Reservoir Dogs (5 Stars)

This is a film that came out of nowhere. Even though elements were borrowed from other classic films, nothing like it had ever been made before. It was an independent film made at a time when independent films were assumed to have low production quality. "Reservoir Dogs" was a milestone in independent film making, the proof that a film could have outstanding artistic quality on a small budget, in this case only $1.2 million.

Even though "Reservoir Dogs" was a commercial success, relative to its budget, it remained relatively unknown after its release. Most film fans didn't watch it until after the success of "Pulp Fiction" two years later.

When speaking about the film many people concentrate on its violence. Yes, the film has occasional bursts of violence, and for most of the film a man is lying bleeding on a ramp, but that's not what the film is about. What makes "Reservoir Dogs" outstanding is the conversations between the characters. This begins in the opening scene when there's a discussion on the meaning of Madonna's "Like a Virgin" which progresses into a debate on whether or not to tip waitresses. This became the trademark for Quentin Tarantino's films. We get to know the characters through what they talk about, even if the conversations are irrelevant to the plot of the film itself.

I didn't include "Reservoir Dogs" in my list of 30 films to watch before you die. I picked "Pulp Fiction" instead as an example of Tarantino's films. In retrospect I think I made the wrong choice. "Pulp Fiction" is maybe a better film, but "Reservoir Dogs" has greater significance in the history of cinema.

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