Tag: Death Proof

TARANTINO XX: 8-FILM COLLECTION with Mondo Artwork on Blu-ray November 20th

In anticipation of the release of TARANTINO XX: 8-FILM COLLECTION on Blu-ray this November 20th, 2012, check out the full interior artwork created by Mondo artist Ken Taylor. Stylistic, bold and unique, Ken Taylor add the same artistic flair to this boxed set as he has for so many of his Mondo poster designs, including this amazing poster for DRIVE (2011) amongst others. A fitting addition to a boxed set already so highly anticipated it could literally make some film buffs’ heads actually explode. For many, this may be a rare opportunity to own some Mondo art, even if mass produced, as original Mondo prints typically sell out within minutes, if not seconds. For many, it’s been a long wait as we’ve watched various Blu-ray editions of Tarantino films pop up in other countries, but not in the United States… ’till now. Tarantino + Blu-ray + Mondo = a very happy fan of cool cinema!

Celebrating Quentin Tarantino’s legendary filmmaking, Lionsgate and Miramax are proud to present the Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection, arriving on Blu-ray Disc November 20th.

Tarantino XX contains eight films chosen by Tarantino to illustrate the first 20 years of his career, featuring the films that helped define his early success, including Reservoir Dogs, True Romance, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Death Proof and Inglourious Basterds.  To complete the stunning high definition 10-disc set, the Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection also features two discs with five hours of all-new bonus material, highlighted by a critics’ retrospective on Tarantino’s groundbreaking catalog of films and “20 Years of Filmmaking” that contains interviews with critics, stars and other masters of cinema.

Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection showcases one of the most innovative filmmakers of our time and is a must-have for serious film fans, as Tarantino’s highly-anticipated new film, Django Unchained, prepares to hit theaters. Honoring the 20th anniversary of Reservoir Dogs — the cultural milestone that brought Tarantino to the forefront as a cinematic legend — the collection is highlighted by recurring appearances from celebrated actors including Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill), Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill), Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction) and Steve Buscemi (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction), and also includes starring performances from iconic actors such as Brad Pitt (Inglourious Basterds), Pam Grier (Jackie Brown) and Robert Forster (Jackie Brown).

Tarantino XX on Blu-ray also features striking, original artwork designed and illustrated by MONDO (www.mondotees.com). Housed in collectible packaging, the Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection will be available for the suggested retail price of $119.99.

CONTENTS SUMMARY

BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES — 2 Discs*

  • Critics Corner: The Films of Quentin Tarantino — In-depth critics’ discussion piece exploring Tarantino’s films that redefined cinema and the impact of one of the most influential writers/directors of our time.
  • 20 Years of Filmmaking — Take a look at Tarantino’s career from the beginning, with interviews from co-workers, critics, stars and master filmmakers alike as well as a tribute to his greatest collaborator, Sally Menke.

RESERVOIR DOGS

Quentin Tarantino’s directorial debut, nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival (1992) and awarded the International Critics Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (1992), is raw, violent and unforgettable. Four perfect strangers are assembled to pull off the perfect crime, but when a botched robbery reveals a police informant among them, their simple robbery explodes into a bloody ambush.

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • Pulp Factoids Viewer
  • Playing It Fast and Loose
  • Profiling the Reservoir Dogs

TRUE ROMANCE – DIRECTOR’S CUT

Runaway lovers Clarence and Alabama (Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette) play a dangerous game with a stolen suitcase containing $5 million worth of cocaine. They head for Los Angeles, where they’ll sell the goods and begin a new life, but both sides of the law have other ideas. This dark comic web of crime, murder and mayhem from writer Quentin Tarantino and director Tony Scott (Top Gun, Spy Game), features an ensemble cast including Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini and Christopher Walken.

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • Audio commentary by Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette
  • Audio commentary by Tony Scott
  • Audio commentary by Quentin Tarantino
  • Scene selective commentaries by Val Kilmer, Dennis Hopper, Brad Pitt and Michael

Rapaport

  • Deleted/Extended Scenes with Optional Director Commentary
  • Alternate Ending with Optional Director and Writer Commentary
  • Original 1993 Mini-feature
  • Behind-the-Scenes Interactive Feature
  • Animated Photo Gallery
  • Theatrical Trailer

PULP FICTION

Pulp Fiction has been hailed by critics and audiences worldwide as a film that redefined cinema. A burger-loving hit man (John Travolta), his philosophical partner (Samuel L. Jackson), a drug-addled gangster’s moll (Uma Thurman) and a washed-up boxer (Bruce Willis) converge in four tales of violence and redemption. The film was honored with an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay (1994) and earned seven total nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. It has also been listed as one of the best films of all-time by Time and Entertainment Weekly.

