I've sat here for the last hour trying to put into words the amazing spectacle that was Grindhouse. It was an experience I don't know if I ever had nor will I ever have again. The aura that surrounded the theater was just right. The audience knew what they were getting in to. We were loud and boorish and vulgar. It was everything I could hope for. I really am struggling with my thoughts and emotions. Perhaps it would be best to let them settle. Get a good night sleep. Digest the buffet that Rodriguez and Tarantino just served you. Yet, in the spirit of Grindhouse, I won't be articulate. I won't be eloquent. I won't shower. Well perhaps tomorrow I will, but for now lets get dirty and talk Grindhouse.
Before I discuss the movies, let me just say that the faux trailers alone are worth the price of admission. Rob Zombie's is the weakest, but it still has its merits. In particular, a terrific cameo appearance from a superstar. Give you a hint, they have a baby named Kal El. Edgar Wright's was a brilliant parody of foreign movies marketed to American audiences. "Machete" could and should be a movie on its own. But my favorite was the one I saw on the net a week in advance. Eli Roth's "Thanksgiving" has it all. Boobs, blood, comedy, more boobs. "White meat. Dark meat. All will be carved." Since they are fake, they get to go all out and show you all the best bits. Normally I wouldn't want a trailer to spoil anything, but these are fake after all.
After Machete ends, Planet Terror begins. Let me get this out of the way, I've never cared for Rose McGowan. But after her first scene in this flick, she jumped into my celeb-to-do list. Rodriguez has done a brilliant job at recreating the grindhouse experience. The dialogue is so bad, its great. The gore is so over the top, its laughable. The music so bombastic, its appropriate. The plot is...oh who cares. Lots of stuff blows up. Lots of people die. Lots more stuff blows up. I had a terrific time with the movie, but to be honest all it really comes down to is a great parody. Perhaps parody isn't right, but when Rodriguez uses all the conventions of a grindhouse cinema including all the bad and turns it on its head for the sake of a joke, I would call that parody. However, don't mistake it, you can clearly tell he loves these types of movies, but at the end of it all it really was a terrific B-movie.
The best part of this flick though for me was Rose. Not just because she is beautiful, but she really is great in the movie. She sells it, and you do care about her character, Cherry Darling (great name). Not only can she emote, but she has a great sense of comic timing. She has some great quips that she gets to dole out. Freddy Rodriguez (no relation to the director) also gets his big break. The two of them make this much better than a B-movie should be. The supporting cast is also terrific including Michael Biehn (hope he gets more work after this), Michael Parks (he can chew any line apart and make it his), Tom Savini (legendary makeup artist for George Romero's "Dead" series), Josh Brolin, and Marley Shelton (Wendy Peppercorn!!!). I think this is Rodriguez' best movie. Sin City I credit more to Frank Miller than Rodriguez. Here he gets to unleash everything to create a visual thrillride with some killer lines. But it doesn't really stand apart from other zombie movies other than its over-the-topness, though that gun leg is brilliant.
Tarantino's "Death Proof" was the one I had the highest expectations for. I can remember vividly the first time I had seen any of his films. He is my favorite writer, and has really developed himself as a filmmaker. He outdoes himself here, at least on a technical level. His steady cam shots atop the car were so thrilling. I loved the little touch with the hood ornament. The car crash is one of the best edited and shot scenes I have ever seen. You get a sense of everyone involved and it gave Tararntino the one opportunity to let is inner gore fan out. The final car chase is immense. Not to sound cliche, but it really was a white knuckle ride..
Tarantino is known for resurrecting an actor's career. Here he brings back the Kurt Russell I know and love. Kurt's initial scenes develop a great sense of dread. It reminded me of the recent Zodiac, and just how palpable the tension was. Here Tarantino develops the same foreboding nature of the film much like Zodiac did, by refusing to show us what we wanted. Coming off the action packed Planet Terror, the audience probably wanted more of the same. But instead, Tarantino deliberately slows the film down in order to talk. Yes Tarantino's dialogue is back and I was glad to hear it. Because of the heavy dialogue, you get a real sense of depth to the characters without going into exposition as to how and why they are who they are. You grow to care for the characters, which makes the film all the more intimate and exciting to see the resolution. Speaking of resolution, everyone was cheering at the end. The movie ended right at the climax. No denouement. No epilogue. That's it. And it was brilliant.
The acting is even better here than it was in Planet Terror. Zoe Bell, a stunt woman in Kill Bill, gives a star making performance. To take someone who isn't an actor, and create a role so well suited for them, really is a testament to Tarantino's writing and directing. He casts whom he knows is best, not marquee names to fill the seats. All the girls are terrific in the movie. They all have depth and aren't simply a pretty face. Perhaps the reason why I loved this movie that much more than Planet Terror though was that Tarantino takes and uses what he loves about Grindhouse and leaves the bad behind. The dialogue isn't purposely bad. The visuals aren't hokey. There are hardly any film scratches or distortions. Tarantino seems to be playing on another field than Rodriguez. I can just imagine them screening their movies for each other and Rodriguez says "I though we were supposed to make a bad picture." Tarantino knows how to embrace what he loves, yet use it to his advantage and create art. Rodriguez made a film that was a whole hell of a lot of fun. Tarantino actually set out to make a great film. I can't wait for the extended cut of Death Proof.
There were some great in-jokes for fans of these guys past pictures too including Red Apple cigs, Big Kahuna and Son #1. Tarantino in particular seems to be creating a universe much like Kevin Smith did. Hopefully these films will be a success and expand upon that universe. The thought of another Grindhouse gets me giddy all over again. Now lets hear your guys thoughts. I know at least three of you guys saw it and I'm sure you can better illustrate your thoughts than I can. I'm thrilled from head to toe with what I witnessed today. Hopefully everyone will too.
