Random hodgepodgery

Although it seemed to last forever, January was a really great month for me. I had a blast and got a lot accomplished! Besides all the fun friends/family related shenanigans, I also got to check off a few things from my 25/25 list...

1. Finish notes on all Hitchcock films (3-4 per month)

I completed notes on three films this month:

The Paradine Case



Stage Fright



The 39 Steps



I think of the three, Stage Fright was my favorite. Michael Wilding is BEAUTIFUL and the film was extremely funny and very suspenseful. I will say though that chemistry between Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll in The 39 Steps was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed that film as well.

11. Build savings account (at least $100 a month)

I got my federal tax return deposited into my checking account today so I put $500 of it into savings. I'd probably be more excited about it if I wasn't about to be unemployed in two weeks. Still, money is money and I'm grateful to have it! :)

13. Eat at one new restaurant every month

Even though this feels like ages ago, I ate at a few new restaurants this month: Houlihan's and Zim's. I was introduced to the complete and utter deliciousness that are the Zim's sliders and I'm so excited to have them again when I go this Friday.

15. Donate $5 to 1-3 charities of your choosing every month

This month I donated $15 to the Autism Research Institute.

21. Watch at least one documentary every month

Today I watched an extremely fascinating documentary called "Growing Up Online" from Frontline, the PBS documentary series. It's about how the Internet influences and affects children and teenagers and the way it has come to dominate their lives. While the popularity of online socializing via MySpace and Facebook is nothing new, it was pretty alarming to see how much of an impact the Internet has had in terms of education and the way young people are taught. While the technology is amazing and it's definitely making classes a lot more interesting and interactive than when I was in school, it was sad to see how many students were using the Internet to cheat and avoid actually learning anything from their education. Anyway, it's a great documentary that everyone should check out. It just might make you re-evaluate how much time you spend online!

Okay that about does 'er for my January update. Happy trails!

Simpler times

so here's my plan for the rest of my day: go to Borders and get that much needed cup of coffee. possibly sit out on the patio and enjoy the T storm that may or may not get here tonight. watch Gummo (only cuz i love JJ so Much). clean my room. do some research for my film paper. listen to jazz. drink green tea. go to bed at a more reasonable hour than last night. yeah, that sounds good.

Whenever I'm having a hard day and I want to escape the burdens of my current life, I like to log into Live Journal, pull up some old entries, and take a lovely trip down memory lane. The time period I tend to revisit the most is my last semester at Madison. I had given up alcohol completely, bought my first car, moved in with my dance instructor to get away from a bad living situation, and completely immersed myself in school. Though somewhat lonely, I was happy and independent...perhaps more so than I've ever been in my life.

I achieved so much in those few months that I guess I like to hold onto the memories to remind myself of who I was when I was at my best. I stayed sober for the entire semester, completed four extensive research papers, and got a 4.0 GPA. I took up running, learned Latin dance, and began my love affair with cooking. Because Darrell and I had different schedules, I was always home alone so it felt like I lived alone. I realized then how glorious life could be having your own place. It's not something I've since experienced and even though living with my parents was fine, and living with my sister has been a blast, I cannot wait to get my own apartment and reclaim that independence.

It's not as though things are so bad right now. I think I'm just longing to get back some things I feel like I've lost. Maybe it's a sense of self or a sense of purpose, I don't really know. My priorities have been a bit out of whack for awhile and I'm hoping that a new job, a new apartment, and essentially a new life will inspire me to go after the things I know will make me happy. I don't want to put so much stock into the things that continuously disappoint me simply because society has taught me to go after said things. I'm going to waste a lot of my time and energy if I keep doing that. If that last semester of college taught me anything it's that I can accomplish so much more when I extract all the bullshit from my life and focus only on what matters to me.

A class act

The boys of January

A little tribute to the ones who made this past month extra special ;-)

There Will Be Blood

Critics often throw around the expression "tour de force" when discussing performances. I've used it myself several times in my film reviews. I am now, however, feeling somewhat regretful for having done so. I should have saved those words for this review because, up until now, no one has quite deserved them like Daniel Day-Lewis.

