Grindhouse Review

Sometimes you get what you expect. You know if your walking into a theater where a Tarantino film is playing you’ll get stylized violence with hipster dialogue and a cool soundtrack(On a side note, I’ve jumped on the band wagon of using the word hipster in sole relation to Tarantino based on the fact that now everyone refers to Tarantino as hipster). You know if your walking into a theater that’s showing a Robert Rodriguez film you’re going to see pure unadultered entertainment with violence, gore and bullets aplenty (Unless of course it’s Spy Kids). Nevertheless, the announcement of such a pairing of cinema mavericks makes fans of the two salivate uncontrollably. Grindhouse is that movie and it’s promise is almost fufilled.

By now if you don’t know that Grindhouse is a double billing, based on the press surrounding breaking up the two films, you need to find yourself an Internet and Google it hyuk hyuk. But yes it is two films: Rodriguez has the zombie flick Planet Terror while Tarantino has the stuntman gone crazy killer in Death Proof. Now the ole brain had an argument when deciding to review this flick, because it is a single movie experience. I did see two films, but it was packaged as one movie. Herego, I will sit on the fence and review both films seperately and discuss the experience as a whole. Sound good? Good. Off we go.

Planet Terror is sheer maniacal madness. It has all the trappings of a B-Movie 80’s horror and more. The look, feel and effects are all delicate homages to the trashy horror movies at the time, and my oh my does Rodriguez succeed. I simply loved watching Planet Terror. It was so fun, fast moving and visually stunning. Perhaps there was no morale or point, but the movie was pure fun. I really look forward to trying to make movies like Rodriguez some day, which I guess is another reason Planet Terror worked so well for me. Let me warn you that it may not be for everyone (not to sound all cinema-snobby) but it is INCREDIBLY violent. The gore is gruesome and truely not for the weak stomached. The greatest concept Rodriguez champions here is the look and feel of the movies he’s tipping his cowboy hat to. His dialogue is designed is just serious enough to not be taken seriously. It can’t be taken seriously. It’s meant to be a fun ride. How many people critique a roller coaster? That’s what this is.

In between the films were fake trailers made by directors and friends of Tarantino and Rodriguez. All of these trailers have moments of hillarity, whether it be a special cameo in “Werewolf Women of the S.S.”, or the sheer mockery of Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving”. “Don’t” actually looks like a scary flick, but just fells the viewer with comedy. The directors of these were Rob Zombie, Eli Roth and Edgar Wright. I should mention also that Rodriguez made his own faux trailer that starts the experience called “Machete” which is actually being made(though it makes me skeptical. It was funny as a trailer, but as a film outside the Grindhouse realm, I dunno).

So your primed. You’re buzzed. You just watched the ball busting excitement and fun of Planet Terror and chuckled at the fake trailers and you’re ready for Tarantino to take you to the next level. And he falls flat. First off, Death Proof isn’t nearly as alluring a concept as Planet Terror. The stories own horror movie chops leave something to be desired. As all the reviews have said, and as I can concur, Death Proof loiters. It lingers. It has moments of superbly delivered action and chase scenes. But overall, I felt like it was a mis-executed story. It is also Tarantinos first foray into being his own Director of Photography. While Rodriguez captures a feel necessary to fit in the Grindhouse title, Tarantino simply makes a film, that at moments have a grungy feel, but overall feels like a mis-step. What I will say is that Death Proof (which is actually a cut down version) could stand alone as a film. Planet Terror would find problems being released as just Planet Terror. It needed Grindhouse as the heading. Death Proof doesn’t fit the heading entirely, but manages to stand alone. And with that, that’s all I can say really positively about it. The story mis-fires with long dialogue scenes(although very well shot) and over-hyped chase scenes. I was dissapointed with the end, being a pretty lame payoff.

All in all, Grindhouse was a very good movie going experience even with Death Proof. I wish Tarantino found a way to make it work better. I did enjoy how each flick had “missing reels” and imperfections. One question I would love to have answered by Tarantino is if he specifically had his cuts not match up or if they were just mis-cuts. Either way, he could get away with it because of the Grindhouse tag. I had fun and managed to get through Death Proof with some saving moments of entertainment. While the run-time is long, mainly due to Tarantinos indulgent cut of Death Proof, the first part flies by. For those who like violence, horror movies and indulgent Tarantino dialogue, see Grindhouse.  It certainly needs the viewers.  The flick clocks in at roughly 3 1/2 hours, so don’t be surprised to spend the afternoon/night.  Grindhouse get’s 8 out of 10 Bones for the unnecessary run time and the self-indulgence, let down that is Death Proof.

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