True Romance

Note: Originally written in July 2014

"True Romance" ultimately comes off as a mish-mash of different things. And that's slightly sad, really. There's so much goodness to this movie, in different sections, that each can pull off a great movie individually on its own weight. Firstly, there's the archetypal Quentin Tarantino writing, with each character so deeply weighted in its own idiosynchrasies and that reflecting in the crystalline dialogue between characters in unusual settings. Secondly, the cast is outstanding, probably one of those great ensembles - Christian Slater, a blithe yet cunning hero; Gary Oldman in the quirkiest character of his career most likely; Samuel Jackson; Brad Pitt, an effective stoner; Dennis Hopper, Christopher Walken, Val Kilmer, as an Elvis Presley mock-up; James Gandolfini and finally, Patricia Arquette, whose turning out to be a personal favorite here, a fiery yet naive and bubbly girl suitable named 'Alabama'! Thirdly, Tony Scott's direction brings a distinctive flavor to this flick, with fast yet effective cuts, closely engaged cinematography that respects the scene's ambience and an emphatic take on struggle and emotion. Above all, lastly, that picture says it all - the chemistry between Slater and Arquette is just sensational. If only, the mish-mash of these four elements was a more organic one.....

Check out more on the flick at IMDB and Letterboxd.