The Best of Tony Scott — Vol 1.
I’m re-posting this near decade old appreciation of True Romance for three primary reasons:
Act One — A thank you and “get well soon” message to my brother Andy who isn’t really my brother but does have a fine sense for a stupendous film. He’s a little “under the weather” as we English say and last night he sorted tickets for Die Hard on the big screen for the first time, and if that film doesn’t scream Christmas to you, well you may have been invited to the wrong seasonal party.
Act Two — I’m re-releasing a personal “Top 5” of my favourite Tony Scott directed films and unsurprisingly, this Quentin Tarantino penned masterpiece is top of the list. Numbers 2 through 5 are being released shortly or if you prefer, please delve into the opus article linked below that I wrote a decade ago on the entire catalogue of this cinematic genius.
I may well surprise you with a choice or 2 within my Top 5.
Act Three — True Romance is a bona-fide film for the ages.
I hope you enjoy my rambling musings around, and not spoiling, this bona-fide masterpiece.
Tony Scott (1944–2012). A Cinematic Legend.
All 16 films. All lovingly appreciated. All spoiler free.medium.com
“You’re so Cool!”
Released 20 years ago, this film continues to be in my personal all time favourites list and continues to age like a fine wine. Still as sharp and crystal clear in every frame, a film I can endlessly quote dialogue from as I’ve watched this all time classic on too many occasions to admit. There are many reasons why, but principally because the character of Clarence is everything I aspire to be, aside from the drug running, shoot outs and Elvis worship, obviously! A film geek, an idealist and a man who falls in love with the woman of his dreams. That’s Clarence (and me) and much more besides.
As the title suggests, it’s a love story and a very powerful one at that. Written by Quentin Tarantino, you shouldn’t be surprised that this is at it’s heart a powerful love story, for the majority of scripts/films written by Tarantino are love stories at heart. This is often overlooked as the concentration rests on the ultra violence and pop culture references normally bathed in a Tarantino film. As a lifelong Quentin Tarantino fan it’s easy for me to be bombastic and describe the screenplay as unsurpassed and without equal but on this occasion it’s true. This has everything and so much more. The violence is up close, graphic at times and occasionally difficult to watch. It is also stylised to a point, culminating in a timeless shoot out amidst a cloud of cocaine and feathers. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves already, and overlooking the fact that this is a love story, an unusual, Quentin Tarantino style love story, but one that continues to resonate with me 20 years after it’s initial release.
Outside a Movie Theatre, following a Kung Fu triple bill, our lovers first discuss their plans:
Clarence: “You came to see 3 Kung Fu movies?”
Alabama: “Sure, why not?”
Clarence: “Nothin. Nothin. It’s just you’re a girl after my own heart, that’s all”
Alabama: “Do you know what time it is?”
Clarence: “It’s about 12:00”
Alabama: “Suppose you gotta get up early?”
Clarence: “No, not particularly. How come?”
Alabama: “It’s just after I see a movie, I like to go get a piece of pie and talk about it. It’s sort of a little tradition I have. Do you like to get pie after you see a good movie?
Clarence: “Yeah, I love to get pie after a movie”
Alabama: “Would you like to go get some pie with me?”
Clarence: “Yeah, I’d love some pie”
Cue “In Dreams” by John Waite and the first tears of the movie from me!
For those reading this completely unaware of this all time classic film, here’s my cryptic premise for you: Clarence, obsessed by Elvis, comic books and films, falls in love with a Call Girl and obtains Dr Zhivago by accident. Looking to sell this masterpiece for a fraction of it’s price to a real film Director, he sells Dr Zhivago to enable his dream life with Alabama and Elvis. That’s all you need to know for now!
For a myopic film fan such as myself, this film truly does have it all. A stellar all time cast list (fully detailed below) even down to minimal supporting roles from some giants of modern day cinema. A joy of a musical score from Hans Zimmer including the iconic “You’re So Cool” title track which is a lullaby of pure joy, and many more tracks throughout the film from Aerosmith “The Other Side”, Billy Idol “White Wedding”, Soundgarden “Outshined”, Big Bopper “Chantilly Lace” and The Shirelles “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” personal favourites. There are many more.