I saw There Will Be Blood this past Sunday and Daniel Day-Lewis' performance as Daniel Plainview is still haunting me. If the shocking and untimely death of Heath Ledger had not occurred in the meantime, perhaps I'd be even more haunted, but that tragedy has overshadowed quite a lot. Interestingly enough, when I think about Daniel Day-Lewis as an actor, I am very much reminded of Heath Ledger. Like Daniel, Heath was a brave actor who not only took on controversial roles but audacious ones as well. He mentioned to reporters how distraught he'd become after completing his work as The Joker in The Dark Knight. The Joker is extremely dark, twisted, and morally corrupt, and when an actor completely immerses himself in a role like, there are definite consequences. Daniel Plainview is a character not unlike The Joker and I have to wonder how Daniel Day-Lewis was able to pull off that performance so honestly and convincingly and walk away unscathed. While it moves and inspires me, it also terrifies the hell out of me.

I take comfort in the fact that Daniel Day-Lewis has been doing this for a long time. Although he has only recently begun tackling more villainous roles, he's been acting for over 35 years and has found ways to leave his characters behind even when he doesn't want to leave them behind. Having seen There Will Be Blood, I understand now why this particular character was the most difficult for him to walk away from. In order to create such a mammoth performance, he really had to shed every ounce of his true self and become this other man in mind, body, and spirit. I mean, the film is almost three hours long and Daniel Day-Lewis appears in nearly every scene. Daniel Plainview pretty much is this film, in fact, he may be bigger than it. There were definitely moments when I felt as though the frames of the screen could not contain him.

Now I have to attribute much of the success of this character to the way it was written, developed, and executed by Paul Thomas Anderson as the writer and director of the film. While There Will Be Blood is loosely based on Upton Sinclair's 1927 novel, Oil!, there is no doubt that the character of Daniel Plainview is a brainchild conceived by PTA and brought into fruition by Daniel Day-Lewis. This was a true actor-director collaboration and the result is a pure cinematic marvel. I feel like it's impossible for DDL to win an Oscar without PTA winning one as well. Consider Adrien Brody and Roman Polanski. The Pianist was a lot like There Will Be Blood in that one actor was required to carry the picture on his shoulders and he was only able to do it because he had his director paving the road in front of him. It's difficult for me not to root for the Coens in the Best Director category. However, to reward Daniel Day-Lewis for his work and not do the same for Paul Thomas Anderson just doesn't seem right. I'm sure Daniel would tell you the same.

Despite my ramblings about Daniel Day-Lewis' performance, there are many, many more aspects of There Will Be Blood worth checking out. First and foremost, Jonny Greenwood's score. Discordant, tense, and chaotic, Greenwood's string-heavy opus captures the mood of the film perfectly. With the exception of Bernard Herrmann's scores for Hitchcock's Vertigo and Psycho, I don't think I've ever encountered music that externalizes the emotion and psychology of a film in such a profound way. If Daniel Plainview doesn't scare the hell out of you, then the music certainly will.


And then we have Robert Elswit's cinematography. There is a scene in the film when one of the oil rigs catches fire, and the screen is blanketed in these rich, saturated oranges and blues. Beyond the rig are vast, empty fields that slowly become enveloped in a kind of monstrous black smoke. It's absolutely breathtaking, but what's more amazing is how Elswit manages to turn something so terrifying into something so beautiful.

Clearly I could go on and on about There Will Be Blood for hours, and left to my own devices I probably would. I think it's just one of these films that I love more with every day that passes and thus I want to talk about it with whomever will listen. I thank Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day-Lewis for this labor of love they have given the world, and for whatever sacrifices they made to bring the film to life. It may not mean a lot to most people, but to me, it means everything.

R.I.P. Heath

Heath Ledger: 1979-2008











And now the end is near
And so I face the final curtain,
My friends, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case of which I'm certain.
I've lived a life that's full, I've travelled each and evr'y highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way.

The Oscar nods have arrived!

