Reservoir Dogs




I don't tip.

At times, what happens after a heist can be even more interesting than the heist itself. And with characters like these, the only things faster than the shifting loyalties are the guns themselves.

A crew of "professionals" rob a bank. That little detail is never shown, as it cuts to the aftermath. It is pretty obvious that everything didn't exactly go according to plan. Veteran Mr. White (Harvey Keitel, all the characters are given color code names) flees to the safe house with Mr. Orange, who was shot in the gut. Mr. White feels responsible for the guy and refuses to abandon him. They're joined by the shifty Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi) and the psychotic Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen). Someone in the crew tipped the cops off to their caper, and no one knows who it was. So suspicions and tempers flare whilst Quentin Tarantino relates the back-story via personalized flashbacks.

There's just something compelling about Reservoir Dogs. It probably has to do with its brilliant tone that begins well before things get botched and builds right up to the last frame. Though the crew gets along fairly well, the situation they are put in begins to fray their "professionalism" and even their real friendships. The only person they can trust is number one, and it's that tense feeling that's at the heart of this dialogue driven thriller.

Tarantino makes his directional debut alongside his excellent script. His knack for writing realistic and yet compelling discourse really elevates the movie beyond its budget-cramped confines. It often makes for powerful stuff, as the anxiety rises and the truth comes out. The characters are carefully written with an eye for detail, and they are incredibly believable. Tarantino also provides steady direction that establishes his unique (depending on how you look at it) style and it's full of his recurrent trademarks. There are short bursts of violence, though for the most part the lens tastefully looks the other way, only adding to the weight of said scenes.

Where would this movie be without the top notch cast? Steve Buscemi makes for the perfect worm that won't side against anyone in the same room. Tim Roth is captivating as the bleeding Mr. Orange, but it's Michael Madsen who really shines as Mr. Blonde. His performance as the slightly off balanced thug is nothing short of hypnotic. The power he induces when he dances to "Stuck in the Middle With You" is unforgettable.

This movie makes a lot from a little, embracing the minimalist approach. Many hold Pulp Fiction above this movie, but it doesn't conjure the raw intensity this film sustains for the whole running time. It is an astounding work that frequently mesmerizes.



-The Gnome