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • Interviews with Cast
  • Critics’ Retrospective on the Movie’s Place in Film History
  • Behind-the-Scenes Footage
  • Pulp Fiction: The Facts
  • Production Design Feature
  • Siskel & Ebert At the Movies — The Tarantino Generation
  • Independent Spirit Awards Footage
  • Cannes Film Festival Footage
  • Charlie Rose — Tarantino Interview
  • Stills Galleries
  • Trivia Track
  • Deleted Scenes

JACKIE BROWN

Quentin Tarantino’s acclaimed adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s Rum Punch follows a cash-smuggling flight attendant (Pam Grier) who is busted by an ATF agent (Michael Keaton) and a cop (Michael Bowen). When pressured to help with their investigation, she agrees to do one last run for a ruthless arms dealer (Samuel L. Jackson). Mistrust and suspicions arise when Jackie plays the opposing forces against each other in an effort to walk away with the dough. Robert Forster earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar® nomination for his role as Max Cherry, a bail bondsman who falls for Jackie and becomes embroiled in the scheme.

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • Breaking Down Jackie Brown
  • Jackie Brown: How It Went Down — Retrospective Interviews with Cast and Crew
  • A Look Back at Jackie Brown — Interview with Quentin Tarantino
  • Chicks with Guns Video
  • Siskel & Ebert At the Movies – Jackie Brown Review
  • Jackie Brown on MTV
  • Marketing Gallery
  • Stills Galleries
  • Trivia Track
  • Deleted and Alternate Scenes

KILL BILL VOL. 1

In the first volume of this gritty revenge saga, an assassin (Uma Thurman) is shot at the altar by her ruthless employer, Bill (David Carradine), and other members of his Deadly Vipers Assassination Squad. In this epic tale of survival The Bride sets out to bring justice to all those who wronged her, including a reformed suburban mother (Vivica A. Fox) and the Japanese Yakuza crime-lord (Lucy Liu).

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • The Making of Kill Bill Vol. 1
  • The 5.6.7.8’s Bonus Musical Performances
  • Tarantino Trailers

KILL BILL VOL. 2

The murderous Bride (Uma Thurman) mercilessly continues her vengeance quest against her ex-boss, Bill (David Carradine), and his two remaining associates: Bill’s degenerate younger brother (Michael Madsen) and a vicious one-eyed swords-woman (Daryl Hannah).

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • The Making of Kill Bill Vol. 2
  • Damoe Deleted Scene
  • Chingon Musical Performance

DEATH PROOF

Kurt Russell stars as a tough-talking, psychotic serial murderer who transforms his stunt car into an indestructible killing machine, then climbs behind the wheel to stalk and terrorize a group of women on the road. What he doesn’t realize is that he’s picked the wrong babes to mess with.

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • Stunts on Wheels: The Legendary Drivers of Death Proof
  • Introducing Zoe Bell
  • Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike
  • The Uncut Version of Baby, It’s You performed by Mary Elizabeth Winstead
  • The Guys of Death Proof
  • Quentin’s Greatest Collaborator: Editor Sally Menke
  • Double Dare Trailer
  • Death Proof International Trailer
  • An International Poster Gallery
  • BD Live

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

A Jewish cinema owner in Nazi-occupied Paris is forced to host a movie premiere for the Third Reich, where a radical group of American soldiers, The Basterds, led by Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), plan to roll out a score-settling scheme. The film was honored with an Academy Award® for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (2009, Christoph Waltz) and earned seven total nominations, including Best Motion Picture of the Year for Lawrence Bender and Best Writing, Original Screenplay for Quentin Tarantino.

