Reservoir Dogs is a film that grabs your attention from the very beginning and keeps it throughout. Director/writer/costar Quentin Tarantino made an amazing debut with this shockingly violent 1992 film featuring a superb cast.

Reservoir Dogs is the story of a group of thieves who are brought together by Joe (Lawrence Tierney) to rob a jewelry store. To keep their identities secret, the thieves refer to each other by colors and do not reveal their real names. The film begins with a discussion about the true meaning behind the Madonna song “Like A Virgin,” old names in address books, and the importance of tipping. Then the beginning credits roll, and we see the aftermath of the heist. We see Mr. White (Harvey Keitel) driving a car and Mr. Orange (Tim Roth), bloody and in pain after being shot, in the backseat. The two go to a warehouse, where they are eventually joined by Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi), who thinks they were set up by one of the group members. Finally Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) walks in. We are told that he went nuts in the store and started shooting everybody.

The survivors try to figure out who the rat is, but are sidetracked when Mr. Blonde shows them a surprise in the trunk of his car: a policeman he’s taken hostage. White, Pink, and Blonde figure maybe the cop can tell them who the rat is. But then Nice Guy Eddie (Christopher Penn), Joe’s son, joins them and orders Blonde to stay behind with the cop and the now-unconscious Mr. Orange, while Eddie, Pink and White go to find Joe.

This leads to the movie’s most disturbing scene, where Mr. Blonde tortures the policeman to the 1974 hit “Stuck in the Middle with You.” He slashes his face, cuts his ear off, and pours gasoline on him. Many people were understandably upset by this scene, and the film is definitely not for all tastes. But for those who can stand it, Reservoir Dogs is an excellent film and is probably the best debut since the Coen brothers Blood Simple.

The cast, led by Keitel, Roth, Buscemi, and Madsen, is superb, and they give each character his own personality. Tarantino himself has a supporting role as the doomed Mr. Brown. Keitel and Roth are the stars here and are excellent (both of them are fantastic actors). Madsen gives one of the movie’s best performances, making us see how deranged Mr. Blonde is. Buscemi is also amazing as always, and he won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actor for this film. Old movie tough guy Tierney has his best role since the 㣌s as Joe, and real-life bank robber Eddie Bunker rounds out the cast as Mr. Blue.

In addition to the great cast, the screenplay is excellent. There are lots of twists and turns, and we often see the effects before the causes. We never know what’s coming next. Because the film is not in chronological order (a method Tarantino repeated with his 1994 hit Pulp Fiction), it’s a little confusing at first, but by the end, everything is worked out. Reservoir Dogs also features great (often humorous) dialogue, like when Buscemi’s character is reluctant to be Mr. Pink. The film also asked the question, should you really tip waitresses when you don’t tip at McDonald’s?

The tenth anniversary DVD of this film features one of five different covers: Mr. White, Mr. Pink, Mr. Orange, Mr. Blonde, and Mr. Brown. The special features include the theatrical trailer, deleted scenes, cast interviews, tributes, K-Billy interactive radio, a documentary on the development of the action figures, and more. These special features make the DVD worth buying.

Young children or those who are easily upset by blood and gore should stay away from this film. But if you want to see a great film, this is one to try. Reservoir Dogs is witty, violent, and entertaining. Overall, I think Reservoir Dogs is an almost perfect film in all respects. The film is intelligent, gripping, hard-hitting entertainment that will stay with you long after you’ve seen it. It’s a must-see for any film fan. I highly recommend it.

Cool Facts Spoilers ahead!
On the DVD commentary, we find out that no one actually shot Nice Guy Eddie due to a shooting mistake and lack of time. Quentin Tarantino saw this as an opportunity and sold T-shirts asking the question, Who shot Nice Guy Eddie?

The “f” word is used over 200 times.

Mr. White’s name is revealed in the DVD version (it’s Lawrence Dimick).

Samuel L. Jackson reportedly auditioned for the role of Mr. Orange. He didn’t get it, but he was cast in Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction.

Rated R for violence and graphic language.

© LH 2004

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age