Rodriguez = Homage / Tarantino = Art Piece

Rating: 6/10 (6 April 2007)

Review of Grindhouse
Rodriguez = Homage / Tarantino = Art Piece
If you are a fan of both of types of film described above, then you will be satisfied. Both are done very well. But the Tarantino part is far less an homage to the scratchy Drive-in exploitation films you used to sneak to into as a kid. Terror Planet - the Rodriguez part - masterfully uses the elements of bad projection and jump cuts to add to the horror of this dark zombie flick. No question Rodriguez is at the top of his game, using all the nuances that go along with low budget horror films to heighten the entertainment. There is not one shot that doesn't represent an existing convention that began with the 70's genre. Even the absent-minded plot holes are gleefully butchered (why do cop cars just blow-up for no reason?). But far beyond loving homage, this is a well paced action film that visits all the facets of the genre in one great set piece after another. Josh Brolin is a standout in casting as a picture perfect B movie star, who nevertheless is an engaging character.
For the second part, Tarantino pays far less attention to the technical elements of classic Drive-in movies. Instead, it is two sets of conversation pieces involving two sets of outgoing women. No doubt, Tarantino is very original when writing dialogue, that is definitely his strength. But after the rousing first half, I found myself yawning as Tarantino's wordy dialogue played out in real time. Whereas Rodriguez used jump cuts to speed through parts of the zombie tale, we 'grind' to a near halt as we sit around in a bar as hip chicks engage in girl-talk. Kurt Russell, the designated villain, has little depth. Then there is a second set of talky chicks who drop references to "Vanishing Point" and "Dirty Larry and Crazy Mary", as they have a showdown with Kurt Russell. Too much time is spent in adoration of the genre and the cars, instead of engaging in it. Indeed, by the second half of Tarantino's film, all the technical defects (scratches, jump cuts, etc), have completely disappeared. I found myself wondering if the big car chase and payoff at the end was worth the talky beginning 2/3 of the movie.
Hey, I dig Tarantino sometimes, like "Reservoir Dogs", "Pulp Fiction", "Kill Bill 1 & 2". But I think sometimes he wallows too much in his own Tarantino-isms. This is the case with "Death Proof". If this is supposed to be a movie about people who are thrill seekers in nice old muscle cars, then how about an action movie featuring those cars instead of long scenes of just talking about them. However, if you look at the Ying Yang of this double feature, perhaps it is a good counter to Rodriguez' fast paced piece with a slow paced character piece. But you better be in the mood for it, honey, because you are in for the long ride with the girls, and it takes a while to get to the action. I can't say it was not well done, Tarantino deserves credit for his contribution, but I came for pulp exploitation, not for chit- chat.