brilliant

Rating: Null/10 (29 July 2001)

A truly brilliant film. Far superior to Pulp Fiction in every way (although when originally conceived, it was to be a segment in Pulp Fiction.) The basic plot line is simple enough: six robbers are recruited for a diamond heist that goes horribly wrong. The plot takes off from there. The first time I saw this movie, I had been warned about the violence so much, particularly the torture scene that is the turning point in the film, that it was not as intense as I was expecting. Another thing: keep in mind that a large amount of this movie is funny and intended to be so. The first time I saw this movie (as with American Beauty and Fight Club) no one had warned me that it was supposed to be funny, so I felt really, really uncomfortable, (especially during the scene where they are all assigned names) but after I bought it (after just one viewing) and saw it a few more times, it seemed largely laugh out loud funny. A lot of the dialogue still has me laughing loudly to myself. Unless you are squeamish, watch it. If you are squeamish, you might consider watching it on DVD and skipping chapter 16. Just watch it.
Interesting Observation: the opening shot of the movie is almost identical to a shot in DePalma's brilliant The Untouchables
If you enjoyed this, you will probably like: Pulp Fiction, From Dusk Till Dawn (the first one only. If you really want to see one of the sequels, make it the third, but avoid the second like the plague), everything by Robert Rodriguez (and yes, I even enjoyed Spy Kids,but The majority of his work is closer to From Dusk till Dawn which he did direct,though Quentin Tarantino wrote it and acted in it), Fight Club, possibly American Beauty and maybe (and I stress this maybe) Se7en (or Seven; which one is it?) I have not seen Jackie Brown yet, but hey, it's Quentin Tarantino