Excess From Two Excessive Filmmakers

Rating: 8/10 (25 November 2019)

Quentin Tarantino, true to his episodic nature of storytelling, writes a film that is the godfather of 2007's Grindhouse double feature. Robert Rodriguez picks up the other half, and when the studio pressure is off, the energy he brings to these midnight movies is on a level of its own.
From Dusk Till Dawn is a combination of the two then-young talents worth seeing. You probably couldn't place it at the top of either filmmaker's work, but there are two many well-executed elements that mean you shouldn't dismiss it. Much of that has to do with the strength of George Clooney as the lead. He's wonderful. It kind makes me hate how he has been typecast out of foul-mouthed, rotten roles since. He plays a handsome psychopath almost too well. Quentin Tarantino himself, in a rare acting role, is equally as strong. For all the obnoxious QT worship that's gone on since his debut, I don't ever hear anyone commend his acting ability. Granted, this is his only real lead part, but his delivery, his emoting, it's all pitch-perfect.
The first half of the film is not anything ground breaking, but you pair Rodriguez's direction, the lead performances, and Tarantino's dialogue all with some great cinematography and I would happily watch two hours of the Gecko brothers failing upward.
Except, there's that twist halfway through. While I love this experiment, it doesn't happen without some noticeable hits to the tone, pacing, and writing. It doesn't feel like a coincidence that once Tarantino's character bows out, the film's quality takes a bit of a turn for the worse. Harvey Keitel, who up to this point has been doing his best with a conflicted man of God, also appears to lose interest when the vampires come out. Everything then just turns into a tongue-in-cheek frenzy, and while the comedic tone still works, it contrasts with the first half of the film that was entertaining but not outright goofy.
However, it's still a blast to see so much sustained mayhem within a single location. The practical effects are suitably nasty, and the spirit of the film is still flying high, in the form of a bat.
I should take more issue with how much the film kind of gives up what made the first half fun in its second, but it creates a whole new kind of fun. Just know that my rating is largely based on the strength of the first hour or so. Your mileage may vary.