And they are fantastic! Lots of fun surprises like Jason Reitman for Best Director (Juno) and Tommy Lee Jones for Best Actor (In the Valley of Elah). No one of any particular significance was left off in my book with the exception of maybe Jonny Greenwood's score for There Will Be Blood. It was pretty jarring and probably turned off a lot of Academy members. Tis a shame though because his music was absolutely phenomenal.

Here's the complete list for those who are interested. As for me, I'll just say a special congrats to the following peeps and movies:

-Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Actor, There Will Be Blood
-Viggo Mortensen for Best Actor, Eastern Promises
-Javier Bardem for Best Supporting Actor, No Country for Old Men
-Casey Affleck for Best Supporting Actor, The Assassination of Jesse James
-No Country and There Will Be Blood scoring eight nods a piece, including Best Picture
-both the Coens and PTA for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay
-Dario Marianelli for Best Original Score, Atonement
-Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová for Best Original Song, "Falling Slowly," Once
-No End in Sight, Best Documentary

And even though no one gives a shit about the technical categories, I'm really happy that No Country got nods for Best Sound and Best Sound Editing because the sound design in that film was redonkulous. I would have been pissed if it hadn't gotten its props for that.

Well best of luck to everyone I'm rooting for! Let's hope this whole writers strike debacle resolves itself so these people can have a ceremony in which to accept the awards they deserve. 2007 generated some of those most amazing performances and technical achievements in the last decade. It would be a shame to let that go unnoticed.

Film blog update!

I realized recently that See This Film was in dire need of some updating. So I tweaked the template and cleaned up a few of the entries. If you have yet to visit my film blog, I hope you will take some time to peruse it. What began as basically an e-portfolio for my college essays has evolved into a vehicle for my steadfast film appreciation. Having a public venue where I can publish my work and possibly have it read by others with a similar appreciation is truly a gift. I'm really proud of everything that has gone into the blog so far and I can't wait to add even more to it in the future!

Random thing that made me happy today

About an hour ago, my mom e-mailed me a link to an interview with Daniel Day-Lewis on Yahoo. Now while the interview was wonderful, the picture they posted beside it was beyond wonderful. So, of course, I had to share because he is truly one of the most beautiful men on the planet.

The Dark Knight

I don't know about you peeps but I'm getting redonkulously excited for The Dark Knight. Perhaps it was the trailer I recently watched or the latest poster Marcus had displayed in its lobby when I went to see Atonement last weekend. I just get more pumped about it with every passing day.

It's funny how I was so skeptical when I first heard that Heath Ledger would be playing The Joker, and now he's the main reason I want to see the movie. If you haven't seen the trailer yet, please do so as soon as possible. His laugh gives me the fucking chills every time. Meanwhile, here's a little photo tribute courtesy of those lovely folks at Rotten Tomatoes.

Atonement

Every year there is that one film that gets so much Oscar buzz I can't help but reject it before I even see it. I call it the "too good to be any good" movie of the year. Most of the time, I'm right and the film just doesn't deserve the amount of praise it gets. But every so often, the "too good to be any good" movie of choice is actually really fucking good and I end up eating my words.

When I first started seeing ads for Atonement and learned it was another costume drama collaboration between director Joe Wright and actress Keira Knightley, I didn't get too excited right away. Sure, I loved Pride and Prejudice. However, I don't usually enjoy period pictures because they tend to have this kind of 'tough times with a candy center' thing about them that I really can't relate to. In other words, life is difficult for the characters for awhile but by the end, everything turns out peachy. While some may enjoy these romantic, Austenesque worlds, I prefer the cynical and gritty realism you're more likely to find in a Dennis Lehane or Jay McInerney novel.

That's exactly why Atonement threw me for such a loop. Here is a film that suggests it's going to keep you comfortable and safe within the confines of a wealthy 1930s English countryside estate, but it only takes a few minutes to realize that the backdrop is completely irrelevant. I mean, it might as well have been 21st century Las Vegas. People are selfish, foulmouthed, lustful, and unforgiving, and by the end it's nearly impossible to find a silver lining in the whole, sordid mess. And that's what is so great about the film. It was refreshing to see the way Atonement totally flipped the period picture on its head.

