Truly magnificent entertainment!

Rating: 8/10 (20 April 2001)

"True Romance" is a hopped-up, hyperkinetic action piece from Tarantino, who wrote the script. It parallels with "From Dusk Till Dawn" on the violence level. Well, Tarantino's films are known to be violent, but more in quality than abundance. "Pulp Fiction" didn't have A LOT of violence. It simply had that scene in the car where the man's head got blown off and blood splattered all over. That shocked viewers--Well, most of them, it didn't shock me--to the extreme.
This movie has all the familiar Tarantino-ish elements--the extremely witty dialogue, the vivid character development. The film sometimes goes over the top, with a plot that's pretty implausible and based on coincidence. But it's handled in such a slick, intelligent style. Therefore, it doesn't look like a poor excuse to showcase gratuitous action and violence. Like all of Quentin's work, we get to know every single character--even the supporting ones--on a very intimate level. He has great respect for his characters. Even if the character is going to get blown away in a few minutes, he wants us to get to know that person. And that's his main tool in getting the audience deeply engaged in his films. In Tarantino's eyes, there is no minutiae. The characters will have a conversation about what they would call a Big Mac in France if it enables us to get into that someone's mind. Because that's what real people talk about. Much like the dialogue exchange between Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette in the diner. We get to know the two of them, through unpretentious dialogue, what kind of movies they like, what kind of music they listen to, etc. How often do you see character development like this in an action movie?
Just like "Pulp Fiction" and "Jackie Brown" there are many quotes that stick out in my mind and love reciting at my leisure. As well as dialogue, there are many memorable characters. Gary Oldman sticks out the most, as the ebonics-speaking pimp Drexl. A character like that really proves Oldman's versatility as an actor. How often will you see a sophisticated English actor take on a role like that? He blurts out the film's most memorable quote: "He must've thought it was White Boy Day." Christopher Walken also makes a brief, but memorable, appearance. The dialogue between him and Dennis Hopper is intense, and it's one of the pivotal moments of the film. To watch two magnificent actors like that in the same scene is always a treat. It's like when Robert DeNiro came face-to-face with Al Pacino in "Heat."
I also enjoyed Slater's "Elvis fetish." I'm not part of the Elvis fan club, but I take enjoyment in Elvis's music and persona. Therefore, you can expect to hear a few of The King's famous hits in the soundtrack. The film opens with a very funny and original scene in which Slater talks to a random woman at a bar about his feelings for The King, and that he'd do as much as f**k Elvis if he had the chance.
The director is Tony Scott, so naturally the action is also emphasized. I thought some of the action scenes were overlong and gratuitous, but they often worked. With the film's fast pacing, there's never a dull moment, so I couldn't complain. This is a type of movie that is so energetic, so original and so entertaining that you can't turn it down, despite its flaws.
"True Romance" is a wild ride that keeps its foot pressed firmly on the gas. I recommend it to anyone who's a fan of Tarantino, a superb ensemble cast and basically anyone who just wants to have a damn good time. 'Cause you definitely won't be disappointed!
My score: 8 (out of 10)