Review of Reservoir Dogs (1992) by Seth Y — 13 Apr 2013

It's unacceptable to call yourself a Quentin Tarantino fan if you haven't seen Reservoir Dogs. This is the film that started it all, and rightfully so. Although not my all-time favorite from Tarantino (that would be Inglourious Basterds), I do believe that Reservoir Dogs is his most well-made film. It is a truly awesome viewing experience that ranks somewhere in my top 20 favorite films of all-time.

This is a unique story that shows the events that take place before and after a botched robbery. Gangster Joe Cabot (Lawrence Tierney) organizes the crime, putting together five different men who he has hired to carry out the plan. Things go wrong when the group runs into police who are anticipating the robbery, which means one of them is a rat. The film jumps between pre and post-crime, showing how the group deals with the failed plan and the events that lead up to.

The performances here are incredible. Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, and Lawrence Tierney are all outstanding. Unlike most of Tarantino's other work, Reservoir Dogs has a fairly average run-time, meaning it's right to the point and grabs your attention immediately at the first scene. That being said, the shorter length doesn't compromise Tarantino's dialogue, which is always so good. You really get an understanding of all these characters and their different personalities, which makes for a truly fun ride. As I said, I think Reservoir Dogs still holds up as Quentin Tarantino's finest work. It's a true cinematic achievement and the starting point for a legendary filmmaker. 5 stars.