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • Extended and Alternate Scenes
  • Roundtable Discussion with Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt and Elvis Mitchell
  • The Making of Nation’s Pride
  • A Conversation with Rod Taylor
  • Nation’s Pride — the film within the film
  • The Original Inglorious Bastards
  • Quentin Tarantino’s Camera Angel
  • Film Poster Gallery Tour
  • Rod Taylor on Victoria Bitter
  • Hi Sallys
  • Killin’ Nazis Trivia Challenge
  • Trailers

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Years of Production: 1992-2009

Reservoir Dogs: 1992
True Romance – Director’s Cut: 1993
Pulp Fiction: 1994
Jackie Brown: 1997
Kill Bill Vol. 1: 2003
Kill Bill Vol. 2:2004
Death Proof: 2007
Inglourious Basterds: 2009

Title Copyrights:

Pulp Fiction/Jackie Brown/Kill Bill Vol. 1/Kill Bill Vol. 2: © Miramax
Reservoir Dogs: © 1991 Dog Eat Dog Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Inglourious Basterds: © 2009 Visiona Romantica. All Rights Reserved.
Death Proof: © 2007 The Weinstein Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
True Romance – Director’s Cut: © 1993, Supplementary Material Compilation © 2009 Morgan Creek Productions, Inc.

Type: Blu-ray Disc Special Edition Set

Rating:

Reservoir Dogs: R for strong language and violence
True Romance – Director’s Cut: Not Rated
Pulp Fiction: R for strong graphic violence and drug use, pervasive strong language and some sexuality
Jackie Brown: R for strong language, some violence, drug use and sexuality
Kill Bill Vol. 1: R for strong bloody violence, language and some sexual content
Kill Bill Vol. 2: R for violence, language and brief drug use
Death Proof: Unrated; this motion picture previously was released in a version rated R for strong graphic bloody violence and gore, pervasive language, some sexuality, nudity and drug use. This unrated version contains material different from the original R-Rated version.
Inglourious Basterds: R for strong graphic violence, language and brief sexuality

Genre: Compilation; Crime; Drama; Thriller

Blu-ray Closed Captioned: English SDH

Subtitles:
Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Death Proof: English and Spanish
True Romance -Director’s Cut, Inglourious Basterds: English, Spanish and French

Blu-ray Format:

Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Death Proof: 1080P High Definition 16×9 Widescreen (2.35:1)
Jackie Brown: 1080P High Definition 16×9 Widescreen (1.85:1)
Inglourious Basterds, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, True Romance: 1080P High Definition 16×9 Widescreen (2.40:1)

Feature Running Time:

Reservoir Dogs: 100 minutes
True Romance – Director’s Cut: 121 minutes
Pulp Fiction: 154 minutes
Jackie Brown: 154 minutes
Kill Bill Vol. 1: 111 minutes
Kill Bill Vol. 2: 136 minutes
Death Proof: 113 minutes
Inglourious Basterds: 153 minutes

Blu-ray Audio Status:

Reservoir Dogs: DTS-HD Master Audio and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX
True Romance -Director’s Cut: English, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD
Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2: English 5.1 Uncompressed, English and French 5.1 Dolby Digital
Death Proof: 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, English, French, Spanish, Italian Dolby 5.1 Dolby Digital
Inglourious Basterds: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and English 5.1 Dolby Digital
*Subject to change

Lionsgate To Release TARANTINO XX: 8-FILM COLLECTION – On Blu-ray November 20th

Calling all Quentin Tarantino fans! Time to break out the piggy bank to the tune of $119.99 and celebrate the director’s legendary filmmaking. Lionsgate and Miramax are releasing the TARANTINO XX: 8-FILM COLLECTION on Blu-ray Disc November 20th. This will be one of those must-have collections for serious movie geeks. Listen to this… TARANTINO XX contains eight films chosen by Tarantino to illustrate the first 20 years of his career, featuring the films that helped define his early success, including Reservoir Dogs, True Romance, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Death Proof and Inglourious Basterds. To complete the 10-disc set, the collection also features two discs with five hours of all-new bonus material, highlighted by a critics’ retrospective on Tarantino’s groundbreaking catalog of films and  “20 Years of Filmmaking” that contains interviews with critics, stars and other masters of cinema.

Just in time for his new film too – DJANGO UNCHAINED will be in theaters on Christmas Day. Honoring the 20th anniversary of Reservoir Dogs (has it really been two decades already?) – the cultural milestone that brought Tarantino to the forefront as a cinematic legend – the collection is highlighted by recurring appearances from Tarantino favs including Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill), Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill), Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction) and Steve Buscemi (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction), and also includes starring performances from  Brad Pitt (Inglourious Basterds), Pam Grier (Jackie Brown) and Robert Forster (Jackie Brown).TARANTINO XX on Blu-ray will also include original artwork designed and illustrated by MONDO (www.mondotees.com).

BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES – 2 Discs*

  • Critics Corner: The Films of Quentin Tarantino – In-depth critics’ discussion piece exploring Tarantino’s films that redefined cinema and the impact of one of the most influential writers/directors of our time.
  • 20 Years of Filmmaking – Take a look at Tarantino’s career from the beginning, with interviews from co-workers, critics, stars and master filmmakers alike as well as a tribute to his greatest collaborator, Sally Menke.


Credit: Andrew Cooper, SMPSP / The Weinstein Company

RESERVOIR DOGS

Quentin Tarantino’s directorial debut, nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival (1992) and awarded the International Critics Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (1992), is raw, violent and unforgettable.  Four perfect strangers are assembled to pull off the perfect crime, but when a botched robbery reveals a police informant among them, their simple robbery explodes into a bloody ambush.

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • Pulp Factoids Viewer
  • Playing It Fast and Loose
  • Profiling the Reservoir Dogs

TRUE ROMANCE – DIRECTOR’S CUT

Runaway lovers Clarence and Alabama (Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette) play a dangerous game with a stolen suitcase containing $5 million worth of cocaine.  They head for Los Angeles, where they’ll sell the goods and begin a new life, but both sides of the law have other ideas.  This dark comic web of crime, murder and mayhem from writer Quentin Tarantino and director Tony Scott (Top Gun, Spy Game), features an ensemble cast including Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini and Christopher Walken.

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • Audio commentary by Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette
  • Audio commentary by Tony Scott
  • Audio commentary by Quentin Tarantino
  • Scene selective commentaries by Val Kilmer, Dennis Hopper, Brad Pitt and Michael Rapaport
  • Deleted/Extended Scenes with Optional Director Commentary
  • Alternate Ending with Optional Director and Writer Commentary
  • Original 1993 Mini-feature
  • Behind-the-Scenes Interactive Feature
  • Animated Photo Gallery
  • Theatrical Trailer

PULP FICTION

Pulp Fiction has been hailed by critics and audiences worldwide as a film that redefined cinema.  A burger-loving hit man (John Travolta), his philosophical partner (Samuel L. Jackson), a drug-addled gangster’s moll (Uma Thurman) and a washed-up boxer (Bruce Willis) converge in four tales of violence and redemption. The film was honored with an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay (1994) and earned seven total nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.  It has also been listed as one of the best films of all-time by Time and Entertainment Weekly.

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • Interviews with Cast
  • Critics’ Retrospective on the Movie’s Place in Film History
  • Behind-the-Scenes Footage
  • Pulp Fiction: The Facts
  • Production Design Feature
  • Siskel & Ebert At the Movies – The Tarantino Generation
  • Independent Spirit Awards Footage
  • Cannes Film Festival Footage
  • Charlie Rose – Tarantino Interview
  • Stills Galleries
  • Trivia Track
  • Deleted Scenes

JACKIE BROWN

Quentin Tarantino’s acclaimed adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s Rum Punch follows a cash-smuggling flight attendant (Pam Grier) who is busted by an ATF agent (Michael Keaton) and a cop (Michael Bowen).  When pressured to help with their investigation, she agrees to do one last run for a ruthless arms dealer (Samuel L. Jackson).  Mistrust and suspicions arise when Jackie plays the opposing forces against each other in an effort to walk away with the dough.  Robert Forster earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar® nomination for his role as Max Cherry, a bail bondsman who falls for Jackie and becomes embroiled in the scheme.

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • Breaking Down Jackie Brown
  • Jackie Brown: How It Went Down – Retrospective Interviews with Cast and Crew
  • A Look Back at Jackie Brown – Interview with Quentin Tarantino
  • Chicks with Guns Video
  • Siskel & Ebert At the Movies – Jackie Brown Review
  • Jackie Brown on MTV
  • Marketing Gallery
  • Stills Galleries
  • Trivia Track
  • Deleted and Alternate Scenes

KILL BILL VOL. 1

In the first volume of this gritty revenge saga, an assassin (Uma Thurman) is shot at the altar by her ruthless employer, Bill (David Carradine), and other members of his Deadly Vipers Assassination Squad.  In this epic tale of survival The Bride sets out to bring justice to all those who wronged her, including a reformed suburban mother (Vivica A. Fox) and the Japanese Yakuza crime-lord (Lucy Liu).

