If I lived in the USA, I am sure that I would have gone to see the above Tarantino-Rodriguez project in the cinema, especially if I had known that its relative lack of success in that market would have resulted in the two main films being presented separately in the rest of the world. And while one would have hoped that the two parts might be reunited with their linking cod trailers for the film's DVD release, this now seems very unlikely, especially since both parts -- but especially the Tarantino one -- have been padded out for their international releases. Did these two movie buffs not need reminding that so-called grindhouse features seldom ran more than a scant 90 minutes (if that) and would not have pushed the two hour mark.
As a second-best offering for those of us who could not see the original presentation (which is remarkably well-rated for a film which theoretically no one went to see and which is better-rated than the two individual movies on their own), the Prince Charles cinema has been showing "Death Proof" and "Planet Terror" back to back to partially recreate the experience. I am well pleased that I was able to see both movies, but would stoutly disagree with anyone who claimed that the former, Tarantino's baby, which had the wider release and marketing push was the better movie. "Death Proof" is definitely a movie of two halves with a barely-known cast, apart from Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike who gets his jollies by killing babes on the road. The build-up to his first road chase seems to go on forever, proof of the unnecessary puffing out of this tale for its individual release. The second half is also pretty slow but in a way more interesting if only for its movie buff references and the casting of Zoe Bell (Uma Thurman's stunt double from the Kill Bill movies) as one of the second posse of gals in cars who manage to outgun Stuntman Mike.
Rodriguez' "Planet Terror" has a rather better cast and is much better fun, especially for fans of bad sci-fi and heavy gore. One is put in the mood by the phony trailer for 'Machete' before the feature starts with icon Danny Trejo as a ruthless killer. The main film complete with its jokey missing reel tells of the fight for survival between a few well-armed Texans (or in Rose McGowan's case 'well-legged' since Freddy Rodriguez -- again -- fits her stump with a machine gun) and a growing bunch of mutant zombies. Despite striving for the grindhouse look of scratched negatives and dubious colour, the film is well-made despite itself and stands up as an over-the-top but very entertaining feature.
One final criticism: as a progenitor of the project, the director of one movie, and the producer of both, Tarantino manages to take on an acting role in both flicks and as we all know by now, the dude just can't act. Sheer vanity say I.
1 comment:
'Death Proof' is purportedly an hommage to stuntmen who should refuse to perform in any future Tarentino film if this is really so. The first half was a slow
uninvolving drag which was presumably meant to create the background for the
second part of the film - it should have done this in less than half the time if it was
to be meaningful. At least the second half had some pace though the padding
showed heavily in the first half of this part. Self-indulgent tripe.
Rodriguez should be told to make films on a small budget as he might then match
the excellence of his first two. 'Planet Terror' was much the better of the two films but overlong. An attractive cast kept things moving but it would have been
better with a good half hour cut from it. I know the Weinsteins pulled the combined showings but they should possibly have forgotten about asking for any
additional sequences.
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