So maybe I'm not doing such a great job of selling this film to all of you hopeless romantics and eternal optimists. But to those of you out there let me assure you, the film transcends its pessimistic material. Atonement is a fantastic cinematic experience because while it is brutal and hard on the psyche, it is also very intoxicating and pleasurable for the senses. Here is an edited clip from my favorite scene in the film that I think really illustrates this.



So, unabashedly morose films may not be everyone's cup of tea. However, when these films have stunning cinematography, unconventional editing, and haunting soundtracks, how can you not be completely smitten with them? Yes, we live in a cruel world but we also don't live in a world as bewitching as the one in Atonement and that's why I am recommending it to cynics AND romantics alike.

I suspect the film will continue steamrolling its way through awards season but now I don't have to shudder and think, here's yet another costume drama getting acclaim simply because it's a costume drama. Perhaps I thought that way at one point, but now that I've seen the film, I know its secret. Atonement is not 'too good to be any good'. It's better.

Some photographic whatnot

Starting out in the evening...

Well, I had myself a particularly great evening last night. I think it had to do with the fact that I had such a dull and mind-numbing day at work. Coming home and being able to do exactly what I wanted felt so very good. So what did this spectacular evening entail?

It began once I arrived home, threw off the heels, and poured myself a glass of Red Zin. I put on the Death Proof soundtrack and proceeded to engage in two of my favorite activities: dancing and cleaning. Really, there's no better way to relieve stress.

After the apartment was nice and tidy, I hit the kitchen and tackled a recipe I found in Gourmet Magazine...Penne with Green Pea Pesto. Holy shit, is this stuff good. Up until now, my all-time favorite Z classic has been Spaghetti with Chorizo, Chickpeas and Almonds. Well, friends, I think this little number just might be taking its place. It's also 93489 times easier to make. Here's the recipe if you ever feel like indulging in a little plate of heaven.

Penne with Green Pea Pesto



(Serves 2-3)

-1/2 lb of penne
-half cup of pasta water, reserved
-1/2 lb of frozen sweet peas, cooked
-1 big clove of garlic or 2 small cloves
-3 Tbsp. of Parmesan cheese (2 Tbsp. for pesto and 1 Tbsp. added to pasta)
-half cup of pine nuts (1/4 for pesto, 1/4 toasted and added to pasta)
-3 Tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil
-1 tsp. salt
-pinch of black pepper

Add garlic and cheese to food processor and blend together. When peas are finished cooking, drain and add to food processor along with pine nuts, salt, and pepper. Process all ingredients while periodically adding the extra virgin olive oil until the mixture reaches the consistency of pesto. Meanwhile, boil water in a large pasta pot and add penne. Cook penne until al dente. Before pasta finishes cooking, toast the pine nuts in a skillet over low heat. Be careful though...pine nuts burn easily and they are fucking expensive! When the pasta is done, pour half a cup of the water into a bowl and then drain the pasta. Finally, add the pesto, toasted pine nuts, and remaining Parmesan cheese to the pasta along with the reserved pasta water. Stir, taste, adjust seasonings if necessary, and enjoy!

----

After dinner, I watched Eastern Promises. Excellent, excellent film. Having just watched The Fly last weekend, it was pretty crazy to see a David Cronenberg film that felt completely different from the stuff he put out in the 80s and 90s. I'm not going to review the film but I will say that Viggo Mortensen is absolutely fantastic. When the movie was over, I actually went back and watched all of my favorite parts again. I don't know if it was the Russian accent, the tattoos, or the chilling way he walked and talked his way through every scene, but I was pretty shaken by the performance. I really hope he gets an Oscar nomination for it.



When the movie ended, I flipped on the South Carolina Republican debate. I guess after spending almost two hours at work reading about the candidates and their platforms, I was inspired. Considering everything I've read online and heard in the debates, I've gotta say, I'm almost 100% behind John McCain now. I'm still rooting for Obama in the Democratic primary, however, if McCain should get the Republican nomination, I can't see backing anyone else.