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • The Making of Kill Bill Vol. 1
  • The 5.6.7.8’s Bonus Musical Performances
  • Tarantino Trailers

KILL BILL VOL. 2

The murderous Bride (Uma Thurman) mercilessly continues her vengeance quest against her ex-boss, Bill (David Carradine), and his two remaining associates: Bill’s degenerate younger brother (Michael Madsen) and a vicious one-eyed swordswoman (Daryl Hannah).

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • The Making of Kill Bill Vol. 2
  • Damoe Deleted Scene
  • Chingon Musical Performance

DEATH PROOF

Kurt Russell stars as a tough-talking, psychotic serial murderer who transforms his stunt car into an indestructible killing machine, then climbs behind the wheel to stalk and terrorize a group of women on the road.  What he doesn’t realize is that he’s picked the wrong babes to mess with.

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • Stunts on Wheels: The Legendary Drivers of Death Proof
  • Introducing Zoe Bell
  • Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike
  • The Uncut Version of Baby, It’s You performed by Mary Elizabeth Winstead
  • The Guys of Death Proof
  • Quentin’s Greatest Collaborator: Editor Sally Menke
  • Double Dare Trailer
  • Death Proof International Trailer
  • An International Poster Gallery
  • BD Live

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

A Jewish cinema owner in Nazi-occupied Paris is forced to host a movie premiere for the Third Reich, where a radical group of American soldiers, The Basterds, led by Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), plan to roll out a score-settling scheme.  The film was honored with an Academy Award® for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (2009, Christoph Waltz) and earned seven total nominations, including Best Motion Picture of the Year for Lawrence Bender and Best Writing, Original Screenplay for Quentin Tarantino.

Blu-ray Special Features*

  • Extended and Alternate Scenes
  • Roundtable Discussion with Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt and Elvis Mitchell
  • The Making of Nation’s Pride
  • A Conversation with Rod Taylor
  • Nation’s Pride – the film within the film
  • The Original Inglorious Bastards
  • Quentin Tarantino’s Camera Angel
  • Film Poster Gallery Tour
  • Rod Taylor on Victoria Bitter
  • Hi Sallys
  • Killin’ Nazis Trivia Challenge
  • Trailers

Years of Production: 1992-2009
Reservoir Dogs: 1992
True Romance – Director’s Cut:  1993
Pulp Fiction: 1994
Jackie Brown: 1997
Kill Bill Vol. 1: 2003
Kill Bill Vol. 2:2004
Death Proof: 2007
Inglourious Basterds: 2009

Title Copyrights:
Pulp Fiction/Jackie Brown/Kill Bill Vol. 1/Kill Bill Vol. 2: © Miramax
Reservoir Dogs: © 1991 Dog Eat Dog Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Inglourious Basterds: © 2009 Visiona Romantica. All Rights Reserved.
Death Proof: © 2007 The Weinstein Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
True Romance – Director’s Cut:  © 1993, Supplementary Material Compilation © 2009 Morgan Creek Productions, Inc.

Type: Blu-ray Disc Special Edition Set

Rating:           
Reservoir Dogs: R for strong language and violence
True Romance – Director’s Cut:  Not Rated
Pulp Fiction: R for strong graphic violence and drug use, pervasive strong language and some sexuality
Jackie Brown: R for strong language, some violence, drug use and sexuality
Kill Bill Vol. 1: R for strong bloody violence, language and some sexual content
Kill Bill Vol. 2: R for violence, language and brief drug use
Death Proof: Unrated; this motion picture previously was released in a version rated R for strong graphic bloody violence and gore, pervasive language, some sexuality, nudity and drug use. This unrated version contains material different from the original R-Rated version.
Inglourious Basterds:  R for strong graphic violence, language and brief sexuality

Genre:  Compilation; Crime; Drama; Thriller

Blu-ray Closed Captioned: English SDH

Subtitles:

Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Death Proof: English and Spanish

True Romance -Director’s Cut, Inglourious Basterds: English, Spanish and French

Blu-ray Format:

  • Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Death Proof: 1080P High Definition 16×9 Widescreen (2.35:1)
  • Jackie Brown: 1080P High Definition 16×9 Widescreen (1.85:1)
  • Inglourious Basterds, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, True Romance: 1080P High Definition 16×9 Widescreen (2.40:1)

Feature Running Time:

