MOVIE REVIEW: Grindhouse

“This car is 100% death proof, but to get the benefit of it, honey, you really gotta be sittin’ in my seat.” This about sums up “Grindhouse,” a Rodriguez/Tarantino throwback to the exploitation films of the 70s. This review, or any for that matter, can’t even come close to giving you an idea of just how awesome a film this is. It is something you have to see for yourself. I can praise this film all day, “but to get the benefit of it, honey, you really gotta be sittin’ in my seat.”

The film begins with a trailer for “Machete,” a hilarious action film starring Danny Trejo and Cheech Marin. In fact, there are four trailers total in the three hours plus runtime of “Grindhouse.” The Rob Zombie directed “Werewolf Women of the SS,” Edgar Wright’s “Don’t,” and the best of them all, Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving.” That last one is indeed the best of the bunch, and a film in which myself, and the audience in attendance, wouldn’t mind seeing.

“Grindhouse” gets rolling with Robert Rodriguez’s “Planet Terror.” The military, led by Bruce Willis, stumbles upon a biochemical weapon that brings out the madness in the people it infects. We’ve seen it a thousand times, folks, so let’s call them what they are. Zombies. I’ll be damned if Rodriguez still doesn’t kick the shit out of a tired genre though. We get a host of kickass characters, too. It is as if Rodriguez made a film full of characters based on Snake Plissken, or Ash (from “Evil Dead” fame). In fact, the character of El Wray (Freddy Rodriguez) was based on Snake. Then we get a Go-Go dancer named Cherry Darling, who is played by Rose McGowan. Never thought I’d say it again, but McGowan brought her sexy back. This is just another case of the Rodriguez/Tarantino team bringing back the careers of forgotten actors (ie. Travolta, Grier, Biehn, Fahey and McGowan). So “Planet Terror” is a very kickass run of the mill zombie flick that gets it all right. We even got the little “Evil Dead” homage with McGowan losing her leg and gaining a machine gun on her leg. I don’t know about you, but it doesn’t get anymore bad ass than this.
Then we move along into Quentin Tarantino’s “Death Proof.” This is a night and day difference from the ultra violent/gory/rollercoaster ride that was “Plant Terror.” This is classic Tarantino at his best. We spend the first part of the film with four friends and a whole hell of a lot of dialogue. The film takes its time introducing its victims. Then we meet Stuntman Mike, played by Kurt Russell. This role pretty much solidified Russell as one of the biggest bad asses in Hollywood. He showed his acting chops here. Ranging from charming one moment, to certified crazy motherfucker the next. So it goes that Mike has a car that is death proof, but only from the driver seat. He kills women using his car in a variety of ways. After the first group of women are dispatched, we move to the next, who consist of a film group in town. Zoë Bell (playing herself) and three friends (including Rosario Dawson) are in need of some fun and have the desire to drive a 1970 Mustang with a 440 engine. Basically an homage to “Vanishing Point” for anyone who doesn’t get it. So they take one out for a test drive and what ensues is probably one of the better car chases in recent years. We start with Mike terrorizing the women, but soon the tables turn and it’s Mike who is in for the ride of his life.
“Grindhouse” can only be described as an experience. It has to be seen to be believed. It was every bit as good as you’ve hoped it would be, and then some. At this point in my life, I’m willing to go out on a limb and say anything that Tarantino or Rodriguez does is going to be “cool.” No other way to describe it. The music they use, the words they write and the stories they tell are just fucking “cool.” These two are at the top of the ladder as far as filmmakers in Hollywood go.
Both men have a knack, as I mentioned, for casting out of the ordinary actors. Many familiar faces are shown in each film. Jeff Fahey, Michael Biehn, Rose McGowan and Josh Brolin are only a few that pop up, but there are so many more. My favorite is Michael Parks, who once again plays Earl McGraw (just as he has in “From Dusk Till Dawn” and “Kill Bill”). When either of these two men makes a film, especially together, it seems like actors and actresses alike are fighting for a role. Many of the “Sin City” actors appear in this one, as do people from each director's outings. It just always seems that everyone is having a good time when making a film for one of these two men.
Rodriguez has some true musical talent. He does the score on just about every one of his films, and it is always outstanding. It reminded me a lot of the work he did on “Sin City.” I am hoping he continues to score all of his films because it always seems to stand out.

Both directors are already at work on “Sin City 2” and “Sin City 3,” but have both been very vocal on a “Grindhouse” follow up featuring two new films. Tarantino has stated he will write and direct a kung fu throwback, complete with Mandarin subtitles. Anyone remember “The Legend of Ricky-Oh?” Yeah, now imagine Tarantino remaking it for “Grindhouse.” I have to change my pants.

“Grindhouse” is nothing short of one of the best summer films in about a decade. It was fun, violent and had attitude. This will definitely will find its way on my top ten list for 2007.