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"I've Always Been a
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Directed by Quentin
Tarantino & Robert
Rodriguez - Written by
QT & RR
"Death Proof"
- Kurt Russell, Zoe
Bell, Rosario Dawson,
Vanessa Ferlito
Jordan Ladd, Rose
McGowan, Sydney Tamiia
Poitier, Marley Shelton,
Tracie Thoms, Mary
Elizabeth Winstead,
Michael Bacall, Eli
Roth, Omar Doom
"Planet Terror"
- Freddy Rodriguez, Rose
McGowan, Josh Brolin,
Naveen Andrews
Marley Shelton, Michael
Biehn, Stacy Ferguson,
Jeff Fahey, Michael
Parks
Distributed by Dimension
Films (Weinstein Co.) -
2007 - 185m - Rated R |
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“Planet Terror” is a fun diversion.
“Death Proof” is the real deal. |
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“Grindhouse” is an
experiment. It is an attempt to recapture the feeling of sitting in
a crummy movie theatre circa 1973, watching poorly produced but
oddly intriguing movies with outrageous premises and poor production
values. To add to this experiment in nostalgia, the film is actually
a double feature: two full length movies bridged by faux trailers.
The selling point here?
Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez.
Seriously…would any other directors have both the clout and the
enthusiasm to create such a bizarre film? Probably not.
Because, technically, this is two films and because the entire
experience is supposed to feel like it was whipped up in the
projectionist booth a few minutes ago, it’s actually a compliment to
say that “Grindhouse” feels jarring and uneven. Both films are so
different and the material linking them so outrageous and bizarre
that it is impossible to take your eyes off the screen and against
the question to take a bathroom break at any point during this
three-hour double feature.
After a hilarious and genuinely cool fake trailer called “Machete”
(starring a Rodriguez favorite, Danny Trejo), we are treated to the
first half of the double bill: “Planet Terror,” Rodriguez’s tribute
to George Romero, John Carpenter and all of those cheap but
incredibly gory Italian horror films that you never find on
Blockbuster shelves.
The plot is simple and goofy, but that’s what makes the whole thing
so damn charming despite the incredible amount of blood, brains,
death and sex that fills virtually every frame. A military produced
gas is released, turning those who breathe it into bloodthirsty
mutant/zombie monster things. It’s up to a group of survivors to
escape, shooting, stabbing, running over and blowing up everything
that gets in their way.
Keeping with his simple plot, Rodriguez keeps the dialogue cheesy
and the performances broad. All the actors, a mixture of promising
newcomers, genre favorites and some great cameos, seem to be having
an absolute blast. You can really tell that this movie was as much
fun to make as it is to watch. Freddy Rodriguez (finally well-used)
and Rose McGowan (beautiful) are our heroes, he a master of weaponry
with a mysterious past and she his former lover, now one-legged due
to a zombie encounter (if you’ve seen the poster, you know what
happens to that leg). Michael Biehn (glad to have him back), Josh
Brolin (scary as all get-out), Naveen Andrews (showing promise
outside of “Lost”) and quite a few others fill out the fantastic
supporting cast, who exist to chew scenery and then get chewed on by
zombies.
Although shot with his trademark digital style, Rodriguez fills
every moment of “Plant Terror” with scratches, dropped frames, a
missing reel (used to hilarious effect) and color damage. Combined
with Rodriguez’s penchant for sick comedy, outrageous amounts of
blood and gore and constant (and by constant, I mean CONSTANT)
action, sex and increasingly absurd plotting, “Planet Terror” is
impossible to be boring in any way whatsoever.
Despite this, Rodriguez’s film fails to transcend “fun.” It’s not a
masterpiece by any means.
But isn’t that the point? Isn’t he just trying to recreate the
grindhouse experience? I’ll get back to this momentarily.
When Rodriguez’s film ends, we are treated to some hilariously dated
advertisements and three more trailers: Rob Zombie’s “Werewolf Woman
of the SS,” Edgar Wright’s “Don’t” and Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving.”
Zombie’s is arguably the weakest of the three, but it’s still
fantastic, using it’s brilliant premise (just look at that title!)
and a surprise cameo to deliver the goods. Roth’s trailer is sick,
disgusting and the product of a seriously disturbed mind…but it
perfectly recreates the horror trailers of yesteryear…and it’s
pretty funny, too. The best of the bunch is Edgar Wright’s “Don’t,”
which I won’t say another word about as to avoid spoiling it.
The “Grindhouse” experience ends with Quentin Tarantino’s “Death
Proof.”
You want to know why I have to be hard on Rodriguez for not
transcending the “bad but good” style of grindhouse movies? Because
“Death Proof” is an absolute masterpiece, managing to replicate the
style of exploitation cinema while being a genuinely amazing film by
itself.
Thinking outside of the grindhouse box, I can compare “Death Proof”
to Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho.” This is a slow burn film. It takes a
long time to get where it’s going, but when you do get there, you
realize that the time spent was absolutely necessary. Tarantino also
pulls a Hitchcock when it comes to how the film is structured, but
my lips are sealed on that one.
In a nutshell, “Death Proof” is about a maniac named Stuntman Mike
(Kurt Russell) who uses his death-proof stunt car to murder woman
while he remains mostly unharmed. Exactly how Tarantino goes about
telling this deceptively simple premise is what makes the who thing
so much fun, so no more major plot details.
I will say, however, that this is Russell’s best role in a loooong
time and it reminds me of why countless fanboys (myself included)
nearly worship this guy. The other standout is Zoe Bell, formerly a
stuntwoman for Tarantino on “Kill Bill,” now the heroine of “Death
Proof” playing…herself? It’s an odd choice, but during the dangerous
moments, when you can see that Bell is doing all of the stunts
herself, it makes all the difference.
“Death Proof” has the best car chase in a long time. The best one
since “Ronin.” Like being able to see Bell’s face during stunts,
being able to see that all of the effects are practical and that
real cars and real drivers are used makes every difference. No CGI
here. The reality (and the fact that QT has once again proven
himself to be an amazing action director) gets your adrenalin
pumping more in five minutes than the CGI-inspired constant action
of “Planet Terror.”
“Planet Terror” is a fun diversion. “Death Proof” is the real deal.
After the initial rush of Rodriguez, it may feel odd to suddenly
slip into the slow-paced Tarantino. Let it be said, however, that
when “Death Proof” ended, my audience gave an enthusiastic and
natural round of applause. The ending of “Death Proof” is perfect. I
can’t imagine a better way to end this film.
This is a real theatrical experience. Do yourself a favor and see it
on the big screen with an audience. See it with friends and be
prepared for one of the more unique and inspired movies of recent
years. It just won’t be the same on DVD.
Planet Terror: B+
Trailers: A
Death Proof: A |
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© Written by Jacob Hall -
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