No need to buckle up, Death Proof is stuck in the slow lane. Self-indulgent and uninspired, bankrollers Bob and Harvey Weinstein should have reined in Tarantino with a genuine Grindhouse-sized budget.
Death Proof (2007)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:33
Fresh:21
Rotten:12
Average Rating:5.7/10
Runtime: 1 hr 53 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis: Master director Quentin Tarantino (PULP FICTION) indulges his inner fanboy by paying homage to his favorite B-movies in DEATH PROOF. Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell) stalks beautiful women with his... Master director Quentin Tarantino (PULP FICTION) indulges his inner fanboy by paying homage to his favorite B-movies in DEATH PROOF. Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell) stalks beautiful women with his deadly vintage car, but when he picks a trio of tough girls (Rosario Dawson, Tracie Thoms, and Zoe Bell), he learns they aren't such easy prey. As with any Tarantino film, there are plenty of nods to pop culture. Most of the scenes are deliberately short on plot development, the dialogue comes thick and fast throughout, and the film stock is often cleverly manipulated to perfectly replicate the B-movie aesthetic. DEATH PROOF was originally released as part of the GRINDHOUSE double feature with Robert Rodriguez's PLANET TERROR. [More]
Starring: Kurt Russell, Rosario Dawson, Rose McGowan, Tracie Thoms
Starring: Kurt Russell, Rosario Dawson, Rose McGowan, Tracie Thoms, Zoe Bell, Quentin Tarantino, Eli Roth, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Screenwriter: Quentin Tarantino
Producer: Quentin Tarantino
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Reviews for Death Proof
Now with added lapdance, QT’s B-movie homage to cars and girls deploys its cheap thrills with laid-back craft and class. Russell’s wicked fun, Bell’s a true trooper. Distributors! Can we have Planet Terror now, please?
There's plenty of fun to be had with Death Proof, but its imitation of a defunct, low-budget style of movie-making is perhaps too accurate when it comes to the genre's flaws.
Smart attention is paid to some interesting tensions between old and new in areas as varied as pop culture, photography, effects work, automobile construction, telephony and audio recording technology.
Ladies and gentlemen, Quentin Tarantino presents Death Proof: another feature-length gimmick that chokes two screamingly good action sequences in a smog of self-indulgent, self-referential, self-satisfied flatulence.
Seriously entertaining American filmmaking and definitely not the half-serious pastiche it could easily have been. No seatbelt, no airbag, no nuthin’ — just Tarantino driving wildly under the influence.
Death Proof doesn't simply comment on its genre inspirations - it adds to their very legacy.
If you want to do this material justice... hold off on it until the release of Planet Terror and then watch them both together.
Tarantino has literally lost the plot, foregoing narrative drive for loquacious idling.
What's new in Death Proof? Well, a lot of jibber-jabber. It's Tarantino jibber-jabber -- quick and juicy and deadpan and blunt and baroque -- but it's jibber-jabber nonetheless, minor time-filler between a few moments of twisted-metal glory or twisted-hum
Despite some benefits in sequences that feature Zoe Bell, the new cut, which is 111 minutes (and not 127 as listed in the program), also brings to the surface weaknesses, resulting in a bloated, self-important picture.
Much of this material is terrific in purely cinematic terms; one of Tarantino's saving graces as a filmmaker is his often surprising capacity for contemplative moments and patches of plotlessness.
Although overall impact of Tarantino's homage to chick-driven actioners and auto demolition derbies remains about the same, pic's second half, in particular, benefits from the further detailing it's now received.
Latest News for Death Proof
July 27, 2009:
Five Favorite Films with Zoe Bell
Native New Zealander Zoe Bell spent years as an accomplished stunt double for Lucy Lawless of Xena: Warrior Princess before doubling for Uma Thurman on Quentin Tarantino's Kill... More...
March 13, 2008:
Top Ten Death Proof Exploitation Films: the films that wouldn’t die.
Exploitation films are B-grade gold for those who like it rough, sleazy and thrill-packed. More...
September 23, 2007:
Zoe Bell talks Death Proof with RT
The Kiwi stuntwoman gives us the scoop on Tarantino's latest. More...
September 21, 2007:
Quentin Tarantino Stimulated to Write Swedish Soft-Core Film
Quentin Tarantino has a penchant for reviving under-recognized genres. Next on his revivalist roster: Swedish Soft-Core. More...
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