Well, that about does 'er! Normally I don't make a habit of rehashing the events of my life but last night was just chocked full of awesome. I couldn't resist. And hey, maybe I prompted you to try a new recipe, rent Eastern Promises, or research the Presidential candidates! I certainly hope that I did. :)

WGA nods announced

Some surprises, mostly familiar faces. My congrats goes out to Judd Apatow for pulling off an unexpected nod for Knocked Up and to James Vanderbilt for the particularly shocking inclusion of Zodiac over Atonement. Now THAT is awesome. Congrats also to the Coens and PTA. But they already know I love them :)

And the nominees are...

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Juno, written by Diablo Cody

Michael Clayton, written by Tony Gilroy

The Savages, written by Tamara Jenkins

Knocked Up, written by Judd Apatow

Lars and the Real Girl, written by Nancy Oliver

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

No Country for Old Men, Screenplay by Ethan Coen & Joel Coen, Based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy

There Will Be Blood, Screenplay by Paul Thomas Anderson, Based on the novel Oil! by Upton Sinclair

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Screenplay by Ronald Harwood, Based on the book by Jean-Dominique Bauby

Into the Wild, Screenplay by Sean Penn, Based on the book by Jon Krakauer

Zodiac, Screenplay by James Vanderbilt, Based on the book by Robert Graysmith

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY

The Camden 28, written by Anthony Giacchino

Nanking, Screenplay by Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman & Elisabeth Bentley, Story by Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman

No End in Sight, written by Charles Ferguson

The Rape of Europa, written by Richard Berge, Nicole Newnham and Bonni Cohen

Sicko, written by Michael Moore

Taxi to the Dark Side, written by Alex Gibney

DGA nods announced

I must say, the Directors Guild did good this year. Big props to my man Tony Gilroy who managed to snag a nod over Joe Wright, Tim Burton, Sidney Lumet, Mike Nichols, and Ridley Scott. That was a very pleasant surprise to me. I know a lot of people don't *get* the buzz surrounding Michael Clayton. However, if you've seen the Bourne trilogy in its entirety, you have to admit that Tony Gilroy is a genius. So what marvelous company is Mr. Gilroy sharing you ask?

And the nominees are...

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men



Sean Penn, Into the Wild



Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly



Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton



Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood



Now since the DGA's inception, I believe there have only been six cases where the DGA winner did NOT go on to win the Academy Award for Best Director. I really think this year is going to be the seventh. As I discussed with my sis last night, I'm going to go ahead and say that the DGA will reward Paul Thomas Anderson with the prize while the Academy will give it to the Coen brothers. But however it shakes down, I don't think I'll be disappointed. This was a phenomenal year for filmmaking and I feel privileged just to have been in the audience.

Ode to Daniel

So I'm developing a little bit of a crush on Daniel Day-Lewis. I just can't get over how fucking amazing he is. Watching him give his acceptance speech at the Critics' Choice Awards last night, I was glued to the screen. I just couldn't believe this was the same guy behind characters like Daniel Plainview and Bill the Butcher. Now, the world is filled with amazing actors but I don't think I've ever encountered one who disappears more fully into his roles. Even with great character actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Adrien Brody, and Russell Crowe, it is still possible to recognize the actor inside the character. With Daniel Day-Lewis, I am in disbelief every single time. I don't know how he does it. It really is magical.

Here are three videos that help illustrate my point. The first is an interview with Daniel himself, the second a trailer for There Will Be Blood and the third a scene from Gangs of New York. Watching them back to back totally blows my mind. If any one person ever inspired me to want to become an actor, it's Daniel Day-Lewis, no question. And I thank him immensely for that.

Musical Mayhem

Yesterday I had the privilege of seeing two very different but equally awesome movie musicals: Sweeney Todd and Once.



Now, Sweeney Todd is an excellent musical to begin with so put into the hands of Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, and Sacha Baron Cohen, there was really nowhere to go but up. I almost told myself to lower my expectations going in because I absolutely did NOT want to be disappointed by something I have been looking forward to for years. I don't think I needed to lower anything though because this one was nearly flawless.

