Death Proof (2007) – 3/5

He’s a stuntman

„Death Proof“ is an American English-language live action film from 2007, so this one had its 15th anniversary last year and normally I would write something along the lines of how time has really flown by so quickly with this span, but here I feel it is the opposite. It feels strange to me that Tarantino did this one right before Basterds. This also feels a bit odd to me I guess because this film we have here looks way older than it actually is, a stylistic choice that makes it look like the copy is poor when the truth is that it is all the movie itself. Not the film quality is of course, but that it looks so old with some repetitions and glitches throughout. This had to do with the production background. Tarantino made this as a tribute to the old days of dirty cinemas that show movies far away from the mainstream and for that he collaborated once again with his buddy Robert Rodriguez and they came up with a double feature that got put into one film named Grindhouse and ran for three hours. For Europe where this concept is rather unknown Tarantino also released this film here on its own. This standalone version runs for 113 or 114 minutes, but Tarantino took it even one step further and released a director’s cut that had another 12 or 13 minutes and this made it comfortably past the two-hour mark. In general, he really played with the entire concept because not only is his film one half the Rodriguez collab, but his film is actually also two movies in one basically only combined by Kurt Russell’s character’s presence, but he is also barely in it in the second half, so yeah there is not too much that links them. The car action certainly does and the dialogues once again feel as much Tarantino as they always do. They are showing some of his films again now on the occasion of the man’s recent 60th birthday and this one here was the only one that was dubbed or at least not OV, so I went and watched. Don’t regret it one bit. It was quite entertaining. I also saw Tarantino himself a few days earlier when he presented his new book here in my European capital, so this made it even more fitting.

But enough about him now and let’s take a look at the cast: It is very female-centered. The one exception is the aforementioned Russell who plays a murderous psychopath who despises women more than you initially thought I guess. But as for the woman, it maybe would have been the better idea if they had kept the actresses from these groups together in the credits list, so it would have been easier to remember who is who, but some of them are still fairly famous, so it is not too difficult anyway the way it is. The most known name is probably Rosario Dawson and she is also remembered for „Sin City“, so in a way she belongs to the Tarantino/Rodriguez universe also without this film here. Vanessa Ferlito was on „CSI: NY“ before that movie and left the show relatively fast to pursue a big screen career it seems. Well, she is surely stunning, but sadly this endeavor did not work out too well. She actually returned to the small screen eventually and played on an NCIS spinoff not too long ago. Rose McGowan you will probably remember the most from „Charmed“ and her relationship with a certain controversial musician and also for her involvement in the entire #metoo affair. About Jordan Ladd I cannot say as much as I would like to, haven’t really seen her in a lot or I don’t remember. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is just such a stunner, already was back then and does not need the cheerleader uniform for that and I still like her a lot. Always nice to see her on the big screen. She is also in my favorite addiction-themed film I think, one of my favorites overall from the 21st century. Great performance there, she is much more than a pretty face. Zoë Bell plays herself in this film and that could not be any more fitting because she is the epitome of a tough stuntwoman or was back then at least (still worked as a stunt double for Cate Blanchett not too long ago for example), so of course she is the right choice to play this character with what she has to do while lying on the car there. Her „I am fine“ was also one of the funniest moments of the film. Or biggest reliefs? This was already pretty close to the end when basically the tables got turned on Russell’s character and the hunter becomes the hunted. Bell by the way also worked with Tarantino on many occasions, down to his most recent work which is also already many years ago and I am sure she will stay connected with him, no matter if in films or in general.

As for this moment of when the tables got turned, I liked it. I was glad that it was not a discussion if they should go up against the villain, but instantly agree. The adrenaline surely helped there. Tarantino also plays a minor character in this film here; he was the barkeeper, right? In the first half I think and he also sits there and shares some of his wisdom when he is surrounded by girls. Basically just like he was as the filmmaker of this movie. And he has one of the most memorable lines too, doesn’t he? I think it was him who said it and with this I am referring to the words I used for the title of my review here, which is a quote I still remembered from when I saw this film the first time. When he is asked who Mike is and his answer is „he’s a stuntman“. Utter cult potential there, so much more in this line than people realize. The buildup was amazing. I was kinda shocked how apparently nobody else in the theater found this really funny. I am sure Tarantino liked it a lot. I mean he basically reused it slightly altered, this kind of statement that says nothing pretty much, in the second half. When there is talk about one character working as a cheerleader if I remember correctly. But I made the connection instantly and so will you hopefully. I still remember this original stuntman quote from an earlier watch. It was maybe the third time I saw this film now, first time on the big screen. By the way, I also really adored the Johnny Cash / „cash only“ reference at the bar there, the little sticker. So cool. Also in the bar, you will find the pretty young Eli Roth, another Tarantino regular. He did not have a lot of screen time at all, but was still among the male actors with the most screen time. There is a bit of buddy talk that involves him and the guy who constantly wants to get busy with Ferlito’s character.

Before said bar scene, there is once again also some car action, in the sense of people driving and talking. No escalations yet, no huge action like later on and also no escalation like in „Pulp Fiction“. You can of course discuss why the girls in the first half do not survive, but the ones in the second half do. Were they closer to each other? There is a brief moment of argument in the first half between two girls linked to this lap dance, but the coolest moment there is probably when Russell’s character shows up to experience it and delivers the words. And it does happen for him. He knows how to pull the right strings, even when (some of) the girls are against him. But yeah, what was more memorable there was probably the scene when everybody is out of the bar and Russell’s character reveals his true spirit to McGowan’s when they are alone in his car. The left-or-right moment I am of course talking about. One of the most memorable moments from the film. By the way, I also loved the music here. The song that plays before the first group of girls has their massive accident was so catchy and the one we hear during the closing credits was even better. That one got covered not too long ago by a Guardians of the Galaxy actress, it is so catchy indeed. Tarantino knew first. This song there and almost got me into thinking to give another one or two stars for the outcome. But in the end 60% seems accurate and a positive recommendation at the same time that was never in doubt, even if maybe this was not a great film either. I think the comedic highlights from this film were all in the first half, especially the lengthy pub sequence, also the „get wet“ quote of course. Tarantino at it again. He would have a harder time today probably in getting this film made and appreciated, several examples there like also what happens to Winstead’s character when she is last seen on the screen. But a bit ironic for sure that McGowan is in this film here with how it elaborates on women and I am writing this as somebody who fully appreciated the artistic component here and supports everything Tarantino did this time.

Also, I read that the title he came up with when getting drunk with Sean Penn and the latter inspired him? Inspired him not only for the title, but the entire concept maybe? How cool is that. Penn I have lost a lot of respect for in recent years, but I like his Oscar-winning film and also liked him back when this one here got made. The special thanks list is pretty crazy anyway. You will also find Mickey Rourke and he battled it out with Penn when the latter won his second Oscar what I was just talking about, but yeah let’s not get carried completely away now, but go check out the thanks list nonetheless. Tarantino is also credited as a cinematographer for this film which I find interesting. The editing was once again done by Tarantino’s frequent collaborator Sally Menke, who sadly dies not too long afterwards at a too young age and otherwise I am positive she would still be working on Q’s films. Anything else? Oh yes, you will find a cop here that is also part of a far more famous Tarantino film. Interesting inclusion. This was a father-son moment in the movie and actually also between the actors. Sadly, Michael Parks is also no longer with us, but at least James is. And the former’s character also got it all right, but there was only so much he could to prove it. So taking the NASCAR route may indeed be the better choice. A good choice for you would surely be to give this film a chance if you haven’t already. Thumbs-up.