  • Reservoir Dogs: 100 minutes
  • True Romance -Director’s Cut:  121 minutes
  • Pulp Fiction: 154 minutes
  • Jackie Brown: 154 minutes
  • Kill Bill Vol. 1: 111 minutes
  • Kill Bill Vol. 2: 136 minutes
  • Death Proof: 113 minutes
  • Inglourious Basterds: 153 minutes

Blu-ray Audio Status:

  • Reservoir Dogs: DTS-HD Master Audio and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX
  • True Romance -Director’s Cut:  English, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD
  • Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown:  5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
  • Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2: English 5.1 Uncompressed, English and French 5.1 Dolby Digital
  • Death Proof: 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, English, French, Spanish, Italian Dolby 5.1 Dolby Digital
  • Inglourious Basterds:  5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and English 5.1 Dolby Digital

*Subject to change

Tarantino Week: Revisiting ‘Death Proof’

death-proof

Two tons of metal, 200 miles an hour, flesh and bone and plain old Newton… they all princess died.

It’s almost unfair that most people (in the US, anyway) who saw ‘Death Proof’ in the theater had to sit through the barrage of mayhem and massacre that was ‘Planet Terror’ beforehand.  Not to say that Robert Rodriguez’s half of ‘Grindhouse’ is bad, but it’s easy to see why so many people were disappointed in Quentin Tarantino’s half of the entire film.  ‘Death Proof’ served as a bit of a comedown after the left and right pummelling of Rodriguez’s movie.  In fact, ‘Death Proof’ itself is like two movies under one roof.  The first half is incredibly dialogue heavy, and, if you’re not a lover of Tarantino’s brand of dialogue, you might be turned off before the whole thing gets going, before the engines begin to rev up for the second half.

It’s just one more instance in Tarantino’s career as a filmmaker that he looks at the rules of movie making and says “To hell with that.”  The first half of ‘Death Proof’ follows three women, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, and Sydney Tamiia Poitier.  Like ‘Jackie Brown,’ this half takes its time establishing these three women.  We follow them as they go about their evening, preparing themselves for heading out to a lake house for some weekend partying.  Little do they know a psychopath is stalking them.  When they first meet Stuntman Mike Mikke, played by Kurt Russell, they just think he’s creepy but nothing too harmful and nothing they should concern themselves with.  Over the course of the night, Stuntman Mike maneuvers his way into their good graces, even convincing one of the girls, Ferlito, into giving him a lapdance.  In keeping with the Grindhouse style of the whole experience, Tarantino gladly hacked this scene out of the finished version, as if some, horny projectionist had spliced it out for his own collection.  Needless to say, the night doesn’t end well for any of these girls.

If you haven’t seen ‘Death Proof,’ it’s probably a pretty good idea you not play this video.

Like with so many of the genres he has tackled, Tarantino takes the modern slasher and turns it on its ear.  ‘Death Proof’ is unlike any slasher film we have ever seen, setting up a first act that makes you believe the remainder of the film is going to be about this killer working his way through one group of helpless victims.  Fortunately for us, we are dealing with a filmmaker who has no intentions of running along the rails.  Therefore, what we are given is a film in two halves, the first of which is a slasher movie where there are no survivors from the clutches of the villainous killer.

The second half of ‘Death Proof’ is a whole other matter.  It takes place 14 months after the events of the first half, and Stuntman Mike has moved on to a whole new cropping of women to victimize.  This time around, he sets his sights on a group of women working on a local film crew.  Among these women is stuntwoman Zoe Bell, who plays herself here.  The others in the group are Rosario Dawson, Tracie Thomas, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.  The group of girls, at the behest of Bell, go to look into test-driving a white, 1970 Dodge Challenger, just like the one Kowalski drives in ‘Vanishing Point.’  After getting the car out on the road, Bell unveils her true plan.  She wants to play a game called Ship’s Mast, in which she ties herself to the hood and someone else drives at top speeds.  It isn’t long after they begin playing that Stuntman Mike takes the opportunity to try to run the women off the road.