What I love most about the film is that it stays very true to the musical while at the same time, if it had not been based on a Broadway musical, could just as well have been a self-sustained Tim Burton classic. As staples of Burton's, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter infuse the film with a kind of creepy sublimity that is mesmerizing. The supporting cast is excellent and even though Sacha Baron Cohen appears only briefly, he is a force and steals all of his scenes. I really enjoyed Timothy Spall's performance as Judge Turpin's pesky minion, Beadle Bamford. He's one of these underrated actors who usually shows up in films with all of the star players from the Royal Shakespeare Company so unfortunately his performances are often overshadowed and overlooked.

The production value of Sweeney Todd is fantastic and the film should really be recognized by the Academy for its cinematography, art direction, and costume design. The cast also does an excellent job with Stephen Sondheim's musical numbers. While Johnny Depp definitely does not have your typical Broadway style voice, I almost enjoyed his own voice more so than many I've heard from actors trained in musical theater. I think it gave the character more edge and it set him apart from the rest of the cast which was nice to see.

Now while I'm certainly praising Sweeney Todd for its incredible cast and technical achievements, I saw another "musical" film yesterday that I enjoyed for all of the opposite reasons.



Once, written and directed by John Carney, is a cinéma-vérité style film that follows two people in Dublin who meet on the street and discover they have a mutual passion for music. There are about a dozen songs in the film that are performed in their entirety so one could call Once a modern day musical. How it differs, however, is that it doesn't have any of the bells and whistles you find with modern Hollywood musicals. Firstly, the two leads, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, are non-actors in real life who were long time friends and musicians that wanted to help bring John Carney's script to life. Secondly, the film only cost about $150,000 which, as Richard Roeper so brilliantly put, wouldn't cover the catering bill on Dreamgirls. It's a breath of fresh air in every sense and if you're looking for a film that really inspires, Once is definitely one of those rare cinema experiences that will resonate with you for days.

Glen Hansard penned all of the songs in Once but when asked to play the role of Guy he originally turned it down. He wanted Cillian Murphy to play the lead because Murphy had the star power to bring attention to the film and because Hansard had little to no acting experience. Murphy would eventually pass on the project so Hansard agreed to be in the film. In an interview Hansard said, "Though I was initially thinking of using a good actor who could half sing, I quickly realized I should do it the other way around and get a good singer who could half act." And thank God for that. Hansard has one of the most chilling voices I've heard in a long time and when you combine it with the sweet, aching vocals of Markéta Irglová (who also plays piano in the film) you get one amazing collaboration. I also find non-actors to be much more interesting than real actors a lot of the time. If they don't try to act and simply let their natural personalities breathe on screen, the result is really compelling.

Like I mentioned earlier, Once is shot like a documentary. The camera is hand-held and much of the film takes place in some very intimate settings. As these two people learn about each other and fall in love with one another's raw talent and vulnerability, you feel as though you're a fly on the wall of something real unfolding before you. It's the kind of experience I don't think I've ever had watching a film. As luck would have it, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová did bond on the set and began dating after the film wrapped. It makes what you see all the more beautiful simply because you feel like you're a part of something special being brought into fruition.

While Sweeney Todd and Once are two very different films, they're also two of the best films of 2007. They both prove how much fun you can have watching a movie musical whether it's watching a sadistic barber sing, dance, and slash throats or two people making beautiful music and falling in love in the process.

Ohhh, Mountain Man

Have I mentioned lately how excited I am for the return of Lost? Oh man it's getting rough. With the premiere in a little less than a month, I'm chomping at the bit at this point. I can't believe the third season finale was over seven months ago. More than though, I can't believe I've survived this ridiculously long hiatus!

Well if you're as crazed as I am about this show and it's scrumdiddlyumptious star Matthew Fox, here's a fantastic interview with the man himself. The best part is when he talks about how good it felt to prove wrong all those people who were blasting the show at the beginning of the third season by putting together a string of truly unforgettable episodes and a mind-blowing finale. I was right there with you, Matthew, and if all the rumors are true, the fourth season is taking no prisoners. So for all you skeptic peeps out there...get fucking ready.

