They bicker constantly, smoke like chimneys, swear like troopers, analyse their own incompetence and blame everybody but themselves individually.Įven “Nice Guy Eddie” ( Chris Penn) seems stressed. “As thick as thieves”? Don’t believe a word of it – these thieves are mutually distrusting guys who spend more time at one another’s throats than acting like cool professionals. The action centres on a bungled diamond heist, set up by virtue of a rat in the camp of Joe Cabot’s ( Lawrence Tierney) assembled thugs.
Reservoir Dogs is a tragedy with a seam of delicious humour told in three acts: before, during and after the heist, but in the modern vogue is told in fragmented style with the benefit of many flashbacks linear narrative went out years ago. In turn, this is Tarantino’s comic book take on Kubrick‘s The Killing, and references The Taking of Pelham 123 by using colours to name the criminals, but then when was any Tarantino film other than derivative? That, and sassy dialogue, are his stock in trade. Tim Roth‘s extended death amid a sea of blood as Mr Orange.Assassins talking rubbish is virtually a Tarantino trademark. The intro scene where the men squabble about Like a Virgin and how much to tip the waitress.Mr White ( Harvey Keitel) and Mr Pink ( Steve Buscemi) pointing guns at one another in a Mexican stand-off, one standing, the other prone.The ear slicing scene to Stuck in the Middle by Stealer’s Wheel, thanks to Michael Madsen‘s psychopath, Mr Blonde.The image of six guys in black suits, white shirts and black ties mooching down the street to Little Green Bag by the George Baker Selection is celebrated in popular culture and has been referenced many times.
Look at the pictures below – this is a movie that has passed down into folklore and popular culture. Next thing to know is that this is an iconic film.
He has called it “more of a mood title than anything else.” One popular and oft-told story about the origin of the title is that former video store employee Tarantino used to mangle the title of the French film Au revoir les enfants, and his mispronounciation gave birth to the phrase “Reservoir dogs.” I’ve told already how I inadvertently chanced upon Tarantino at the Cornerhouse, Manchester, when seeing the movie for the first time, but you don’t need me name-dropping, it’s the movie you need to know about. Rex malorum est cupiditas (“Greed is the root of all evil”)Įveryone has seen Reservoir Dogs, haven’t they? Haven’t they? Well OK, maybe not everyone, so I shall write this retrospective review for the benefit of those who have not.