The most Tarantino film that isn't the real deal

Rating: Null/10 (25 December 2013)

I actually wouldn't have been surprised to find out that this film was at least partially created by Quentin Tarantino. It's not as gory as his usual fare, but it has a lot of his usual elements in it. Outlandish situation, great and memorable characters, lots of quirky dialogues and it even has one of his trademark actor, in this case Bruce Willis, in an important side role.
And this isn't a bad thing at all and I'm not saying that Paul McGuigan is ripping off Tarantino. Quite the opposite. It's great that there's another director out there that can produce a film of this quality and style. Because make no mistake, this is a great film. Easily one of the best I've seen in a long time.
What captures me the most are the dialogues and the characters. The whole situation about two mobster at war with one another is nothing new, but it's taken to such extremes that it becomes something new altogether. It's something straight out of a pulp story or a comic book, but in a good way. It's outlandish enough that you can sit back and enjoy, because you don't have to treat it like it's supposed to be 100 percent accurate, but it's real enough that you remain invested in the fates of its players. The same with dialogues. Weird and odd enough to capture your attention, but also fun and quirky enough to keep that attention.
The plot is also surprising, unravels at the right pace and keeps you hooked till the very end. There are a few inconsistencies in the whole setup of two mobster silently glaring at each other across the street while their minions wage war beneath their feet, but it's nothing that would ruin the movie for you.
What we have here is pure, undiluted fun. It's a movie of great characters, undeniable charisma and memorable scenes that all come together to form a cohesive whole. See it if you haven't already.