The culminating car chase is arguably one of the greatest car chases ever put to film.  Tarantino was never impressed by car chase sequences that utilized CGI.  He felt the last, great car chase sequence came from ‘Terminator 2,’ and, as such, he filmed his car chase without the usage of computer special effects and without speeding up the film.  He wanted to make a car chase that he could “feel in his stomach,” like the ones found in ‘Vanishing Point,’ ‘Dirty Mary Crazy Larry,’ and the original ‘Gone in 60 Seconds.’  Like those films, ‘Death Proof’ wasn’t simply a film that had a car chase somewhere within it.  The car chase was a part of the film, it became a part of why the film is so memorable, and the way it is devised and executed is breathtaking.  When the cars smash into one another, you can almost feel the metal hitting metal.  I’ll be the first to admit I enjoyed the shit out of the car chase in ‘Matrix Reloaded,’ but the way that car chase was shot and the usage of CG just made it all feel plastic.  ‘Death Proof’ is hardcore steel through and through, and you notice the weight of the objects flying down the road in excess of 100 miles per hour.  This chase scene and the delicate way Tarantino wanted to handle it is also, more than likely, the reason the director served as his own director of photography for the first time in his career.  With full control on what was being shot, he could pin-point every, little detail that made the car chase found in ‘Death Proof’ work so well.

But car chase and amazing stunts aside, there is so much more working under the head, if you’ll excuse a pun, in ‘Death Proof.’  Back to the dialogue, it is undeniably Tarantino, and, just as he does with all of his films, he has chosen actors and actresses who can sing those lines of dialogue.  It’s not kitschy and quirky like something you might find in a film written by Diablo Cody, although that isn’t all bad either, but there’s a rhythmic way Tarantino’s converse with one another that you just don’t find anywhere else.  Some of the lines are monologues, some of them are redundant, and some are just, plain cool, but you know once someone says a line of dialogue Tarantino is proud to have written down.

stuntman mike

It was a stroke of genius for Tarantino to hire Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike.  Russell wasn’t Tarantino’s first choice, though.  Actors like John Travolta, Willem Dafoe, John Malkovich and Sylvester Stallone were all considered.  None of them worked out due to prior commitments.  Even Kal Penn was approached at one point to star in the film.  However, Tarantino knew how much of a badass Russell was in his early career.  The films Russell collaborated with John Carpenter were enough to make Tarantino hand over the reigns of Stuntman Mike to him, and Russell does not disappoint one bit.  There are so many, different aspects Russell has to pull off in his performance of Stuntman Mike.  At one point, he has to be cool, but not too cool to overpower any amount of creepiness the character might need to convey.  Late in the film, he has to turn the character in a completely new direction, as the second set of would be victims turn their sights back on their attacker.  For the last, few moments of the film, alone, Russell deserved awards for his performance in ‘Death Proof.’

The film, as with all of Quentin Tarantino’s movies, has a booming soundtrack full of eclectic and lost greats.  Tracks like “Paranoi Prima” by Ennio Morricone and “Jeepster” by T. Rex bring the full force of the film’s badass potential to a head.  But it’s the end track, the song that would cap off the entire evening for those who attended the full ‘Grindhouse’ experience, that really sticks with you.  April March’s “Chick Habit” is not only an incredibly inspired choice for the end of ‘Death Proof,’ it is a song that commands your attention.  It is also a song that you will not get out of your head anytime soon.

As part of the three-hour-plus ‘Grindhouse,’ ‘Death Proof’ didn’t generate much box office buzz.  ‘Grindhouse’ cost the Weinstein Company a total of $67 million, and it only made about $25 million back.  Of that $25 million, there is no telling the amount of people who even stuck around for ‘Death Proof.’  Many people, after ‘Planet Terror’ and the fake trailers that ran between the two films, got up and left, not being able to handle the cumbersome running time of seeing two features in one evening.  Internatinoally, ‘Death Proof’ was released by itself, just as ‘Planet Terror’ was.  27 minutes were put back in to the film, scenes that included the “lap dance” sequence taken out for effect in the ‘Grindhouse’ double feature.

While it ended up being a box office failure, and while many consider ‘Death Proof’ to be Tarantino’s first step towards his decline as a filmmaker, it remains, for me, anyway, as a true Quentin Tarantino film.  It has all the essential parts that make a Tarantino film so recognizable, measured and seasoned dialogue, beautifully crafted sequences of extreme violence, and a complete thumbing of the nose to modern, filmmaking convention.  It is Tarantino’s passion for film that drive him, and each of his films are his answer to a love he has for that particular genre.  While ‘Death Proof’ might be considered his version of a grindhouse movie, his version of a B-movie that is a long way from high art, it is still no less remarkable in its conception or execution than any of Quentin Tarantino’s other films.