![Reservoir Dogs [VHS]]({"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51HLTc1s0DL._AC_.jpg":[500,290],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51HLTc1s0DL._AC_SY445_.jpg":[445,258]})
Six crooks with no past history with one another are hired by crime boss, Joe Cabot to carry out a diamond heist. Things, however, don't go according to plan, as no sooner does the job begin, than the police come sweeping in at the site of the robbery. A shootout ensues, with two of them being killed. When they all finally rendezvous at an abandoned warehouse, they come to the conclusion that one of them must be an undercover cop.
What can be said that Reservoir Dogs that hasn't already been said? A seminal piece of filmmaking, not to say controversial due to the moral outcry that followed it after its release due to its scenes of violence. Probably not helped by the campaign only just having been waged by the gutter press against, Child's Play 3, which it was erroneously said to have influenced the murder, of two-year-old Jamie Bulger in the UK, by two 10-year-old boys in 1993. In fact, the VHS release of the movie at the time was postponed until 1995 due to the British Board of Film Classification initially refusing the film a home video certificate (UK releases are required to be certified separately for theatrical release and for viewing at home). Fortunately, we now live in more liberal times, and the movie has gained a major cult following, and understandably so.
Marking the directorial debut of a then 29-year-old Quentin Tarantino, who had previously worked as a Video Clerk when he wrote the movie's screenplay. It was a highly impressive first feature, comprising motifs that have become trademarks of his. Violent crime, pop culture references, profanity, and nonlinear storytelling. Centering around a botched diamond heist, part of the selling point of the movie, is its witty, superb dialogue. Whether it be a discussion about the lyrics to Madonna's, Like a Virgin to the ethics of tipping, Tarantino displays a perfect ear for it.
What elevates it even more though is the relationship between Harvey Keitel's Mr. Brown and Tim Roth's Mr. Orange. Two of the careers criminals who up until recently have been relative strangers, but when Orange is seriously wounded in the midst of them both making their getaway, Brown displays compassion, being a source of comfort to his wounded companion. There is an undeniable bond that begins to develop between each man, which makes the old adage of honor among thieves ring very much true. Dissimilarly, the relationship between Brown and Mr. Pink is less harmonious and more prickly, not helped by the fact that Pink is arguably the shadiest and self-serving. However, he's also very pragmatic, being much of the time, the voice of reason with lots of smarts, and while not physically the most threatening proves to be the one character to not be underestimated. Although his pragmatism at times comes to the chagrin of Brown.
When Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) however finally arrives on the scene is where the situation really hots up, and tensions intensify more so. He is undoubtedly the most unpredictable of the movie's gang of rogues. Played with a cool, icy demeanor by Madsen, beneath that coolness lies the heart of a merciless, sadistic psychopath. In his presence, the atmosphere swiftly and undeniably takes on an air of unease and volatility. With this none more so encapsulated in the infamous torture scene which plays out to the strains of Gerry Rafferty's Stuck in the Middle with You.
With the non-linear structure which he would use arguably use to his best and ingenious effect in Pulp Fiction, flashbacks to both Brown and Blonde meeting with Joe and Eddie Cabot serve to flush out both men's relationships, with the Crime Boss and his son. Bringing an added dimension to the dynamic of how the story plays out. Eddie's unwavering trust in Blonde, and the precarious division of loyalties that Brown finds himself being faced with.
The performances from the cast are uniformly first-rate, with each of its stars working off one another exceptionally. Not least of all Tim Roth, executed a pitch-perfect U. S. accent, with there being no trace of his cockney accent at all. And it may come as some surprise that Eddie Bunker, cast in the small role of Mr. Blue was an ex-convicted felon, who had gone on to become an author of crime fiction, which lends the movie a further air of authenticity.
Needless to say, Reservoir Dogs broke the mold and ushered in a new era of filmmaking. Admittedly, I can't say Tarantino's career hasn't gone unblemished since, as I'm of the unpopular opinion that Jackie Brown reprinted the nadir of his work, and Death Proof more so. Nevertheless, he's hit more than he has missed, and his debut is a testament to what lay ahead for him.
Top reviews from United Kingdom
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 August 2023
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 January 2014
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 September 2024
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 November 2023
Top reviews from other countries
- DReviewed in the United States on 28 February 2025
I got ya,uh-huh...you thought I didn't see ya now,dintcha?
-
R-Suarez-Reviewed in Mexico on 19 March 2024
Impecable transfer en 4K
Cualquier película de Tarantino es garantía de muchas cosas, entre ellas, de una buena banda sonora.R-Suarez-Impecable transfer en 4K
Reviewed in Mexico on 19 March 2024
'Reservoir dogs', la ópera prima del director, nos muestra ya desde un inicio lo que se convertiría en una tradición del cine de Tarantino: escenas memorables que se volvieron icónicas por su contenido y por la música que les acompaña.
La escena al inicio donde los perros de reserva caminan en cámara lenta al ritmo de 'Little green bag' o la escena de tortura con Mr. Blonde mientras escucha 'Stuck in the middle with you' son tan sólo dos ejemplos de esto.
El transfer a 4K es impecable y es de una mejoría significativa sobre mi vieja copia en Bluray. Esto resulta en que detalles que antes no eran muy notorios ahora lo sean (algunas composiciones durante la escena de tortura tienen un efecto "borroso" que antes no era tan perceptible)
Recomendadísima.
Como nota adicional, la copia que recibí de la película ya no trae el slipcover, pero además venía emplayada en un plático que no es el original. Al removerlo, había residuos del emplaye original pegados a la caja. Esto me hizo pensar que mi copia probablemente fuera un devolución así que solicité un cambio (principalmente por la copia digital) La segunda copia que recibí venía igual, por si a alguien mas le sucede, pareciera que asi es como vienen.
Images in this review
-
-
DefaReviewed in Italy on 27 November 2022
Le iene 4k
Edizione del primo capolavoro di tarantino rimasterizzata in 4k in occasione del suo trentennale. Che dire, steelbook molto ben fatta, la cartolina è stupenda e fa contenti anche i collezionisti essendo numerata. I contenuti speciali nel disco Blu-ray sono gli stessi che c'erano già in passato quindi da quel punto di vista nulla di nuovo purtroppo però la qualità del nuovo master è incredibile, consiglio l'acquisto a chiunque!DefaLe iene 4k
Reviewed in Italy on 27 November 2022
Images in this review