"Alabama, you got the weight on your shoulders, that's breaking your back. Your Cadillac has got a wheel in the ditch and a wheel on the track." Neil Young from "Alabama"
I was movie night in the Asylum and the nurse begged as if my pockets were lined with snausages for a romantic movie. If there is one thing that a strapped down inmate hates more than shock treatment, it's the silly notion that romantic comedies give the ladies. But alas, I wanted to make the nurse happy in order to ensure one helluva Dixie cup, so I suggested we watch a truly romantic film. One that features wonderful characters in the throws of a romance much bigger than themselves, and who better to pen such an opus than Quentin Tarantino. Scribe of two of the greatest love stories ever told. No, not Titanic or When Harry Met Sally, I'm speaking of Natural Born Killers and more to the point, True Romance.
If you have never peeked this high octane love story you are missing out on one of the most underrated films in the last 15 years. To make my point I will start with the cast. Christian Slater who I have always had a good time with since I viewed Heathers for the time time. Patricia Arquette with a body so smoking hot you'll never believe it's the chick from Medium. Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken share the screen for one of the single greatest scenes in cinema, better I think than DeNiro and Pacino in Heat. Val Kilmer as Elvis Presley, no more need be said. Gary Oldman was the blackest white dude since Al Jolson. Brad Pitt as a complete pot head stone named Floyd. And a couple of lovable lugs named Tom Sizemore, Chris Penn, and a brief appearance by Samuel L. Jackson. That, ladies and germs, is one of, if not thee, greatest casts ever assembled. I will give credit for what Emilio Estevez did with Bobby, but when your old man is Martin Sheen, things must be a little easier to pull off.
The tale of Clarence and Alabama covers everything from Kung Fu movies and comic books to man on woman violence between Arquette and an anorexic looking James Gandolfini, oh yeah, Tony Soprano is in this behemoth too. The dialogue is at times razor sharp, cutting at you with words so shocking you think you're watching a very racist film, never more so than in the afore mentioned Hooper/Walken scene. The hooks get in you early and you really do care about Clarence and Alabama, as twisted as their love may seem, it feels impassionately real.
But what truly sets this romance apart form other love stories is the connection our two lover birds share and how they win over nearly everyone in their path. A journey that takes them to Los Angeles from Detroit all in an effort to sell Dr. Zhivago. along the way the innocence and purity of Alabama captures your heart. Clarence has this cool demeanor that almost feels too empowering for a guy who works in a comic book shop, but his love for Alabama changes him, motivates him, because to her he is three simple words: "You're So Cool".
I don't know why I have been thinking so much about this film lately, but watching it inspired me to share it with those of you who haven't seen it and to remind those of you that have what a fantastic piece of cinema this is. You need to watch it again or for the first time, really, you do.
See it? Thoughts? Based on my review do you want to see it?
Dixie Cup of Love: Quentin and Tony Scott.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment