Seven strangers will dog their way into executing the perfect crime. Quentin Tarantino’s debut film, Reservoir Dogs assembles the best gang of thieves who will stop at nothing to rob a diamond warehouse. They ignored the possibility of failure, being the professionals they are. However, their plans are immediately foiled, as police arrive to put them behind bars. Nothing of the actual heist can be witnessed, but flashes of events that happened before and after it are revealed. Panic erupts through a series of blood and gore action, memorable dialogue and Tarantino’s impressive storyline.
The identities of the seven are hidden under false names: Mr. White (Harvey Keitel), Mr. Orange (Tim Roth), Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen), Mr. Pink (Steve Buscerni), Mr. Brown (Quentin Tarantino), Mr. Blue (Eddie Bunker), plus Nice Guy Eddie Cabo (Chris Penn) and Joe Cabot (Lawrence Tierney). All they have to do is focus to get the job done, even if they suspect that one of their teammates has ratted them out.
This cult classic has been generally praised by critics. Even Tarantino’s cinematography and the idea of using flashbacks were commended. The performances of the cast were also much-admired. It didn’t become a major box-office success, but was named “Greatest Independent Film of All Time” by Empire.
Reservoir Dogs had a total of $ 147,839 in the United States, and grossed $2,832,029 at the box-office. It has often been criticized for its extreme profanity and violence. In Britain, however, it gained much recognition, and was even entered into the Sundance Film Festival. It continues to be a prominent film because of its uniqueness, and was even compared to classic American noir films. The popularity of
Reservoir Dogs increased due to Tarantino’s more successful film
Pulp Fiction, but it persists as one of the outstanding independent films ever made.
-Maria Gonzalez, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of Quentin Tarantino)