"I know we've got 15 million people watching the show, and these people are the same 15 million that have been die-hards from Day One. Those are the ones that we're making it for."

More Oscar lovelies!

A few more Oscar ads have been released in the last few weeks, including one I have been eagerly anticipating...Best Supporting Actor for Casey Affleck in The Assassination of Jesse James. I'm still holding out for Javier Bardem's ad so, Miramax, you better not let me down!

Death Proof

For me, the highlight of Quentin Tarantino's cinematic oeuvre is still the opening of Reservoir Dogs. A bunch of guys in suits sitting in a diner talking about pop culture and the politics of tipping, well, it really never got too much cooler than that in my book. There's no denying that Tarantino has put a slew of fantastic moments on celluloid since he did so with the infamous speech about "Like a Virgin". What I love the most about that opening scene, however, is its simplicity. Unabashed banality...that is vintage Tarantino. And even though we all love the bloody shoot-outs, colorful Kung fu, and wickedly hysterical eye-pluckings, Tarantino's true gift is his ear for dialogue. I have and probably will continue to argue with people about this but you could take out every action sequence of every one of his films and still be left with a lot great cinema.



That being said, it's no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed Death Proof, QT's contribution to he and Robert Rodriguez's 70s exploitation mash-up Grindhouse. I decided when Grindhouse came out, I would wait and see if Death Proof would ever be released on its own. I know QT and RR would be totally disappointed in my reluctance to take in the whole "grindhouse" experience, but unfortunately I've never been a huge fan of anything Rodriguez has done, with the exception of the first third of From Dusk Till Dawn. Plus all of my favorite film critics were recommending Death Proof over Planet Terror so I figured my intuition was probably correct.



Now a lot of people found Death Proof to be self-indulgent and dull. I can see why they would feel that way since the film is almost two hours long and the action sequences probably only take up about 30 minutes of that. The film is split into two segments, each segment dedicated to a group of girls doing various things you'd expect girls to do. They drive, they hang out at convenience stores, diners, and juke joints, and they talk...a lot. At first it takes some getting used to. When the 30 minute mark rolled around and I felt as though the movie had already been playing for hours, I was wondering if this one was going to make much of an impact. But something happened along the way. Suddenly I was sucked in and became totally mesmerized and fascinated by these women and their lifestyles. And the music is fantastic. If Tarantino has a good ear for dialogue, he's got an even better one for music. Between the two, the guy seriously owns the patent on cool.



And while I most certainly give all of the actresses in Death Proof mad props for owning all of their scenes, I've really gotta bow down to the hot chunk of grizzled sexiness that is Kurt Russell. He plays Stuntman Mike and when he's not being totally creepy and psycho, he's got a charm that extremely fun to watch. The scene between him and Vanessa Ferlito outside the Texas Chili Parlor was amazing. By the end of the exchange, I wanted to give him a lap dance. Russell is charismatic to say the least and it speaks volumes about his performance in the film because before Death Proof, the guy tended to leave me pretty cold.



Now while the dialogue sequences do comprise a majority of the film, the action sequences in Death Proof are worth the price of admission. Zoë Bell, a stunt woman in real life, plays herself and what she does in the final car chase showdown rendered me speechless. When you think about the fact that everything you're seeing is legit, the phrase "edge of your seat" doesn't even begin to describe the feeling. For people who are more into Tarantino's action than his dialogue, I would recommend the film simply for the last 15 minutes.



I have to say, it was more than a little refreshing seeing Quentin Tarantino return to his roots with Death Proof. I love that he has matured enough as a filmmaker to be able to pull off such a stunt heavy picture while still maintaining his integrity as a writer. This film demanded a kind of technical proficiency he wouldn't have ever imagined tackling back in the early 90s so it really shows how far he's come in that regard. But what impresses me more is how important dialogue and characterization still are to him. Even though he's established himself as one of the most interesting and provocative filmmakers of his generation, he still has the capability to bore and alienate his audience by focusing on dialogue rather than action. With Death Proof, you can clearly tell he doesn't give a shit whether or not he bores people, and that's exactly what makes the guy so damn cool.