Film Review: Reservoir Dogs

Director: Quentin Tarantino

This was Quentin Tarantino's debut movie certainly sets the tone early so you know exactly what to expect from his other films that have been released since. It is one of those movies that fans praise and re-watch on many occasions but I have to admit that it's over 10 years since the one and only time I saw it. Sufficient time has passed that I decided to re-watch it and review it after trying to hunt down a trailer for Tarantino's latest film Django Unchained (I was unsuccessful).

The iconic scene of the gang walking down the street

6 men using alias: Mr. White, Mr. Brown, Mr. Pink, Mr. Blue, Mr. Orange and Mr. Blonde have breakfast with two gangsters called Joe Cabot and ''Nice Guy'' Eddie Cabot. These men are involved in robbing a diamond exchange which we don't see but we follow the bloody aftermath as everyone argues over whether they were set-up and who the possible police informant is.

The film has many scenes, which I have included in some of the stills from the movie, which are now iconic in film history. Although it was only following the popularity of Pulp Fiction (to be reviewed soon) that this film was seen by a wider audience after taking modest box office sales. Tarantino is superb at creating scenes and moments in movies that stay with you forever with the infamous ear cutting scene where Mr. Blonde (the excellent Michael Madsen) dances around menacingly to ''Stuck in the middle with you''. I wouldn't say Michael Madsen's performance as Mr. Blonde steals the show because that would detract from the other actors who were all excellent like Keitel, Buscemi and Roth.

Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi) and Mr. White (Harvey Keitel) have a disagreement

I can understand that the violence can be too much for some people especially in the early nineties when nobody knew of Tarantino so didn't know what to expect. I still haven't decided if the fact we don't actually see the ear cutting scene happen makes it harder or easier to watch but the sadistic torture of the Police Detective is still uncomfortable viewing. It was renowned for making Wes Craven walk out of the movie at a film festival in Barcelona as well as Rick Baker who is a special effects artist but he later stated it was because the movie felt very real and for it to be taken as a compliment.

The warehouse where a lot of the action takes place has a slightly claustrophobic feel despite being mostly empty and quite large in size. I felt like I was sat in the corner watching this action unfold in front of me due to the lack of close-ups and changes in camera angle. It's a fascinating thrill ride from start to finish that doesn't slow down until the credits start to roll at the end, the opening scene in the cafe is about the only time when you can relax.

3.5/4 violent, quick witted yet stylish, classic Tarantino.