Customer Reviews

True Romance

5 star:		(186)
4 star:		(69)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

True Romance is one of those great films that was rather unfairly and bizarrely largely ignored on it's original theatrical release but it's really hard to know why. It's not because of the script/screenplay, that was written by the great Quentin Tarantino, with all the trademark flourishes you'd expect, with witty dialogue and great set-pieces that leave you quoting them for weeks. It's not because it's got a poor cast or poor acting. Apart from the leads, Christian Slater and the wonderful Patricia Arquette (in undoubtedly their greatest screen performances), this movie has a cast list like a whose who of great screen actors; Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman and Christopher Walken. It also boasts a great cameo performance from Brad Pitt and a superb supporting performance from (the then not so famous) James Gandolfino. Val Kilmer and Samuel L. Jackson even turn up too in blink and you'll miss it performances.

This is a great movie, a cool movie, a funny movie and an action movie. Directed by Tony Scott, one of the best (if not the best) action movie directors around, True Romance is the story of Alabama (Arquette) and Clarence (Slater) young newlywed lovers on the run with a stolen suitcase full of $5m worth of the mafia's coke, which they intend to sell. But as the old saying goes, the path to true love never runs smooth and a battle of wits ensues between Clarence, the police and the mob leading to a classic finale in this action packed film. As a whole, this movie works beautifully but on DVD it's even better because you can access all your favourite classic scenes that unmistakeably bare Tarantino's hallmark again and again. Such as the opening scene where the heterosexual Clarence (Slater) states that he'd sleep with Elvis if he were still alive, or the showdown between Clarence and dreadlocked gangster (Oldman). Or the showdown between the mob boss (Walken) and Clarence's Dad (Hopper). Classic scenes indeed, particularly the one with Walken and Hopper. It's hard to believe this movie was made back in 1993 because it's still as fresh, still as cool and still looks as enjoyable as it was back then. I just love this movie and if you haven't seen it yet I hope you will too.

I really wish Brad Pitt would consider reprising his role as the stoner Floyd someday cause he absolutely stole the show-he's hysterical. Some of the classic Tarantino lines of all time, several adlibs, and phenomenal scenes that are way outside the edge of reality, but it works. A better ensemble cast than anything else you're liable to find. Was this Gandolfini's first "sensitive hitman" role? Patricia Arquette is yummy, Hopper is in rare form, Walken is as menacing as he is weird, Oldman makes a great pimp, we find out about Samuel L's sexual preferences, and Slater manages to turn in a credible understated but high energy performance. A monument to the Nintendo generation I suppose but a great movie worth watching over and over again. Oh yeah, if you're quick to scream "ripoff" when you see a road movie that resembles True Romance, NBK, Freeway, Love and a 45, etc then pick up a copy of Badlands with Martin Sheen. Tarantino makes better movies than his predecessors but he's borrowed an idea or two along the way. 5 Snorts.

Now, the new "Unrated" Director's Cut. well, they really can't call it unrated since not one single change was made from the original release. The sound and picture are far superior to the original DVD however, and there are a few extras rabid fans will enjoy. Especially the commentary by Michael Rappaport and Brad Pitt. The 'deleted' scenes aren't worth talking about. Sad actually. And the alternate ending.....thank god they didn't go with that one. If you don't already own the DVD then this one is for you. If you are thinking about getting this one for the added content you may want to think twice. The extras just aren't worth it.

Off beat and Over the Top. The Dialogue is Quick and Sharp, the only way Quentin knows how. I loved Patrica Arquette in this character and Bronson Pinchot is Hilarious. THis Unrated version contains a longer cut of the scene in the hotel room where one of the mafia guys ( James Gondofini) comes to find the drugs, to find Patricia's Character alone and helpless not say a word and be brutally beaten only to repay the same to her attacker. I have the original On DVD and the unrated 2 disc version is not much longer just more intense.

True Romance has Quentin Tarantino's fingerprints all over it, although it was actually directed by Tony Scott. It has everything, from a Mexican standoff, to the rat-a-tat dialogue, to the same obsession with 70s flicks that are common in many of Tarantino's films. The only thing it's missing is Uma Thurman.

