It seems that Quentin Tarantino finally missed with Death Proof. The prolific writer/director, whose nearly infallible career made some believe Christ had returned, stepped out of bounds with his half of Grindhouse, now a standalone film thanks to a DVD director's cut release.
Of course there are some who still believe that his slasher/revenge film is just as great, maybe even greater, than his other work. To them I say, if Death Proof is a masterpiece, then Tarantino made one of the most unwatchable masterpieces in cinematic history.
The film is split into two parts with the first following crazed killer Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell) as he stalks a group of unsuspecting ladies in Austin, Texas. How does Stuntman Mike attack his victims? With his reinforced, “death proof” stunt car. While Stuntman Mike succeeds with in taking out the first group of girls, that other clique in the second half (you know, the half without a grainy filter) doesn't cave so easily. He tries to run them off the road, and they try to run him off right back. Only they have guns... and a lead pipe.
Yes, guns and a lead pipe and a fast car. You can tell Death Proof wasn't an attempt to make a great film. Worse, the storylines aren't even elevated by the fact that Tarantino is intentionally making a bad movie; they are just bad.
You may try to put Death Proof on the same level as the genre pictures that Tarantino has made in the past, but it's hard to see anything resembling the effortless, avant garde masterpieces that he delivered consistently for years. The jump cuts designed to mimic a lost reel or missing frames don't seem revolutionary, instead adding an artificial look to Tarantino's weakest big budget attempt at low budget filmmaking.
Article comments
1 - Jesse
What are the chances of both movies coming out later in a "Special Edition" DVD set... TOGETHER? It pisses me off honestly that they are broken up into two movies and I'd much rather wait until they are both packaged together if that is in the foreseeable future...
2 - brad schader
I am not sure it will although the desire for money could change anything. I read somewhere that they thought about a one set release, but changed their minds to make the "Grindhouse" thing a theater experiance.
3 - El Bicho
"It seems that Quentin Tarantino finally missed with Death Proof."
Finally? Did you not see his segment in "Four Rooms"?
4 - Robin
I've just DP and wow - how taxing. During the second round of 40 minute (yes... 40 minute) pointless chit-chat, i went out for a hotdog, coffe and ciggy. Returned to more pointless chit chat.
The quality of the film, cuts, focuses, tracking shots etc gave the impression of a lot of money being thrown about to create the effect of a low budget film; and what were those end credits about?
Maybe I didn't get it - his worst effort to date. One final word to the man himself... stay out of appearing in your own films - you can't act and it ruins the illusion of a story unfolding in front of you. Actually I take that comment back, there was no story!