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Life & Arts

‘Grindhouse' ride ends appropriately with ‘Death'

Tarantino's homage project filled to the brim with witty dialogue, suspenseful car chases, plenty of cheese 

by CHRISTIAN PALMER
The Daily Cougar

Just when you thought it was OK to get up and rinse off the blood, it's go-time again. There is not what you might call an "intermission" between the two completely distinct features that make up Grindhouse.

In fact, between Planet Terror and Death Proof, there are several fake movie trailers that pay even more homage to the grindhouse genre than do the films themselves. The fake trailers --Werewolf Women on the SS, Thanksgiving and Don't -- actually look like they would be a blast if they were real. 

Moving on to the second main attraction, Death Proof takes a wildly different approach to glorious excess. It is a great example of how less is more. Set in Austin, the plot features two groups of girls (and their cars) who "encounter" the suspicious Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell in one of the strangest roles of his career), who isn't necessarily supposed to be the lead but steals the show. 

The first group consists of a radio disc jockey, her friends and the car that drives them to their untimely but very visual ends. The second gaggle is better prepared for their meeting with Stuntman Mike as two of his prey are themselves stunt actors who know their way behind a 1970 white Dodge Challenger.

When Quentin Tarantino decides to do something, he certainly goes all out. Even though his half of the film actually takes place in this century, its look oozes the 1970s. The hair, the clothes, the working jukebox, the missing reels, the car chase and the cars themselves all evoke this greatest of eras that brags the genre he so obviously adores.

However, even though it is Tarantino, don't look for the trademark non-linear plot sequencing that put him on the map as this is no normal project. The dialogue, though, was as sharp as ever and even funny if you can stomach and identify with his distinct brand of dark humor.

The story was somewhat more original than its partner, but not much more entertaining. At least he gets to be innovative in a different kind of way. Even though double features were no big thing 30 or 40 years ago, it's odd to see one today. 

Like Planet Terror, the film itself was tampered with to give it a gritty look, but with Death Proof, it was to a much less extent. About midway into the film, the action and suspense is the star, not the cheap aging technique. 

The fact that the movie is more than three hours may be a problem for some viewers, but in reality, the action is enough to keep the audience in their seats and actually wanting more. Death Proof has the privilege and drawback of being on the tail end of the feature, though, so it may seem like it drags a bit, but it ends with a bang and leaves the spectators with a terrifically cheesy final image.

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