Reservoir Dogs (1992)

In this article, we will be looking at 2019’s book “1001 Movies to See Before You Die” and going through each film in a random order that I have chosen. We will be looking at what constitutes this film to be on the list and whether I think this film deserves to be here at all. I want to make perfectly clear that I won’t be revealing details from this book such as analyses by film reporters who have written about the film in question, so if you want the book itself you’ll have to buy it. But I will be covering the book’s suggestions on which films should be your top priority. I wouldn’t doubt for a second that everyone reading this article has probably watched many of these movies anyway. But we are just here to have a bit of fun. We’re going to not just look at whether it should be on this list but we’re also going to look at why the film has such a legacy at all. Remember, this is the 2019 version of the book and so, films like “Joker” will not be featured in this book and any film that came out in 2020 (and if we get there, in 2021). So strap in and if you have your own suggestions then don’t hesitate to email me using the address in my bio. Let’s get on with it then.

Reservoir Dogs (1992) dir. by Quentin Tarantino

Reservoir Dogs (1992) is a film that I watched when I was about sixteen years’ old and honestly, it is one of the best efforts by Quentin Tarantino after my obvious favourite “Jackie Brown”. The film covers a short space of time, only a few different settings and yet, has been able to change the cultural format of 90s cinema.

After premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in the early nineties, this film became one of the most famous films of the decade after it opened in the USA in almost twenty cinemas. When it expanded to over sixty cinemas it earned almost three million dollars at the domestic box office. It would go on to get over double that amount when it opened in the United Kingdom and for the video release, the film got a cinematic re-release in the United Kingdom in the mid-nineties.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film got some great reviews with the general consensus of the critics reading: "Thrumming with intelligence and energy, Reservoir Dogs opens Quentin Tarantino's filmmaking career with hard-hitting style.” Empire Magazine would name it the greatest independent film ever made.

Roger Ebert obviously weighed in on the movie with his great mind and stated that the film (paraphrased) “feels terrific… but the script does not have much to do with the characters.” And he also stated that Tarantino “trusts in the idea to drive the plot…” which I feel is absolutely correct and has actually worked better in other films. However, it does nothing to bring the film down. He praised the acting in the film as being the film’s biggest strength, which I would say is absolutely true because the acting was pretty damn amazing.

With its noir-like atmosphere and its strange scenes, odd ending and yet, its small sense in comparison to other Tarantino films, we can understand why it is considered to be the greatest independent film ever made.

This film has often been compared to others such as “Goodfellas”, “Mean Streets”, “Psycho” and even “Glengarry Glen Ross” and yet, the film has also stood alone as one of the greatest films of the decade having some amazing influences from before it upon the movie and making some great influences on the movies that came after it in style and poise.

In 2012, in a Live Drama series for the LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) Jason Reitman cast black actors in the original white cast with Laurence Fishburne, Terrence Howard, Anthony Mackie, Cuba Gooding Jr., Chi McBride, Anthony Anderson, Common and Patton Oswalt. Taking the script and switching the racial connotations shows us exactly what Tarantino’s greatness is. That is works on so many different levels and in the words of Jason Reitman, it was taking the film back to where it originally came from for him the characters “all sound(ed) like black dudes…”

On the list of the 500 Greatest Films of all Time by Empire Magazine, this film comes in at number 97 and has since won many awards at the independent film shows such as SIFA (Spirit Independent Film Awards) and YIFFF (Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival).

I think that one of the most memorable things about the film is the soundtrack. The song “Stuck in the Middle With You” by Stealers Wheel will constantly for the rest of history, be associated with this movie whether we like it or not. Go on, I dare you to listen to the song without thinking about the scene that goes along with it. Even if you haven’t seen the film, you know the scene.