GRINDHOUSE: DEATH PROOF

Quentin Tarantino’s segment of the Grindhouse double feature is released in Japan as a standalone movie.

The film has pretty big flaws; the 2 part structure is repetitive, some of the extended dialogue sequences drag on a bit, and a rather callous choice by 3 of the film’s heroines regarding their cheerleading friend made me like them less.

But Death Proof also contains cinematic genius, most obviously in the 2 car chases at the end of the movie. The penultimate chase is a nailbitingly tense, and the final chase and denouement created such a feeling of exhilaration that the audience actually applauded as the credits rolled, something that never happens here.

This is also the movie that finally convinced my girlfriend of the charms of Kurt Russell, whose Stuntman Mike is creepy, charming, pathetic, scary, and funny in equal measures. Although he still has tiny eyes like peanuts, apparently.

Grade: A -