The story is almost beside the point: a comic book nerd named Clarence Worley (Christian Slater, were we all to suffer his lot in life!) hooks up with a prostitute, Alabama Whitman (Patricia Arquette) with a heart of gold. What could have been a traumatic experience for the both of them blossoms into a passionate romance. It's not long before the two get married.

Unlike say, Pretty Woman, True Romance reminds us that being a prostitute is not fun. Part of the unglamorous side of Alabama's life is her abusive pimp, Drexl Spivey (Gary Oldman, fantastic as always). Clarence decides to get Alabama's possessions back from the pimp and settle the score. The plot spirals from there, but it involves a huge amount of cocaine that's so expensive, just possessing it is a liability.

On Clarence's side is his big doofus of a friend, Dick Ritchie (Michael Rapaport), an aspiring actor that's particularly Joey-esque. For some reason, Brad Pitt plays Floyd, Dick's stoner roommate. Clarence also looks for help from his dad, Clifford (the always amusing Dennis Hopper). Guiding (if you can call it that) Clarence through life is his illusionary mentor, Elvis (wouldja believe, Val Kilmer?). No, seriously. It doesn't take long before Dick hooks Clarence up with a buyer. That buyer is Eliot Blitzer, representing the famous Hollywood director Lee Donowitz (played by Bronson Pinchot and Saul Rubinek respectively).

The cocaine belongs to the Mob, of course, led by Vincenzo Coccotti (Christopher Walken) and his thug Virgil (James Gandolfini), two of the most philosophical Mobsters you'll ever meet. The dialogue between Walken and Hopper is worth the price of admission alone. Also on the trail of the coke are the police, led by Cody Nicholson (Tom Sizemore) and his partner Nicky Dimes (Chris Penn). They almost sound more like the Mob than the Mob does. Which is perhaps the point.

True Romance isn't just about romance. It's about passion, the kind of passion that binds people together in ways they can't even understand: lovers (Clarence and Alabama), fandom (Clarence and Elvis), and even murder (Vincenzo and Clifford). Our hero perseveres because he believes in the power of love and, once he finds it, will do anything to keep it alive. It's that passion that propels the plot forward, such that even those who only peripherally experience the romance between Clarence and Alabama are willing to sacrifice everything for them. But True Romance reserves its passion most for the love between father and son. It can be a love worth dying for (Clarence and Clifford), or a hatred so intense that it's self destructive (Lee and Eliot).

This is one star-studded cast that actually lives up to expectations. Don't be fooled: True Romance is as passionate and foul-mouthed as anything Tarantino has written. But it's a love letter to lovers, celebrating what brings out the best and worst in humanity.

Watch it, if only to see two pros (Hopper and Walken) at the top of their game. Trust me, I should know...I'm part Sicilian.

I am sure my title for this review will generate more than a few cyber-eyerolls, but I mean it in all seriousness (kind of). This movie is chock full of all the American pop-culture references you can handle. These range from Christian Slater-as-Clarence's comic book store ("Heros for Sale"), to his predilection for 70s kung-fu movies, to Clarence's invocation of himself as Steve McQueen: "We now return to Bullitt already in progress...", to the Elvis figure that actually haunts him and directs him at key moments in his life (an Elvis that is played in a sort of cameo by Val Kilmer). It also has some of the best, and oddest, performances of pretty much everyone involved: Val Kilmer (as Elvis mentioned above), Dennis Hopper IS Clarence's ultimately wise but washed-out security guard father living in a trailer by the railroad tracks, Brad Pitt has a great small role as "Floyd" the good-natured stoner (another one of his great "grimy" characters), James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) makes what might be his film debut(?) as a sadistic hit-man, Gary Oldman is perfect as the gloriously pimped-out and evil "Drexel", and how could anyone forget Patricia Arquette as the jiggly "Alabama"?
As an example, one of the best scenes in this movie, and one of my all-time favorites, is the "interview" between the Mafia-envoy played to cold perfection by Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper. This pairing alone makes this movie worth the [money]. The key moment is when Dennis Hopper realizes there is no good way out of this for him, so he tries to goad Walken into killing him before he is forced to give away the whereabouts of his son. To accomplish this, he gives Walken and all the other hit-men packed into his trailer a little history lesson on the genetic roots of their distinctive Sicilian phenotype.
Throw this all together with the pacing and camera work of "Top Gun" (thanks to director Tony Scott) and a typically-brilliant script provided by Tarantino, and that is why I would tentatively nominate "True Romance" as my "Best American Movie of the early-90s".

