Rocked Me

Rating: 10/10 (19 January 2004)

As I reflect on all the movies of 2003, the only one that knocked me on my ass was Kill Bill. This one should be up for Oscar contention, but because Kill Bill unapologetically lacks the artsy finesse the Academy drools over, I doubt it will be nominated. But from the first scene where Uma Thurman gets shot point blank in the head to the last I-won't-spoil-it-for-you scene, you will be intrigued. There are bits that are unrealistically bloody, but Tarrantino meant it. There are scenes, like the fabulous knife fight between Thurman and Vivica Fox that may seem heavy-handed, but you can tell Tarrantino meant that, too. Love him or hate him, Quentin Tarrantino *gives a damn* about his audience and puts an extrordinary amount effort into every second of the film for you. Tarrantino desires to make you emotionally react to his work. When you are shuddering and queasy during a grisly scene, you realize that the last time you felt that way was--- an equally grisly scene in Pulp Fiction. Like him or not, he takes you where other directors don't or won't, or most especially, *can't*. Tons tried to imitate the cool / retro / Los Angeles style of Tarrantino (most notably and ineffectively Guy Ritchie), but they end up looking stupid (like everything Ritchie's done). Tarrantino gets it just right here - he creates a movie that you don't just happen to see, it *happens* to you.