Grindhouse
d. Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, 2007
I guess the "two directors for the price of one" fest continues. Not really much to say about this one, except that I really doubt I'll have more fun in a theater this year (unless I actually get to watch Lynch's Inland Empire. Pretty please.)This nostalgic and heartfelt piece of pop cinema is as perfectly-executed as one would have hoped. However, as there are two films by two very different directors with varying styles and approaches, comparisons are inevitable. On every count, Tarantino's Death Proof is superior to Rodriguez's Planet of Terror. The latter works fine as a "grindhouse" zombie film, but never engages on the same formal or narrative level as the former. Those calling Death Proof Tarantino's best film to date are not far off. Go see it; the three hours just fly by. It won't be as much fun on DVD.
