My review of Reservoir Dogs

Acting/characters: This film revolves around only 8 or so characters (9 if you count the Cop). It can be dangerous to have a small cast because if one person isn't good it brings down a lot of the movie. However, I can say that everyone in this film did an excellent job. Harvey Kietel, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, and even Quinten Tarantino himself do great jobs here. The cast is also capped of nicely by Steven Wright the monotonous comedian who plays the D.J. I feel that each of the characters were really interesting to watch from the nervous Mr. Pink to the psychotic Mr. Blonde, to the collected Mr. White, each benefited the movie very well. The actors did an excellent job of conveying the pure tension and uncertainty of the entire situation. Excellent jobs. 10/10

Plot: I gotta say that the fact that this film is rated as one of the best heist films ever made despite the fact that we never see the actual heist is a testament to how well the plot is done. The film takes place in almost one setting throughout the run time of the film. As an audience member you are given about as much information about the situation as the characters which helps the tension very well. I always enjoy a plot not giving all of the information. too many films just give the viewer all of the information right off the bat. Not that I totally mind being an omniscient viewer, but I enjoy not being one too. The enclosed and exclusive setting of an abandoned warehouse and being given as little information about what is happening as the character are really helps you relate to the characters and puts you in their shoes. It is just structured very well and considering that this was his first shot at a movie, well, that just makes it all the more amazing. 10/10

Screenplay: Again, considering that this was his first shot at a movie script I'd say he did a pretty friggin' fantastic job in this one. I wish that I could do something like that. I just enjoyed the lines in the film. Right off the bat you see at the diner scenes the way that the characters talk to each other and you get the feeling immediately that they all know each other very well and are good friends or are at the very least, comfortable around each other. How each character speaks and interacts with the others at the table gives you a great insight as to what kind of people they are. There are dozens of directors who can't manage this in their entire careers and Tarantino manages it in the first 10 minutes on his first try. That is talent. 10/10

Likableness: I liked this film enough that I bought it a week or so ago. The feel of the film and the general plot structure combined with stellar acting and great storytelling make this one a must-see film for anyone. it isn't full of adrenaline pumping action scenes but it certainly has them from time to time. This movie is proof that art and entertainment can be combined. It was amazing. 10/10

Final Score: 40/40 100% (N)
Tomatometer Score: 96%
Tomatometer Score if my review was added: 96%



TRIVIA TIME: 1. At several points, Tim Roth had lain in the pool of fake blood for so long that the blood dried out and he had to be peeled off the floor, which took several minutes.

2. All the actors who portrayed the criminals have spent time in jail.

3. The actress who plays the lady Mr. Orange (Tim Roth) shoots was Roth's dialect coach. Roth insisted that she take the role, as she was very hard on him.

4. Quentin Tarantino wanted James Woods to play a role in the film, and made him five different cash offers. Woods' agent refused the offers without ever mentioning it to Woods as the sums offered were well below what Woods would usually receive. When Tarantino and Woods later met for the first time, Woods learned of the offer and was annoyed enough to get a new agent. Tarantino avoided telling Woods which role he was offered "because the actor who played the role was magnificent anyway". It is widely accepted that the role that Tarantino was referring to was Mr. Orange.

5. Quentin Tarantino was originally going to play Mr Pink, although he made a point of letting all the other actors audition for the part. When Steve Buscemi came in to read for it, Tarantino told him that he really wanted the part for himself and that the only way Buscemi could possibly wrest it from him was to do a killer audition. Buscemi duly complied.