Tarantino, Rodriguez team up to make hyperactive, bloody `Dusk Till Dawn'
What a trip! If you're in the right frame of mind, this movie will take you places. Don't go into the theater expecting something as sophisticated as Pulp Fiction or as slick as Desperado , but From Dusk Till Dawn is one wild ride.
Director Robert Rodriguez teams up once again (think Four Rooms ) with movie hotshot Quentin Tarantino to examine -- you guessed it -- a day in the life of two criminals on a run across the border.
After escaping from a Kansas prison, Seth (George Clooney) and Richie (Tarantino) Gecko begin a Natural Born Killers- esque rampage across Texas as they head for the Mexican border. Parts of this movie were filmed in Austin, and if you are an Austinite or at least familiar with the Austin culture, there are several inside jokes in store for you.
Just north of the border, the Geckos "hitch" a ride from a minister (Harvey Keitel) who has lost his faith and his two teenage children (Juliette Lewis and Ernest Liu). The gang then heads to the rendezvous point, a bar for bikers and truckers known as the Titty Twister. And the real, outlandish fun begins.
Written by Tarantino, the script proves to be another example of his excellent use of dialogue. Even with the unbelievable story line, Tarantino manages to bring reality to extraordinary circumstances. Tarantino fans will not be disappointed because From Dusk Till Dawn still reeks of his relentless wit.
The viewer must be warned: The gore of Pulp Fiction isn't toned down here. In fact, it has been amplified.
Robert Rodriguez allows his directing style on this, his second blockbuster attempt, to be influenced by Tarantino. From Dusk Till Dawn lacks the smooth, polished feel of Desperado . The scenes take on a chaotic atmosphere, reminiscent of Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs . While Tarantino usually relies on the stark reality of life, albeit a tad bit darker, Rodriguez brings in an element of the supernatural, and with it comes a truckload of special effects. However, the movie is still definitely Rodriguez's. Otherwise, it would have been much harder to follow.
The acting is superb. Tarantino shines as a crazed pervert. The scene between Lewis and Tarantino in the hotel room is classic. Clooney starts off slowly but soon breaks free of his Dr. Ross persona. By the end of the movie, he is a certified hero. Keitel is convincing as a minister searching for his lost faith.
Juliette Lewis carries the movie with her portrayal of Keitel's teenage daughter. This actress is incredibly versatile. It is amazing that after all of her adult roles, she is still able to convincingly play a young girl. Lewis's acting alone is worth going to see the film.
Don't expect to see Rodriguez and Tarantino up at the Oscars for this one. But it's still super-good entertainment.
As you sit in the theater, keep a bit of Tarantino's advice in mind: Pretend you're at a sleazy drive-through. That should put you in the right frame of mind.
P.S. Clooney's tattoo is a nice touch!
Copyright © 1996 The Rice Thresher. All Rights
Reserved.
This document may be distributed
electronically, provided that it is distributed in its entirety
and includes this notice. However, it cannot be reprinted
without the express written permission of:
The Rice
Thresher, Rice University, 6100 Main, Houston, TX, 77005, USA.
The Thresher Online Project -- ethresh@rice.edu