P.S.
Some other great performers that I didn't get a chance to mention in my review, and that make this movie as entertaining as it is, are: Michael Rappaport as the dopy aspiring actor (auditioning, of all things, for a one-time role as Crook #2 for an episode of "T.J. Hooker" that is set to co-star Peter Breck!), Chris Penn and Tom Sizemore as over-zealous narc squad partners, and Bronson Pinchot is wonderfully whiny as a movie producer's whipping boy and go-fer named Elliot. This is a great movie!

At all costs avoid the "R" rated version of this film. The distributor had significant cuts made in order to sell it at Walmarts and other middle-American cultural outlets. These aren't just minor changes - indeed, the ending of the "R" version is different than the "NR" Director's cut, and the violence is much reduced in several scenes.

Make no mistake, the "R" version is a waste of money. Accept only the Director's cut and you won't be disappointed.

All in all, a superb film, with everyone involved at the top of their respective games.

The picture on the Blu-ray edition is soft and flat compared to many recent movies. That might just be the way this movie looks (I didn't see it in the theater), but don't expect to be dazzled by the PQ on this BD. The movie itself is great, with an unbelievable cast, clever dialogue and memorable characters (particularly Gary Oldman's). If you don't already own the DVD, this Blu-ray edition is highly recommended. If you're considering a double dip, though, you might want to rent it first or check some reviews.

This is a prime time Tarantino story with a superb cast and great music. I have no idea why I came across this fun movie only now, it seems to have been overlooked and underrated when it came out in 93. Obviously it is much too violent and the language is definitely obscene. As I said, that's entertainment. Very entertaining.
Slater and Arquette as a very romantic and very naive couple getting dragged into gang trouble over stolen drugs, that they try to sell, are entirely plausible in their wide eyed romance. My favorite among the smaller parts is Walken, who is, as usual, a very very bad guy, but so elegantly and charmingly here. Hopper for once is a nice person, which does not get him very far in the story. Oldman and Pitt have small freak parts, which they fill in nicely.
One question comes up: there are half a dozen great male roles here, but practically only one woman, other than extras. Must mean something, but what?
Have fun!

Before Pulp Fiction made him a household name, Quentin Tarantino wrote this ultra violent crime fantasy which was directed by Tony Scott. Here we meet Clarence (Christian Slater) and Alabama (Patricia Arquette); two star crossed lovers who embark on a cross country road trip with a very large amount of stolen mafia cocaine. What results is the two running and gunning their way culminating in a Mexican standoff with cops, crooks, and the mob. Did I mention that Clarence also talks to the ghost of Elvis (Val Kilmer) whenever he goes to the bathroom? Tarantino's penchant for witty, pulpy dialog seems a bit underused here in comparison with his other projects (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown), but Scott's frantic bloody direction makes True Romance stand on it's own. The rest of the great cast includes Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken, Michael Rapaport, Bronson Pinchot (who steals many a scene), Samuel L. Jackson, James Gandolfini, Chris Penn, and Tom Sizemore in supporting roles; most of which give memorable performances. Warner Bros. really put together a great DVD package here, and while the other special features are standard, the commentaries by Scott, Slater and Arquette, and especially Tarantino, are worth owning the film for alone.

I was always content with my single disc director's cut of "True Romance", the 1993 classic directed by Tony Scott, written by Quentin Tarrentino and starring a fantastic set of actors. However, when I learned there was a two disc special edition complete with even more deleted material plus many other special features, the first thing I said to myself was...I gotta get this.

And man, is it awesome. The deleted material is excellent. The first feature I watched (well, listened to) was the audio commentary by the film's stars, Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette. It was insightful, informative and often hilarious, and I liked how they stayed in character for the better half of the commentary. There's also insight from Scott and Tarrentino. Co-stars Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Brad Pitt and Michael Rapaport go over their respective scenes (admittedly, Rapaport's went on a little long, and I wish Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken, Brosnon Pinchott, James Gandolfini and many of the film's other great actors contributed as well). There's a great featurette that lets you go inside the movie, plus many other great stuff.

This is one dvd that belongs in your collection. Get it as soon as possible.