Truly Romanced by this film...

Rating: 9/10 (7 February 2010)

Bravo to Tony Scott who directed this film. I was really quite impressed with the outcome of this film. It was a Tarantino script which practically guarantees the viewer that what they are about see is full of wonderfully crafted violent sequences, smart storyline and wonderful characters that are wildly entertaining and sometimes dark and mysterious.
So, the movie's plot is really quite simple. it centres on a loner guy, Clarence (Christian Slater), who inherits a call-girl, Alabama (Arquette) for one night on his birthday thanks to his boss whom we never meet funny enough. Anyway, Alabama pretends to be interested in kung-fu movies and comic books in order to entice Clarence. She succeeds. Alabama however, after a night of steamy love-making with Clarence, falls for him and admits it along with the admission of her being a call-girl. The flow of events that follows are really quite intriguing and are punctuated with as star-studded cast that is bound to wetten the taste-buds of any movie buff. We have Gary Oldman as Drexy Spivl, a cocaine obsessed WIGGER of a pimp who Clarence kills when he arrives at Drexl's joint to pick up Alabma's possessions. Then we have Val Kilmer as Clarence's sub-conscious alter-ego and despite never actually seeing his face, we are entranced by his words of wisdom to Clarence and we are persuaded into thinking of him as a kind of Elvis like character. Following on, we have Dennis Hopper as Clarence's father, an ex-cop whom is unwillingly and unknowingly entwined into Clarence's mess after Clarence kills Drexl Spivy and Hopper meets an untimely death at the hands of Vincenzo Coccotti (Christopher Walken).
Adding amusing turns are Brad Pitt as a stoner room-mate of Clarence's friend Dick and among others, Chris Penn as a hard-hitting but determined cop on the trail of some huge cocaine deals in and around Hollywood. Oh I cant forget Samuel L Jackson's brief turn as Big Don who is on screen for about 30 seconds discussing eating pussy and ass. Hilariously vulgar!
Scott uses vivid colours and compelling dialogue to entrance the viewer and the film is given a somewhat light-hearted tone thanks to the xylophonic jingle of Hans Zimmer.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this film and wasn't deluded beforehand into expecting some sort of masterpiece that should ave swept me of my feet. No, what I expected was a well-scripted, well-acted and skillfully directed film that produced a few laughs and thrills. That's exactly what I got and was entirely satisfied.
9/10. Highly recommendable!