motifs. It has sexy bits, funny bits, violent bits, boring bits, cars, an amazing soundtrack, Kurt Russel screaming in falsetto, and badass ladies.
The car stunt part is my favourite part (it's everyone's favourite part of this film, I'm pretty sure). I personally find the first part of the film quite boring, but I do also realise that the second half of the film wouldn't really work without the slow beginning. Plus it helps establish Stuntman Mike as a character to look out for. It's a pretty cool setup, but it's a little slow. So much boring banter.
I find it rather hilarious that you can just hear Tarantino through this whole thing. Every line spoken in this film is so quintessentially Tarantino, you can literally hear his voice even though the lines are spoken by other actors. At least it's like that for me. Not sure what you guys think.
I love, love, love all the ladies in this film. Rosario Dawson and Tracie Thoms in particular. Zöe Bell is absolutely adorable (I believe this was her very first acting gig?), and Vanessa Ferlito is kind of hot. What the hell happens to Mary Elizabeth Winstead's character though? .......... I'd like to know.
This was a fun re-watch! Maybe I should re-watch Planet Terror as well? I've actually only watched it once, and it left me sort of traumatised. I haven't been able to build up the stomach to watch it again. I think it's the only film I've ever felt this way about. Ever!
Originally part of a double feature with Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror - the double feature was released as Grindhouse - this was a film meant to be enjoyed in the dark with your lap filled with popcorn. The Grindhouse event was a cult celebration of the drive-in double feature experience of the 60's and 70's. The original theatrical release (in the US at least) featured both films with a bunch of fake trailers in-between (some of which were later made into real films, Machete perhaps being the most successful one).
I really do enjoy Death Proof, but it's absolutely best enjoyed at the cinema. The added effects of worn film reels, poor projection, and choppy sound just doesn't work when viewed on a TV.
Every part of the film plays around with cult classic themes and motifs. It has sexy bits, funny bits, violent bits, boring bits, cars, an amazing soundtrack, Kurt Russel screaming in falsetto, and badass ladies.
The car stunt part is my favourite part (it's everyone's favourite part of this film, I'm pretty sure). I personally find the first part of the film quite boring, but I do also realise that the second half of the film wouldn't really work without the slow beginning. Plus it helps establish Stuntman Mike as a character to look out for. It's a pretty cool setup, but it's a little slow. So much boring banter.
I find it rather hilarious that you can just hear Tarantino through this whole thing. Every line spoken in this film is so quintessentially Tarantino, you can literally hear his voice even though the lines are spoken by other actors. At least it's like that for me. Not sure what you guys think.
I love, love, love all the ladies in this film. Rosario Dawson and Tracie Thoms in particular. Zöe Bell is absolutely adorable (I believe this was her very first acting gig?), and Vanessa Ferlito is kind of hot. What the hell happens to Mary Elizabeth Winstead's character though? .......... I'd like to know.
This was a fun re-watch! Maybe I should re-watch Planet Terror as well? I've actually only watched it once, and it left me sort of traumatised. I haven't been able to build up the stomach to watch it again. I think it's the only film I've ever felt this way about. Ever!