True Romance review

True Romance, Directors Cut

1993, *****, Action-Suspense-Drama

This Tarantino written, Tony Scott directed film, is one wild risky ride! It takes place in Detroit, where Clarence Worley (Christian Slater) is a lonely comic book store salesclerk that is into kung-fu movies, and Elvis, and falls for a "call girl" named Alabama (Patricia Arquette). He wants to free Alabama from her ties with her pimp and ends up with a suitcase of the mob's cocaine. Before long the mob and police are in pursuit.

This movie has an outstanding cast of well-known actors, that play an array of very interesting characters. Many are cameo type scenes that are genuinely memorable. Val Kilmer (Elvis, a figment of Slater's imagination gives him inspiration), Gary Oldman (as a very seedy Pimp and drug dealer), Samuel L. Jackson (another drug dealer), Dennis Hopper (Slater's father, retired cop), Christopher Walken (a high level mobster), Chris Penn (undercover policeman), and Brad Pitt (a stoned roommate of Slater's buddy) just to name a few.

I loved the great 70's and 80's music in the film, especially when Slater and Alabama hit the road, in his pink Cadillac. You hear Aerosmith's "The Other Side", which is a perfect song to cruise to, on a wild adventure. It reminds me of the film every time I listen to it. This film brings it all together and its what makes it a stand out among the films of its type. As with any good film it immerses the viewer in the environment, the life-styles and the dangers the film captures. I think the film is as current today as it was 15 years ago when it was made.

While this is definitely not suited for everyone, especially younger viewers, for obvious reasons such as the graphic violence sequences, sex, drugs, and heavy language, it is in my view a classic cult film for the appreciative collector. Director Tony Scott, brother of Ridley Scott, clearly knows how to put a wild and crazy film together. He was very successful putting together the diverse yet excellent set of actors in strange and eccentric roles, which you will remember for a long time.

This is a unique film and a fun watch, especially if you are a Christian Slater fanatic. I would have to say however, this isn't the craziest from Tarantino, but does covers a lot of ground and subject matter. "True Romance" is a exciting ride and in my view, is one that's worth another view if you watched it before and definitely worth watching with popcorn, if you missed it in 1993, even if your aren't a Christian Slater fan.