Morgan BellREVIEW: Death Proof
April 14th 2008 17:50
Directed & Written: Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Jackie Brown, Sin City)
Starring:
Stuntman Mike - Kurt Russell (Tombstone, Soldier, Overboard, Backdraft)
Jungle Julia - Sydney Poitier (daughter of Sidney Poitier)
Butterfly - Vanessa Ferlito (TVs CSI New York)
Shanna Banana - Jordan Ladd (daughter of Cheryl Ladd)
Marcy - Marcy Harriell (musical theatre actor)
Warren - Quentin Tarantino (From Dusk Til Dawn)
Lanna Frank - Monica Staggs (stuntwoman for Uma Thurman in Kill Bill)
Pam Greer - Rose McGowan (Jawbreaker, Scream, Encino Man, TVs Charmed)
Abernathy - Rosario Dawson (Kids, Sin City, Rent)
Kim - Tracie Thoms (Rent, The Devil Wears Prada, stage actor)
Zoë - Zoë Bell (stuntwoman for Uma Thurman in Kill Bill)
Lee - Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Factory Girl, Bobby, The Ring 2, Final Destination 3)
Death Proof is a cool movie with a cool cast, all the characters have cool unique names and say cool things - it is a homage to sleazy car-chase films from the 70s, a tribute to stunt people, and a continuous in-joke which references all of Tarantinos other work. The thing that makes Tarantino a genius (whether you like his films or not) is that for such a dweeby little guy he somehow knows the exact formula for movie cool, he knows what you need to make a cult flick and hes done it again! This is probably my favourite film of all that hes directed so far as it is really focussed on women and how they interact in groups, and essentially how they can have it over any man - especially in a pack!
Death Proof is alot of fun . . . Stuntman Mike as the villain is alot of fun with his redundant career, scar on his face, chip on his shoulder, and virtually indestructible stunt car named "Death Proof" . . . Stuntman Mike is an industry dinosaur who has taken to stalking young women . . . he catches one group unawares on a drunken night out and shows us how you are really no safer on the inside or the outside of his car . . . later with a different group of women (all from the film industry) we see he is a little out of his element when it turns out hes dealing with a female stuntwomen who could have him pleading for mercy like the cowardly lion!
Death Proof is set in modern day with mobile phones (keep an ear out for the kill bill ringtone), red bull, italian vogue, prada belts, and modern cars in the general traffic, but our first set of characters are all styled from the 70s in t-shirts and short-shorts . . . it is filmed with bad cutting, spots and lines on the film, and other devices to make it look like the reel of film was low budget and aged due to storage in the back shed . . . everyones smoking . . . our characters drive old 70s "muscle" cars . . . the dialogue is like a whole bunch of female Samuel L Jacksons wise-talking and making analogies . . . this film has real symmetry and many memorable elements . . . the women are tough and sassy and fun to listen to . . . the stunt work and driving is incredible and Tarantino has managed to create probably one of the best car chase scenes and one of the best car smash scenes all in one film . . . and i love the overall message that women arent the weaker sex, its all a matter of a man picking on someone his own size (or skill-set)
Starring:
Stuntman Mike - Kurt Russell (Tombstone, Soldier, Overboard, Backdraft)
Jungle Julia - Sydney Poitier (daughter of Sidney Poitier)
Butterfly - Vanessa Ferlito (TVs CSI New York)
Shanna Banana - Jordan Ladd (daughter of Cheryl Ladd)
Marcy - Marcy Harriell (musical theatre actor)
Warren - Quentin Tarantino (From Dusk Til Dawn)
Lanna Frank - Monica Staggs (stuntwoman for Uma Thurman in Kill Bill)
Abernathy - Rosario Dawson (Kids, Sin City, Rent)
Kim - Tracie Thoms (Rent, The Devil Wears Prada, stage actor)
Zoë - Zoë Bell (stuntwoman for Uma Thurman in Kill Bill)
Lee - Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Factory Girl, Bobby, The Ring 2, Final Destination 3)
Death Proof is a cool movie with a cool cast, all the characters have cool unique names and say cool things - it is a homage to sleazy car-chase films from the 70s, a tribute to stunt people, and a continuous in-joke which references all of Tarantinos other work. The thing that makes Tarantino a genius (whether you like his films or not) is that for such a dweeby little guy he somehow knows the exact formula for movie cool, he knows what you need to make a cult flick and hes done it again! This is probably my favourite film of all that hes directed so far as it is really focussed on women and how they interact in groups, and essentially how they can have it over any man - especially in a pack!
Death Proof is alot of fun . . . Stuntman Mike as the villain is alot of fun with his redundant career, scar on his face, chip on his shoulder, and virtually indestructible stunt car named "Death Proof" . . . Stuntman Mike is an industry dinosaur who has taken to stalking young women . . . he catches one group unawares on a drunken night out and shows us how you are really no safer on the inside or the outside of his car . . . later with a different group of women (all from the film industry) we see he is a little out of his element when it turns out hes dealing with a female stuntwomen who could have him pleading for mercy like the cowardly lion!
Death Proof is set in modern day with mobile phones (keep an ear out for the kill bill ringtone), red bull, italian vogue, prada belts, and modern cars in the general traffic, but our first set of characters are all styled from the 70s in t-shirts and short-shorts . . . it is filmed with bad cutting, spots and lines on the film, and other devices to make it look like the reel of film was low budget and aged due to storage in the back shed . . . everyones smoking . . . our characters drive old 70s "muscle" cars . . . the dialogue is like a whole bunch of female Samuel L Jacksons wise-talking and making analogies . . . this film has real symmetry and many memorable elements . . . the women are tough and sassy and fun to listen to . . . the stunt work and driving is incredible and Tarantino has managed to create probably one of the best car chase scenes and one of the best car smash scenes all in one film . . . and i love the overall message that women arent the weaker sex, its all a matter of a man picking on someone his own size (or skill-set)
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Comment by Louie
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they have so many great character names that are spoken over and over so you remember them . . . i can just imagine fancy dress party of the future being being full of jungle julias, butterflys, lees, or abernathys . . . just bring your short-shorts and your vintage T or your yellow cheer-leading outfit haha . . . its out on dvd now, i hope you like it
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yeah the stunt work was fantastic! i get so bored with all this CGI lately, the old-fashioned stunts were cool!
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i have not seen Planet Terror yet but i hope to soon!
i really enjoyed your review, you explained the plot really well . . . thanks for the comment!
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