THE film of the 1990's!

Rating: 10/10 (14 September 2004)

Q: How many heist films start with the looters sat discussing the meaning of a pop song? Or the virtues of tipping at diners? A: One
'Reservoir Dogs' is not a standard heist movie. Whereas in most cases we would be confronted with elaborate planning, all manner of hi-tech gizmos, and a slight visit to the rendezvous (maybe five minutes screen time); we get a whole movie dedicated to the rendezvous... and not a gizmo to speak of.
A group of colour-coded crims get together to pull off a heist, and everything that can go wrong, goes wrong. One of them is a cop. Two die on the job. And another turns out to be a "stone cold psycho". In the inimitable words of Mr White (Harvey Keitel): "You can't work with a pyschopath, you never know what those sick assholes are gonna do next". Indeed, White's prognosis would be well followed, as we realize after the psycho - Mr Blonde - shows us what you can do with a straight razor and a policeman's ear.
The film boasts a steller cast. The favourites: Keitel, Buscemi and Tim Roth. The curios: Madsen, Penn and QT himself. And the old timers: Tierney and real life crook Ed Bunker. All give great performances, helped along by brilliant writing and assured direction. Indeed, the real star of the film is Quentin Tarantino: writer, director and movie geek superstar. He has gone on to make 'Pulp Fiction', 'Jackie Brown' and the 'Kill Bill' volumes. But for me, 'Reservoir Dogs' remains my favourite of his films.
Favourite line: "You gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?" Favourite moment: Mr Orange (Roth) telling the criminals/us his fictional commode story. That then becomes fact.
Watch and enjoy. And then watch all over again.