True Romance (DVD)

This film from 1993, directed by Tony Scott (previous works such as 'Top Gun' and Crimson Tide') and written by the universally known Quentin Tarantino.

It is a tension filled and action packed movie with some really poignant and occasionally chilling sequences.

The story centres around Clarence Worley (Christian Slater of 'Murder in the First' and 'Broken Arrow') a comic book store employee with a passion for Sonny ...
...him watching a Sonny Cheeba marathon in a cinema. Here he meets Alabama (Patricia Arquette of Stigmata.) She is a happy, young southern girl and they immediately hit it off. After the inevitable night-time events, Clarence awakes to find Alabama crying and she confesses she is a call girl hired by Clarence's boss as a birthday present. As she's crying obviously, the two already mean more than that to each other and are married the next morning. This ... more

This film from 1993, directed by Tony Scott (previous works such as 'Top Gun' and Crimson Tide') and written by the universally known Quentin Tarantino.

It is a tension filled and action packed movie with some really poignant and occasionally chilling sequences.

The story centres around Clarence Worley (Christian Slater of 'Murder in the First' and 'Broken Arrow') a comic book store employee with a passion for Sonny Cheeba kung-fu movies and Elvis Presley. The film begins with him watching a Sonny Cheeba marathon in a cinema. Here he meets Alabama (Patricia Arquette of Stigmata.) She is a happy, young southern girl and they immediately hit it off. After the inevitable night-time events, Clarence awakes to find Alabama crying and she confesses she is a call girl hired by Clarence's boss as a birthday present. As she's crying obviously, the two already mean more than that to each other and are married the next morning. This is only the first five minutes of the film but sets the tone of the couple's relationship throughout the movie. As events progress, they do progressively more and more dangerous or risky things for each other. At first glance it appears to be a romantic film, but action fans do not fear, it packs a punch as well.

The film really is PACKED with stars. Samuel L. Jackson lasts only seconds of the pre-title scene as drug dealer who is blasted by Gary Oldman's character Drexl. Drexl is an important charcter to the start of the story, as he is Alabama's pimp. He and Clarence have a tension filled scene in Drexl's house, when Clarence goes to collect Alabama's things for her. The situation becomes pretty heated to say the least and Clarence ends up taking the wrong bag home with him but losing his driver's licence in the struggle. This is how he is pursued throughout the film, as he gives away his identity early on.

This is the main catalyst for the film and I daren't go any further into the plot as it must be seen, if only just to witness the top class acting on show.

The suitcase is filled with cocaine and the pair see a chance to set themselves up for life and venture out to Los Angeles to sell it. The sheer spectrum of characters really is amazing. Michael Rapaport (The dad from 'The War At Home') plays Clarence's best friend, Dick Ritchie. A struggling, incompetent actor who trys to help Clarence shift his newfound goodies. Also his room-mate Floyd is truly a classic (it's Brad Pitt) as permantley wasted and stoned mess who lives on his sofa.

Dennis Hopper performs solidly as Clarence's estranged policeman father, Clifford. He shares some of the films best scenes with Christopher Walken's excentlly portrayed mafia associate Vincenzo Coccotti, who is on the trail of the mafia's drugs. The two characters have some great back-and-forth banter, in what is quite an emotional and timeless scene. The list of famous names goes on, but then again, so does this article, so I will move on.

The action scenes are relatively few but when they come, disappointment won't be anywhere to be seen. They are especially brutal since this is the Director's Cut. Some may be a little shocked at the graphic detail and in one scene in particular, the sheer brutality of it. This film doesn't really pull it's punches so be prepared.
The final scenes of the film are in my opinion, some of the best ever made and culminate at one point in a mexican standoff (when multiple people from multiple factions all have weapons drawn and aimed at each other) involving more than ten people. It's action like this which has been and still is, a hallmark of Tarantino's finest stories and it only serves to keep the suspense levels at maximum and ensure the adrenaline flows when it needs to.

The dialogue is very entertaining throughout, and there are a few fantasy/dream sequences between Clarence and Elvis Presley in which he is given advice by The King. If I'm not mistaken, Elvis is played by another A-lister, Val Kilmer. I just keep remebering more and more famous people. Anyway, these intimate scenes give the film a certain character and really help you get to know what Clarence is like. Christian Slater plays his role perfectly and is very easy to like and support throughout.

'Reservoir Dogs' Chris Penn and 'The Sopranos' James Gandolfini also have parts to play, as various pursuers of the fleeing couple during the film.

Although the film was written by Tarantino, Tony Scott changed the ending of the film for his movie. However, this has little bearing on the overall feel of the movie, and but for slight switch in the chronology of some scenes, he leaves Tarantino's work relatively untouched and as it was intended.

There are so many strengths to this film, it is hard to pick out the weaknesses and other than the sometimes slightly horrifyingly graphic scenes, anything I picked up on would be merely to balance this review. The criticisms are almost non-existent and would pale into insignificance when compared to the vast array of talent on display and the superbly written script. For instance, Samuel L. Jackson barely says a word, Val Kilmer never gets the camera above his neckline so really is difficult to identify. Many of the other names only appear for a scene or two, but all of them will leave an imprint on your memory of the film and really give it a professional feel.

The film mainly follows 'The Worleys' Clarence and Alabama from their journey from darkened cinema right the way to the L.A. hotel suite where the ending explodes so spectacularly.

The soundtrack manages to instill emotion in the movie whenever it's required and is scored pretty well. Although not extensively remarkable, the film's audio is rather good.

If you haven't seen this film, then you really must. If you haven't heard of it, then how have managed to get onto the internet to read this review, since you've clearly been living in a cave for the last two decades. More like a work of art than a piece of film. Their is a reason why this is one of my favourites and is also lauded by the majority of critics and fans worldwide.

In my opinion, very few films have managed to live up to this film's level of delivery and class, ultimately, it's a very satisfying movie. I'm not trying to say that some people will not have criticisms of their own that they would like to make, but I would expect that overall, they would not take much away from what is a GREAT FILM!

This kind of cinema is rarely emulated, and when it is I truly am impressed and delighted. This film will be talked about for years to come, and after you watch it, I hope you become one of it's many, many fans.

Thanks for taking time out to read this review, I hope you liked it. Obviously, I had a lot to say about this film and I hope you enjoy watching it just as much as I did. 

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