Reservoir Dogs A Cult Film example essay topic

1. A cult film. It is a known fact that taste in movies is something that is different for every person. But that doesn't mean people can't agree on anything in this matter. Some films capture the hearts of many people all over the world, and are loved and remembered by all. These films deserve a place in history books.

We refer to them as 'Classics'. e.g. Citizen Kane, Casablanca, The Godfather... Of course not all films that are viewed by millions of people are classics. Some film producers like Jerry Bruckheimer are known to produce action-packed, hyped up, commercial films with low artistic value and make billions of dollars. These films are called box office hits, because their main success is at the box office. e.g. Pirates of the Caribbean, American Pie, Titanic... But what exactly is a cult hit?

Cambridge advanced learner's dictionary defines 'cult' as someone or something that has become very popular with a particular group of people. What is a particular group of people you might ask. Well the answer to that question can be traced back to the beginning of the art of cinematography. Since the beginning of cinema there have been film fans and film fanatics.

The latter were - and still are - those who live and die for movies, people who see five new films a week. These people are what one would call 'particular'. They are no longer satisfied by the average Hollywood movie. They want something special, something that sets the film above others.

But what exactly makes 'Reservoir Dogs' a cult film? 2. Tarantino In January of 1991 a film titled Reservoir Dogs (1992) hit the Sundance Film festival. The writer-director was a first-timer by the name of Quentin Tarantino.

The film garnered critical acclaim and the director became a legend in the England, UK and the cult film circuit. The fact that it was directed by Tarantino was enough to make sure this movie would be one. Of course this did not happen over night: after having seen his three first films it became clear that he had some trademarks of his own that made his movies original. o There is always a long pointless conversation that is remotely or not at all relevant for the course of the movie. e.g. 'the Madonna conversation' in the beginning sequence of 'Reservoir Dogs', 'the the differences of European fast food conversation' in 'Pulp Fiction'... o He always ads a Dutch element to his films: o The opening tune, Little Green Bag, in Reservoir Dogs was performed by George Baker and written by Jan Ger brand Visser and Benjamin Bouw ens who are all Dutch. The character Freddy Newandyke, played by Tim Roth is a direct translation to a typical Dutch last name, Nieuwendijk. The code name of Tim Roth is Mr. Orange, the royal colour of Holland, and the last name of the royal family. o During the Amsterdam conversation in 'Pulp Fiction', Vincent Vega smokes from a Dutch tobacco shag (Samson), o The mentioning of Rutger Hauer in Jackie Brown. o The Bride's name in 'Kill Bill' is Beatrix, the name of the Dutch Queen. o His films will often include one long, unbroken take where a character is followed around somewhere. o e.g. while torturing the cop, we follow Mr. Blonde continuously from the warehouse to his car outside, back into the warehouse again. o He often uses an unconventional storytelling device in his films, such as retrospect (Reservoir Dogs), non-linear (Pulp Fiction), or 'chapter' format (Kill Bill). o Aliases: Tarantino uses aliases in nearly all of his movies: Honey Bunny and Pumpkin from Pulp Fiction, Mr White, Blonde, Orange etc. from Reservoir Dogs. Bill's team in Kill Bill (Black Mamba, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, and California Mountain Snake) o The Mexican Standoff: All of Tarantino's movies (including True Romance (1993) which he only wrote and did not direct) feature a scene in which three or more characters are pointing guns at each other at the same time.

3. Reservoir Dogs The story is about a gang of thieves who carry out an armed robbery on a diamond warehouse. The police are after them so quickly that they suspect they have a rat in their company. This film starts right after the robbery, with flashbacks to before the robbery, and to the planning of the crime. We are also introduced to the main characters in flashback mode. The title for the film comes from a combination of two other movies.

Tarantino, who was not very good at speaking French, always referred to 'Au revoir les enfants (1987) ' as 'that Reservoir movie'. He also is a big Sam Peckinpah fan, and likes his film 'Straw Dogs (1971) '. So he combined the two titles to get 'Reservoir Dogs'. The plot and many scenes are taken from Hong Kong director Ringo Lam's movie 'Long hu feng yu (1987) ', which stars Yun-Fat Chow and Danny Lee. Tarantino says it is one of his favourite films. There are a few legendary scenes in this movie that are known by film fans all over the world. o The legendary Ear scene: Mr. Blonde tortures a police officer who is tied up to a chair.

He cuts the man's ear off and beats him up. All of this happens while he is dancing to the song 'stuck in the middle with you' of Stealer's Wheel. o Mr. White and Mr. Pink have a discussion while pointing their guns at each other..