Reservoir Dogs
Quentin Tarantino ’s first movie , Reservoir Dogs , is one of the most timeless and acclaimed debut feature ever made . It help to revitalise American independent cinema in the former 1990s , and kicked off a hugely influential filmmaking career . Despite being the theatre director ’s first ever pic , bring about on a shoelace budget , Reservoir Dogsmanaged to round out the familiar Tarantino style from the offset .
From graphical violence to nonlinear storytelling to soundtrack acerate leaf - drops , Reservoir Dogsestablished many of Tarantino ’s directorial trademark decent out of the logic gate .
Nonlinear Narrative
Tarantino rarely tells his report in chronological order . Sometimes , it can be more interesting to bounce around the write up timeline . Reservoir Dogsopens before the heist , then jumps ahead to the backwash of the failed armed robbery .
After that , it goes back to explore the planning of the heist to show how an undercover cop superintend to infiltrate the gang before returning to the present for the blood - soaked fallout of finding out who the rat is .
Shocking Violence
Tarantino ’s movies are fix by their vehement depicted object , from an accidental gunshot to the face inPulp Fictionto a pedigree - drenched one - on-88 swordfight at the orgasm ofKill circular : bulk 1 .
audience got their first taste ofTarantino ’s stylised wildness inReservoir Dogs . Mr. White repeatedly kicks Mr. Pink before they both pull pistol on each other , magazines are emptied and gal of lineage is pour forth in a serial of gamey - octane police shootouts , and of course , in the film ’s most controversial succession , a police officer ’s ear is cut off with a straight razor .
Genre Archetypes Talk About Pop Culture
From the first scene ofReservoir Dogs , Tarantino define his take on genreby ground his archetypal character with a mundane discourse about pop culture . The movie open with the stealer discussing the signification of Madonna ’s “ Like a Virgin . ”
This monologue was the first of many pop finish computer address in Tarantino ’s films . It was followed by similar give-and-take about European McDonald ’s , the Delfonics , and the subtext ofKing Kong .
Going Undercover
Tarantino ’s stories often explore the link between go undercover and acting . InReservoir Dogs , Mr. Orange is told that an cloak-and-dagger cop needs to be “ Marlon f*****g Brando ” to convince criminals that he ’s one of them . The link between playact piece of work and clandestine oeuvre would later appear in a bunch of other Tarantino flick .
InPulp Fiction , Jules tells Vincent to “ get into character ” before a strike . InInglourious Basterds , Allied spies go cloak-and-dagger with a German movie star in a Nazi legal community . InDjango Unchained , Dr. Schultz tells Django , “ You ’re going to be playing a character reference , ” before they head up to the Candyland grove .
Soundtrack Juxtaposition
Tarantino is not only famous for including phonograph needle - drops on his soundtracks ; those needle - drops are often tonally at odds with what ’s on - screen door . The upbeat “ Nobody But Me ” by the Human Beinz plays over the encounter at the House of Blue Leaves inKill Bill : Volume 1 .
InReservoir Dogs , Stealers Wheel ’s breezy , lighthearted pop murder “ Stuck in the Middle with You ” plays over a grim twisting scene . After the shocking climactic shootout , the soothing go ofHarry Nilsson ’s novelty song “ Coconut”carry the audience into the conclusion credit .
Dancing
Despite how dark and wild Tarantino ’s film are , they also feature mickle of dancing . InReservoir Dogs , Mr. Blonde dances around the warehouse while he tortures a cop .
Tarantino went on to germinate a bunch more dance sequences : Vincent Vega and Mia Wallace take part in the Jack Rabbit Slim ’s dance contest inPulp Fiction , Simone dancing for Louis Gara inJackie Brown , and Arlene gives Stuntman Mike a circuit saltation inDeath Proof .
Killers In Black Suits
One of the most iconic aspects ofReservoir Dogsis the costume design . All the thief get into mordant courting to the diamond heist . This look became a defining visual trademark of Tarantino ’s motion picture .
InPulp Fiction , Jules and Vincent endure interchangeable opprobrious suits to deport out their hits . InKill Bill , the Crazy 88 ’s wore black suits when they confront the Bride in the House of Blue Leaves .
Trunk Shot
Whenever one of Tarantino ’s characters looks in the trunk of their car , he places the camera in the trunk , looking up at them . Reservoir Dogsestablishes this trope when Mr. Blonde takes Mr. White and Mr. Pink out to his car and pop start the trunk . Here , the trunk ’s P.O.V. is used to shroud the reveal of the kidnapped cop inside .
This was just the first of many tree trunk shots in Tarantino ’s films . He would go on to utilize this technique when Jules and Vincent take out their guns inPulp Fiction , when Ordell state Beaumont to get in the bole inJackie Brown , and when the Bride talks to a kidnapped Sofie Fatale at the end ofKill Bill : book 1 .
Borrowing From Other Movies
Quentin Tarantino ’s picture are fiercely original , but they ’re also pastiche of subsist movies . Reservoir Dogsestablished this court - repel styleright away . The story of a holdup conk out wrong is an court toThe Killing , while the conflict of an cloak-and-dagger cop among thief is taken fromCity on Fire .
The film ’s minimalist visual flair was charm by Jean - Pierre Melville , ear - sever as a means of torment is a nod toDjango , and the crimson Stealers Wheel singalong was inspired by the unnerving “ Singin ’ in the Rain ” scene fromA Clockwork Orange .
Armed Standoff
As Joe suspect Mr. Orange of being the undercover copper and Mr. White sticks up for him , Reservoir Dogsculminates in an armed standoff . This ended up becoming a recurring figure throughout Tarantino ’s next few movies .
There ’s an armed standoff in a diner at the end ofPulp Fiction , in a hotel room in the final flashback sequence ofKill Bill : Volume 2 , and in a cellar at the tail final stage of the “ Name Game ” scene inInglourious Basterds .
NEXT:10 Tarantino Trademarks In Pulp Fiction