The screenplay from Quentin Tarantino is unsurpassed, rich in pop culture references, coarse language and dialogue to die for. The characters created will long pass into cinematic history as with usual Tarantino panache the characters are rich, quickly back storied with multiple layers of intrigue, before being brilliantly depicted on screen by a wonderful cast that infuse so much into these characters. Director of Photography Jeffrey L Kimball again excels in a Tony Scott film, bringing to life and lighting some incredibly diverse settings throughout the film. In the opening minutes alone the short scenes outside the movie theatre, the restaurant (especially), the comic book store and outside Clarence’s apartment are brilliantly depicted, framed and shot, and this trend continues throughout. Joint Editors Michael Tronick and Christian Wagner also deserve great credit cutting this film to the perfect length of two hours.
One of The Weinstein’s first productions and helmed brilliantly by Director Tony Scott, he tells this unusual love story well, mixing the ultra violent outbursts with the tender love of Clarence and Alabama amidst some wonderful cinematography and central performances. The love story itself is heart breaking at times, joyously uplifting at others, with both a darkly comedic thread running parallel with an openly funny one. It’s self referential and stylised at times, bathed in Tarantino pop culture references and the tender moments are often juxtaposed against brutal violence or openly graphic sexual play. The film never relents, nor does it ever apologise for what it is, a modern day account of a love that will not be broken or destroyed, and of a man wanting his idealised world now, and his love forever.
The supporting cast alone is a who’s who of all star talent even 20 years ago, many of whom have gone on to shape many fantastic films in the intervening 20 years. Val Kilmer plays Clarence’s “Mentor” and the less said the better here as his reveal is obvious, yet subtle, over the top, and brilliantly included. Samuel L Jackson plays “Big Don” as only Samuel L Jackson can and Michael Rapaport brings “Dick Ritchie” as a geeky, awkward film wannabee to life brilliantly. Bronson Pinochot brings “Elliott Blitzer” to life with a camp charm and inserts much needed fun and humour with him, as does his Boss “Lee Donowitz”, the irrepressible Saul Rubinek.
Three further giants of the big screen also play small cameo and supporting roles, with James Gandolfini as Mafia Hitman “Virgil”, Chris Penn as “Nicky Dimes” and Tom Sizemore as “Cody Nicholson”. This is a brief list of the supporting roles on show, all of whom bring something very special to their roles and each infuse dark humour to an already black comedic film. The main roles are of rich characters, expertly portrayed, and are briefly outlined below:
“Clarence” (Christian Slater) A career defining performance from Slater as he carries both the film and your heart for the duration of the run time. A geeky loner desperate for love and recognition who grabs his one chance to set up the life he’s always craved for with the woman of his dreams.
A superlative performance.
“Alabama” (Patricia Arquette) From Call Girl to Avenging Angel. The narrator of the film and of our dreams. Never better than here.
Another career defining role superbly portrayed.
“Clifford” (Dennis Hopper) Clarence’s Father brilliantly portrayed by one of the best character actors of our generation. His verbal stand off with Christopher Walken is a joy to behold.
“Vincenzo” (Christopher Walken) One scene is all Walken has to work with, but with supreme anger he brings Tarantino’s words to life brilliantly during his “Q and A” with Clifford.
“I’m the Anti-Christ. You got me in a vendetta kind of mood”.
“Drexl” (Gary Oldman) Yet another powerhouse performance from Oldman, infusing his distasteful character with an odd charm and relying heavily on Tarantino’s mixed heritage background. A frightening performance from Oldman, gold teeth, scars and dreadlocks as he remarks “I know I’m pretty” in his showdown with Clarence.
“Floyd” (Brad Pitt) Seemingly never away from his couch, perma stoned and hilarious to boot, a very different role for Brad Pitt but one that always makes me smile as he struggles to simply form a sentence, aptly shown when confronted by machine gun toting Mafia hitmen
“You want to smoke a bowl?”
Another in the bracket of “Greatest Films of All Time”. I’ve loved this film for 20 years, and I’m looking forward to the next 20.
An astonishing film.
Thanks for reading. Just for larks as always, and always a human reaction rather than spoilers galore. My three most recently published film and television articles are linked below or there’s well over 100 blog articles (with 300+ individual film reviews) within my archives from which to choose:
“Fargo” (1996)
My Coen Brothers Top Ten — Vol 2.medium.com
“Kill Bill: Volume 1” (2003)
“This woman deserves her revenge. And we, deserve to die”medium.com
“Michael Clayton” (2007)
Tony Gilroy’s debut masterpiece.medium.com