Holy hell is Death Proof a great movie. 1/2 of the Rodriguez/Tarantino experimental theatrical experience "Grindhouse", Quentin Tarantino is tasked with making a film in the genre of the very kind that he used to watch with his mother in the early 70's. A dirty, sleazy, scummy midnight flick. This is his wheelhouse. He's right where he wants to be here. These movies were exploding off the screen with extreme violence and steaming sexuality. How can Quentin go wrong? He honestly doesn't. In a sense, this is a precursor to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The first half of Death Proof is virtually perfect. We get well established with Stuntman Mike and the girls that he targets to kill with his stunt car. It's a red hot hangout movie. Kurt Russel arguably gives his best performance as Stuntman Mike. He's charming and seductive, while at the same time, terrifying. When the film moves over to Lebanon, Tennessee, we meet Stuntman Mike's match. That is, a group of badass stunt women, on loan from Hollywood. This is where the film enters shaky territory. The grimy, 16mm patina that dominated the first half disappears, and looks more in line with Tarantino in his post-Kill Bill era. I wish, stylistically, it wasn't that inconsistent. Also, the scene in the diner goes on for way too long. But all of that is forgiven when we are treated to the epic car chase sequence that closes out the film. Whatever faults that the second half has, forget about it. This scene takes you for a brutal ride. I didn't want it to end. For that matter, neither did I want the film to end.
Review of Death Proof
