Tarantino Filmography, Reservoir Dogs

This past weekend I came across a fascinating article on Collider.com on the topic of the universal connection between all of Quentin Tarantino's films. And like much of Tarantino's work, the article left you thinking two things: 1) Wow, this man is a genius 2) I need to watch all those movies again. So that's what I am going to do. Over the next few weeks I will be viewing 10 Tarantino written and/or directed films to try and make some connections and prep for the much anticipated release of Django Unchained on Christmas. First up, Reservoir Dogs.

(Warning: Spoilers ahead)

Released in 1992, this crime thriller marked the debut of Quentin Tarantino's directing/writing career. With an all star cast of Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, and Lawrence Tierney, the film revolves around the events that occur before and after a deadly diamond heist. While the events of the actual robbery are never shown, how it goes down results in bullets flying, blood spilling, and a dude losing an ear. In the end, the robbery is successful, but not everything goes as planned when the police arrive alarmingly quick, which can only mean one thing, there is a rat in the group. From start to finish, the sequence of apparent accidents drive the violence between the characters further and further until everything comes to a climax in an intense, ironically unpredictable ending.

The most intriguing part of the film is the names of the characters and how they represent who they are personally as well as in the eyes of bossman Joe Cabot. Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen), aka Vic Vega, is a psychopath. He is responsible for shooting up the jewelry store before the police showed up as well as lopping the ear off a hostage cop to the tune of "Stuck in the Middle With You." To his colleagues, Mr. Blonde is a hot head, totally unpredictable, and a danger to everyone. However, Joe sees Vic as the golden boy. Its said he was just released from prison on a four year sentence for not leaking Joe's name to the police. Mr. Blonde is invincible. 

Then there is Mr. Pink. Played by Steve Buscemi, Mr. Pink, as he claims, is the only "professional" of them all. His pressing need to do everything by the book and question anything out of the ordinary defines his character. During the scene where Joe gives Mr. Pink his alias, there is an uneasiness on Pink's part in regards to the name. Joe says, "your Pink because your a fag." Now in reality, Buscemi's character isn't a homosexual, but that is not the context Joe meant it in. It seems in assigning names he was measuring everyone in relation to Mr. Blonde. He sees in Mr. Pink's personality that in the end he will get the job done, but it will be all by the book. He doesn't have the stones or the prerogative to bite the bullet like Mr. Blonde did, thus devaluing him in Joe's eyes.

Mr. White is the quintessential "good-bad guy who you want to root for and could see changing sides at any moment" character.  Of all the crooks, Mr. White is the only one to show honesty, compassion, and trust. He is seemingly the only one to have a conscience. That's why hes Mr. White. He is good clean thief, who in a pinch will do what it takes if someone gets in the way, but only if he has to. At one point he says to Mr. Pink in relation to Mr. Blonde's shooting spree, "I just don't understand how someone can loose their mind like that? I don't kill for fun. If someone gets in my way I will do what needs to be done but I wont go out of my way to do it." For the entire film, Mr. White cares for and vouches for the most polarizing character of them all, Mr. Orange.

The role of Orange is played by Tim Roth, who plays an undercover cop, and rat within the group. The color orange represents deceit and distrust, both traits Joe pinned on the cop he says. Before the final showdown at the end Joe notes, "I knew it. I knew it was him the whole time. He was the only one I wasn't 100% on." Again we see here Joe measuring the cop in relation to Blonde, as being a lesser soldier then Blonde is. The color orange also represents enthusiasm and creativity, which is what Mr. White saw in him. He often referred to him as "kid" or "young guy," someone with promise and a future. Not to mention how creative Orange needed to be to infiltrate this crime syndicate in the first place. But in the end, Mr. Orange is left soaking in a pool of his own blood with only his enthusiasm and determination for his job to keep him alive long enough for his assignment to be completed.

As a whole, Reservoir Dogs is a fantastic movie. But as a sequential progression of short intense clips, its a masterpiece. Tarantino sucks you in right from the start with an impeccable dialogue as the accomplices eat breakfast, and keeps you on the edge of the seat with each bullet fired as the day goes along.  The film is an excellent mesh of constant pop culture references, a social commentary on violence, and the inherent need within the human condition to trust. Next up, Pulp Fiction.

~ Shilz