Too straight forward but deserves some recognition

Rating: 6/10 (30 September 2008)

Tarantino's follow-up to Pulp Fiction is a bit too ambitious to be a really enjoyable experience. There are individual moments that are priceless but all in all I was a bit disappointed.
Things that work: Robert De Niro's performance as the world's dumbest criminal, Louis Gara. It is almost as if De Niro's part could have been played by Sylvester Stallone. In fact, De Niro and Stallone shared screen time in another '97 movie, Cop Land, where De Niro has a hilarious monologue belittling Stallone about just how dumb Stallone's character is. Funny coincidence, no? Samuel L. Jackson's chilling performance as Robbie. Gone are the humour that Jackson brought to his dread-locked philosophy spouting gangster in Pulp Fiction (still the mother of all Tarantino films), and say hello to a character that is almost as ruthless as Tony Montana. Jackson is steely cool.
Things that should have worked but don't: Michael Keaton's character (usually one of my favorite actors, even in Herbie - Fully Loaded he is brilliant). Boring, because no character with high morals are any fun in Tarantino's movies.
The same can be said about Pam Grier's and Robert Forster's parts. Although, Grier is certainly one of the hottest looking actors she too is no fun to watch. The romance between her and Forster is nice but nothing more? The best part: Bridget Fonda as perpetually stoned Valley girl. Brad Pitt's performance in True Romance comes to mind when watching her. And check out the sex scene between her and De Niro. Priceless.
Oh, I almost forgot. Tarantino chooses to stay behind the camera this time. Does this redeem the movie in some way. Yes, and no. Tarantino is the worst actor imaginable but his ramblings are sorely missed because it gives his movies a feeling of joy. Here is a man who made his dreams come true and when you see him on screen, you can tell that he has a marvelous time.