Reservoir Dogs (5 Stars)

Is there anyone reading this blog who hasn't seen "Reservoir Dogs" yet? It's a film that should be compulsory viewing for everyone everywhere. It excels on so many different levels. It breaks all the conventions of film making, but it's still exciting from beginning to end. And yes, the actors are terrific. If you haven't seen "Reservoir Dogs" yet, stop reading now and come back after you've watched it. My review after the picture contains spoilers.

This was Quentin Tarantino's breakthrough film. In many ways it's still his best. It tells the story of a robbery that went wrong, a jewel heist, without ever showing the robbery itself. All we see is conversations leading up to the robbery, and then the aftermath. Almost all of the film takes place in the claustrophobic atmosphere of the empty warehouse.

It doesn't matter if you don't like gangster films. "Reservoir Dogs" isn't about gangsters, it's about people. We get to know the characters intimately. We see their strengths and their weaknesses as they crack under pressure. On a psychological level this is an astounding film.

The choice of actors is amazing. They all slot into place. I can't imagine any of them being exchanged for other actors without spoiling the action.

Harvey Keitel and Tim Roth take the centre stage as Mr. White and Mr. Orange. Both of them are world class actors. The development of a father-son relationship between them is moving, and you can feel the tears welling in your eyes when Mr. Orange confesses to Mr. White that he's betrayed him.

Michael Madsen's portrayal of the cold psycopath Mr. Blonde is chilling. When he meets Joe and interviews for the job he seems likeable, but in the warehouse we see his true nature. The bizarre mixture of dancing and torture is one of the film's images that will always be remembered.

Steve Buscemi is a contradictory character as Mr. Pink. He obviously has a lot of anger, and he's closer to cracking up than any of the others, but he's constantly pulling himself together, telling the others and himself that he's a professional.

Lawrence Tierney, who plays the boss, is really the most professional of the characters. For him it's all about business. He doesn't get involved in the joking of the rest of his crew. His son, played by Chris Penn, isn't quite as self-controlled. His shouting in the final scene is a major catalyst in the ensuing bloodbath.

This was a daring film. It could have failed. With lesser actors it would definitely have failed. It was a daring decision to leave the story's central event, the robbery, out of the film altogether. In many ways "Reservoir Dogs" is more like a theatre play than a film. Almost all the scenes could be shown on a small stage. The conversations between the gang members are more important than the action itself. While this was a relatively low budget film, costing barely more than one million dollars, the lack in funding is never apparent. This is a film that will always be remembered.