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Death Proof (2007)

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Time Out rating

Average user rating

26 reviews

Synopsis

For Austin’s hottest DJ, Jungle Julia, dusk offers an opportunity to unwind with two of her closest friends, Shanna and Arlene. The three fox posse sets out into the night, turning heads from Guero’s to the Texas Chili Parlor. Not all of the attention is innocent though: covertly tracking their moves is Stuntman Mike, a scarred, weathered rebel who leers from behind the wheel of his muscle car. As the girls settle into their beers, Mike’s weapon, a white-hot juggernaut, revs just feet away…

Movie review

From Time Out London

The connections between Quentin Tarantino and Apichatpong Weerasethakul are not, it must be said, extensive. Still, it’s striking that, like Apichatpong’s ‘Syndromes and a Century’ (also out this week), ‘Death Proof’ offers two incarnations of the same story and, in its own way, is concerned with seeking meaning through iteration and the practice of cinema. Still, we aren’t likely to see Apichatpong making a film about a former stuntman who gets his kicks by offing honeys with a weaponised sedan any time soon.

The first time we meet Kurt Russell’s Stuntman Mike, he cosies up to a group of chicks in a Texas roadhouse; next time round, he takes on another three in Tennessee. Despite its double structure, ‘Death Proof’ is something of a spare limb, made as part of ‘Grindhouse’, the high-concept retro genre pastiche double bill that tanked at the US box office. It was always going to be an action-heavy, plot-light exercise in fan-boy indulgence, an essentially masturbatory fantasy project (almost literally when it comes to foot fetishisation), and being extended by 25 minutes only serves to exacerbate these tendencies.

So, yes, the characters talk in Tarantino-speak-squared, the violence is hand-rubbingly sadistic and the whole thing is swathed in several layers of quotation marks. But smart attention is also paid to some interesting tensions between old and new in areas as varied as pop culture, photography, effects work, automobile construction, telephony and audio recording technology. And if you have an inner (or outer) fan-boy to indulge, the climactic extended car chase is a bona fide old-school tour de force.

Author: Ben Walters 2007-09-17 16:15:02

Time Out London Issue 1935: September 19-25

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User reviews of this film

debora said...

Posted on Sep 28 2007 13:20 i was so absolutely dissapointed what a load of garbage,all talk no action..

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Joe said...

Posted on Sep 28 2007 08:25 The problem with the so-called "cool" and "witty" dialogue is that all the characters speak in the same voice - Tarantino's voice. To have one character express him or herself in an overly verbose manner is fine. But the problem is that ALL the characters in his films speak in an overlong, verbose manner! A boring, self-indulgent film, a million miles away from the heights of Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown.

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holden mcneal said...

Posted on Sep 24 2007 20:06 this film was just flat out different. kurt russel ruled, snake plissckin mixed with ruetger huers the hitcher legend of a film with an amazing sound track.

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JayG said...

Posted on Sep 23 2007 20:53 I went to see this with a heavy heart, having heard so many bad reviews. But I loved this to bits! What a rush! I love Tarantino but can see his faults, but I disagree with all the moans about banter (I didn't find it boring, I thought it needed it to make you bond with the girls, and it also differentiated it from a true sexploitation 70's movie). The violence was, for the most part, cartoonish (except perhaps the first one which was more disturbing) and having ensured that I didn't read too much about the actual plot beforehand the turnaround delighted me.
Self-indulgent? Maybe. But can you say that any of Tarantino's work isn't?? I think a lot of disappointment in this film is because it does subvert things, and hence those expecting a simple kill-fest will be disappointed.
Embrace it. Suspend belief. Join in with the ride....

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Paul said...

Posted on Sep 23 2007 15:51 Overly long, and in need of edits, a couple of good car scenes, but not worthy of cult status. The girlies will like the ending, total girl power.

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Stuntman Quentin said...

Posted on Sep 23 2007 13:50 I read a few reviews, but thought i'd give the film ago, as I know that QT movies can bee a bit odd. Only two people (me being one) was in the cinema! "this wasn't a good sign", I thought, and I was right, thie movie sucked like hell. The acting was terrible, and all the women could do was swear at each other. About 10 minutes of the film was good, being the cars ripping up the road and crashing.
I seriuosly recommend you stay well away from Stuntan Mike!
I'd like to give this film minus 5 stars if possible.
Can I have my £6.85 back now? Thanks

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Yuri said...

Posted on Sep 23 2007 11:23 This movie is crap. Feels like someone tried to be like Tarantino. Nowhere near his best. I feel I had been cheated.

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john said...

Posted on Sep 22 2007 23:32 Tarantino back to his best, an indulgence of 70s inspired pop-culture, slick, stylish, and fun. Old school chase scenes, great engine revving soundtrack, sights, smells and sounds reminiscent of american movie making at its peak. Fizzles and crackles with raw energy. A must-see

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Ems In London said...

Posted on Sep 21 2007 13:05 Ooooh weeeeee!! Quality classic right here ladies and gents. There is good, bad and down right ugly in this movie. Kurt Russell and sooo good at being bad I have to wonder why it took so long for him to do it!
See it, see it now!!

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Carl said...

Posted on Aug 29 2007 16:06 Tarantino is back but unfortunately he's not back-to-back like the movie was meant to be in the states. I was really looking forward to seeing the full Grindhouse movie experience in the cinema with all the fake film trailers by Rob Zombie, Robert Rodriguez, Edgar Wright and Eli Roth in its full 3hr showing. I know the Yankees didn't understand the whole concept of the Grindhouse (even though they are the ones who invented it, which really shows you how much they pay attention to their cultural history) and they were afraid of the length of this masterpiece. All I can say to them is "YOU BASTARDS".
This is the most amazing film of the year and is def my favourite which is saying a lot considering this is the year of the movies. Death Proof offers a no holds bard adrenaline filled joy ride of action and suspense that only Tarantino himself can pull off. Kurt Russell is wicked as Stuntman Mike and the ladies of Death Proof produce superb dialog which seems reminiscent of 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Pulp Fiction' days.
Tarantino also offers a fantastic soundtrack which fits perfectly with the movie's high octane manner (which is kindly offered to us by 'AMI' the jukebox :P)
Make sure you grab your ticket on the day because this is a film to watch as soon as they open those Grindhouse doors. Don't listen to what the critics say about this film, the movie will never die, in fact it is 'DEATH PROOF'!!
Don't forget to catch the second part of the Grindhouse experience, Robert Rodriguez 'PLANET TERROR' out in October 07.

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Olga said...

Posted on Jul 25 2007 16:17 Every girl must watch this movie once a week, just to feel better =)) It's a must

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