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Review #443 of 365
Movie Review of Death Proof(2007) [R]
WIP™ Scale: $13.00
Where Viewed: United Artists Denver Pavilions Stadium 15, Denver, CO
When 1st Seen: 7 April 2007
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer
DVD Release Date: 18 September 2007
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill: Vol. 2)
Written by: Quentin Tarantino (Jackie Brown)
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Kurt Russell (Poseidon) • Sydney Tamiia Poitier (Hood of Horror) • Vanessa Ferlito (Descent) • Rose McGowan (The Black Dahlia) • Tracie Thoms (Descent) • Zoe Bell (Penny Dreadful) • Rosario Dawson (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints) • Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Black Christmas) • Marley Shelton (The Last Kiss) • Michael Parks (Kill Bill: Vol. 2) • Jordan Ladd (Inland Empire) • Eli Roth (Cabin Fever) • James Parks (The Listening) • Quentin Tarantino ("Alias")
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
For this review of Death Proof, uncommon among most critics, the take shall be to review the Grindhouse double feature in three parts. This part will include an extensive review of just the Quentin Tarantion-directed segment called Death Proof.
For a short review of rest of the Grindhouse material click here.
For an extensive review of Planet Terror click here.
Well, first off, Quentin Tarantino deserves a huge box of Kudos® for Grindhouse, in general. Second, he deserves high praise, though not quite as high, for his writing of, directing of, and acting in the Death Proof segment. He did an unbelievable job on this entire project which I can only assume must have been a great deal of fun to make—though very hard work. But, it would be Tarantino's name that made this project financially viable for all involved, and the results add more gold stars to an already artistically significant résumé. As it stands alone, Death Proof is less of a contiguously entertaining film as it is two short stories that work as a unit.
"Death Proof can surely be added to the list of great Tarantino cult films …absorbing from beginning to end."
The idea is that an aging, psycho stuntman named, Stuntman Mike, and played intelligently and with physical prowess by Kurt Russell, builds a Death Proof stunt car. Actually, it's death proof only for the driver as we'll learn later. In story part 1, an Austin, TX DJ named Jungle Julia (Sydney Tamiia Poitier) and her posse meet up with the evil Stuntman Mike at a local bar. We learn all about Jungle Julia and her sidekicks throughout the day and evening right down to their shades of nail polish and hang-ups regarding men. JJ makes an offer on her show to the first man who approaches her friend from out of town, Arlene (Vanessa Ferlito), and recites some precise lines of poetry that he will receive a lap dance from her. Of course, Arlene is not pleased to learn this as she's been put out as the prize in a ludicrous contest. When Stuntman Mike takes an interest in the group, which he may or may not have been stalking all day, well, things get deadly quiet quick. [Sorry, no spoiler here]. In story number two, we meet a new foursome of young women, all in the movie industry including Abernathy (Rosario Dawson), Zoe (Zoe Bell—the real stuntwoman from New Zealand), Kim (Tracie Thoms), and Lee (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). They are playing crew members or stars of a movie filming in Tennessee where, as it turns out, Zoe has researched and found her dream car that she wants to cruise in. Her plan is to approach the seller, sneak the car away for a test drive and perform a very dangerous stunt on the hood of the car—again Tarantino thinking ahead to just go ahead and cast the real stuntwoman in the role of the person who will have to perform the stunt, which, by the way, was an incredibly dangerous and fool-hearty stunt that should never, ever even be considered by anyone will less training, experience, and skill than Zoe Bell. The plan works flawlessly until, of course, Stuntman Mike and his Death Proof car show up on the road again. No spoilers, let's just say things don't go as planned by either party.
Kurt Russell Buy From Art.com
For some reason, the plot and story telling of Death Proof reminded me a lot more of Stephen King than Quentin Tarantino. The characters, the writing, the plot, were shades of some of King's more diabolical horror stories—not the supernaturally inclined ones, but the ones where ordinary people just go a bit crazy with horrifying results. The cunning character of Stuntman Mike has the makings of a very negative cult image for USA culture, unfortunately, despite the eventual outcome of the film. This was a dangerous risk to take in setting this character up. There's a great vein of female empowerment along the way, as the women involved are all very well written and strong—occasionally overly preoccupied, perhaps, with their dating lives, but career-minded, strong, self-reliant nonetheless. The two stories go together well, but do seem an odd companion at times to go with Planet Terror which bears no resemblance to the anthology style format. There was a great crossover character in Dr. Dakota Block (Marley Shelton) who appears in both and Rose McGowan appears in Death Proof as well this time playing Pam who doesn't fair as well as she does in Planet Terror. The film is not as complicated nor as engrossing as it's partner, though it certainly fulfills the car chase passion. One thing that is a big no brainer in the missing column is more backstory on the motivations of Stuntman Mike. What circumstances led him to become this person? Possibly that backstory was in a now missing reel!
Overall, nonetheless, Death Proof can surely be added to the list of great Tarantino cult films that will withstand the ages. It's not his finest single work to be sure; but, again, set in the context of the Grindhouse experience, it's great entertainment. You won't sit through this double feature squirming for an easy exit out of the crowded theatre from your middle row seat. The time will fly by, and you'll not be asking for your money back feeling cheated like as so many idiotic gorefest horror schlock films. It's absorbing from beginning to end.
Overall, nonetheless, Death Proof can surely be added to the list of great Tarantino cult films that will withstand the ages. It's not his finest single work to be sure; but, again, set in the context of the Grindhouse experience, it's great entertainment. You won't sit through this double feature squirming for an easy exit out of the crowded theatre from your middle row seat. The time will fly by, and you'll not be asking for your money back feeling cheated like as so many idiotic gorefest horror schlock films. It's absorbing from beginning to end.
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
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Other Projects Featuring Death Proof (2007)
Cast Members
Kurt Russell
• Sydney Tamiia Poitier • Vanessa FerlitoRose McGowan
• Tracie Thoms • Zoe BellRosario Dawson
• Mary Elizabeth Winstead • Marley SheltonMichael Parks
• Jordan Ladd • Eli RothMonica Staggs
• Marta Mendoza • Kelley RobinsJames Parks
• Quentin TarantinoWriter / Director
Quentin Tarantino
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| DVD | Related Product | T-Shirt |
| Wallet | Messenger Bag | Baseball Cap |
Death Proof (2007) Review-lite [150-word cap]
Quentin Tarantino deserves a huge box of Kudos® for Grindhouse, in general, and high praise for his writing of, directing of, and acting in the Death Proof segment. What fun it must have been to make. An aging, psycho stuntman named, Stuntman Mike, and played intelligently and with physical prowess by Kurt Russell, builds a Death Proof stunt car. Then he sets out on a course to haunt women. Why is a mystery only the missing reels can reveal. Reminiscent more of Stephen King than traditional Tarantino, this is a case where seemingly ordinary people just go a bit crazy with horrifying results. Overall, Death Proof can surely be added to the list of great Tarantino cult films that will withstand the ages. It's not his finest single work to be sure; but, again, set in the context of the Grindhouse experience, it's great entertainment, absorbing from beginning to end.
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