Reservoir Dogs
A cinematic masterpiece. Image sourced from IMBD.com
By C. A. Ramirez
The 1992 film that changed cinema forever turns 30 years old.
Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, Reservoir Dogs has aged like a fine wine, and I don’t mean vinegar. The secret to the success and endurance of Reservoir Dogs lies in its engaging story and phenomenal performances.
The movie stands as one of the cornerstones of cinema and has gained fame as one of the bloodiest tales of a caper gone bad. Filmmakers have studied it and tried desperately to imitate it, but none have succeeded. Tarantino characters sink into your brain like a butcher’s meat hook, and they do not leave when asked. He handles the camera the way DaVinci held a brush; each scene is perfectly framed. Wide shots keep you in the seat, highlighting fits of blood-soaked action, while close shots transmit intense emotions. Dialogue is paramount, and Tarantino does not waste a single syllable in this gripping tale and where words are not needed, what the camera sees is sometimes all you need.
This moment is legendary because it highlights Tarantino’s POV and the magic behind what a slow crawling close up can do to spark depth and nuance to a character. Mr. White knows that he broke the rules, Mr. Orange knows his real name, and if they drop him off at a hospital, the cops will find that out. The slow close on Mr. White’s face reveals the internal debate he’s having , but he decides to tell Mr. Pink the truth. Mr. White could have lied, but he didn’t because he has a code of ethics. Cold-blooded killer though he may be, there is honor among thieves.
Pacing is what makes or breaks a film. The Irishman is three hours long but feels like a 90-minute film. Dialogue matters. The worst films have their actors regurgitate manufactured phrases that force the plot through the lens of whatever malformed message the director is trying to convey. Reservoir Dogs pull no punches, and by the time Mr. Blonde shows up with his soda, Tarantino has hooked the audience like a bass, and what they want to know is exactly what Mr. White wants to know: “who’s the rat?”.
Reservoir Dogs is a cinematic tour de force and should be part of every cinephile’s collection. Tarantino has been in his prime throughout his entire career; his movies have never disappointed me, and I’ve looked long and hard at Death Proof, and still can’t bring myself to disregard it as his one flop. Reservoir Dogs is the most successful indie film that could have ever been made right next to Linklater’s Slacker and even Smith’s Clerks. Tarantino’s film debut embodies everything that makes cinema an integral part of the human experience. Thirty years later, Reservoir Dogs throws a punch that can still knock a few teeth loose.
What do you think, dear Mediums? Does Reservoir Dogs still have a bite to match its bark?
Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. Miramax (1992).
