Gritty and absorbing

Rating: 10/10 (17 February 2002)

I first saw this film on video knowing nothing about it other than it had been a blockbuster at the movies a year or two earlier. From the moment it came on, I was absolutely glued to the television.
Stunning rather than enjoyable, it is a collection of images, characters and situations that (thank god) are far removed from the everyday life of the suburbanite. Humorous and horrific, it is hypnotic, and as the art critic viewing Kramer's portrait in Seinfeld exclaims, it is "hideous! And yet I cannot look away!"
Jackie Brown, another Tarantino film followed similar characters in a less violent way, and may be the better choice for those wanting less gore. Both films are excellent depictions of how the 'other side' live.
(The only thing that I didn't like about the film was the Tarantino cameo. Why does he think that just because he is a brilliant film maker, he is also a brilliant actor? His scenes always seem too stilted for my liking).
This film is a must-see for anyone who counts themselves as a genuine movie buff.