True Romance: Director's Cut

Film Review: True Romance Directed by Tony Scott and penned by Quentin Tarantino, True Romance is a wild, unapologetic ride through the highs and lows of love, crime, and chaos. This cult classic blends Tarantino’s signature razor-sharp dialogue and knack for pop culture references with Scott’s stylish and polished direction, creating a film that is equal parts romance, action, and dark comedy. The Story The plot follows Clarence Worley (Christian Slater), a lonely comic book store clerk, and Alabama Whitman (Patricia Arquette), a vivacious call girl, as they fall head over heels in love after a serendipitous encounter. Their whirlwind romance leads them into a dangerous spiral when Clarence kills Alabama’s pimp (a memorably sleazy Gary Oldman) and the couple accidentally acquires a suitcase full of cocaine. Determined to start a new life, they head to Hollywood to sell the drugs, but their plan soon draws the attention of the mafia, the police, and a host of colorful criminals. Performances Slater and Arquette deliver performances brimming with chemistry, grounding their characters in sincerity despite the heightened, often absurd circumstances. Slater’s Clarence is a mix of cocky bravado and naive optimism, while Arquette’s Alabama is luminous, oscillating between wide-eyed innocence and ferocious loyalty. Together, they create one of cinema’s most unconventional and endearing couples. The supporting cast is equally magnetic. Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper share a nerve-wracking, darkly comic interrogation scene that has become legendary for its tension and dialogue. Brad Pitt provides comic relief as Floyd, a perpetually stoned roommate, while James Gandolfini’s portrayal of a ruthless mob enforcer is chillingly effective. Style and Direction Tony Scott brings his characteristic glossy aesthetic, contrasting Tarantino’s gritty, often brutal script with vibrant visuals and dynamic action sequences. The film’s pacing is relentless, driven by Hans Zimmer’s hauntingly playful score, which incorporates Carl Orff’s “Gassenhauer.” This musical motif underscores the film’s tone: sweet, but with a sharp edge. Scott also deftly handles the violence, making it shocking but never gratuitous. The climactic Mexican standoff is an explosive payoff, exemplifying the film’s blend of black comedy and suspense. Themes At its core, True Romance is a love story, albeit one wrapped in the trappings of a crime thriller. Clarence and Alabama’s relationship serves as a counterpoint to the chaos around them, offering a glimpse of hope amidst the violence. The film also explores themes of fate, loyalty, and the lengths one will go to for love. Legacy Though not a box office success upon release, True Romance has since garnered a dedicated following, praised for its offbeat charm and unforgettable characters. It is a testament to the power of collaboration, marrying Scott’s cinematic flair with Tarantino’s distinct voice. Verdict True Romance is a frenetic and stylish film that stands out for its unique tone and unforgettable characters. With its mix of dark humor, visceral action, and tender romance, it is a must-watch for fans of crime dramas and unconventional love stories.

This is one my favourite films, one of those which can be watched as many times as we want, without ever getting old... Below, more of my impressions, with some limited SPOILERS. Clarence (Christian Slater) is a rather pathetic guy, with a rather pathetic job and a rather pathetic life. But he is special in one particular way - the Devil likes him and comes sometimes to visit and chat with him and because Clarence is a fanatical Elvis fan, well, to humour him the Devil takes the shape of Elvis Presley. There is no rational explanation for the Devil liking Clarence - and very exceptionally there is no strings attached in their strange relationship. The Devil simply likes Clarence ("I like you Clarence. Always did - always will"). Period. Then one day Clarence meets Alabama (Patricia Arquette). They immediately fall in love, marry the next day and decide to go on honeymoon. But before that Clarence must just go recover Alabama's suitcase containing all her earthly belongings - and that will start a sequence of events which will then continue until the extremely dramatic, bloody and brilliant great finale... The scenario of this 1993 film was written by Quentin Tarantino when he was at the beginning of his career and therefore at the top of his creativity, just after "Reservoir Dogs" and just before "Pulp Fiction" - and Tony Scott used every ounce of genius this scenario contains and as result made what is without question his most brilliant movie (yes, I prefer this one to "Top Gun" - even if they really do not belong to the same categories)! This film is extremely violent and also full of very strong language but all this notwithstanding this is basically a comedy, albeit a very dark one. The brilliance of dialogs and gags is stressed even more by the incredible casting. Other than the two actors already cited, in this film we can also see: Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken, Val Kilmer, Brad Pitt, Samuel L. Jackson, James Gandolfini, Chris Penn, Tom Sizemore, Michael Rapaport and Saul Rubinek. They all give great show but it is Brad Pitt who tops them all, even if his appearance is very short - his character, Floyd, is such a stoner, that he probably has pot smoke in his veins rather than blood...))) I never saw a better "weed moment" on the screen EVER! Saul Rubinek plays here a drug trafficker, not exactly the kind of role he is associated with - but he is INCREDIBLE! In fact his character, Lee Donowitz, is a really scary guy... The "Sicilian scene", in fact a conversation between Dennis Hooper and Christopher Walken, became since then a myth in its own. The Patricia Arquette vs. James Gandolfini confrontation also acquired since then a mythical status, as probably one of the most infamous overkills in the history of the cinema... And finally there is Drexl the Pimp, the character played by Gary Oldman - well, this actor enjoys playing weirdoes and sleazes, but rarely he has the occasion to play SUCH a sleazy weirdo... Bottom line, this is an ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE, made of dark humour, violence and strong language, with special appearance by Elvis "Devil" Presley... To buy, watch and keep! ENJOY!

No esperaba que fuera la versión de paquete especial! Trae un libro de ilustraciones un póster doble vista y postales también y el precio es un tercio de la que costaría comprarla directo en arrow video

The first time I saw this film it went straight into my top 5. 20 years later and my opinion hasn't changed. Directed by Tony Scott and written by Quinton Tarantino. Great film.

Tutto perfetto e puntualissimi

Mon avis sera un avis sur le film, et non pas sur le dvd lui-même comme je ne l'ai pas encore reçu. La première fois que j'ai voulu voir ce film, c'était pour les acteurs : Christian Slater, Dennis Hopper, Tom Sizemore, Christopher Walken (entre autres), mais aussi et surtout Val Kilmer et ... Brad Pitt !! Ca marche toujours quand on me prend par les sentiments ! Certes il est vrai qu'on ne les voit pas beaucoup, mais leur interprétation vaut vraiment le détour : Brad Pitt en gars défoncé toute la journée et qui ne quitterait son canapé pour rien au monde et Val Kilmer en Elvis... Franchement, la classe ! Sans oublier le copain de C. Slater et colocataire de B. Pitt (l'apprenti comédien) et son copain du métier, l'excellent Bronson Pinchot. Mais au-delà de ca, quand on voit ce film, on ne peut qu'être dedans du début à la fin. L'histoire de ce jeune homme interprété par C. Slater fou de films ninja et d'Elvis (au point de nous dire qu'il aurait voulu coucher avec lui) qui rencontre la femme de sa vie en la personne de Patricia Arquette (resplendissante presque du début à la fin) une jeune femme romantique mais call-girl et qui va tout faire pour l'écarter de ce chemin, notamment en l'épousant est géniale et passionnante. Ca n'aurait pû qu'être une histoire d'amour entre deux paumés mais la mort du mac de la call-girl et une valise pleine de coke changent la donne. Je ne vais peut-être pas non plus raconter tout le film, mais juste vous dire, comme le titre l'indique, que c'est à la fois un film « dur » : les méchants comme les gentils se font tuer ou tirer dessus ou encore tabasser, mais aussi un film incroyablement tendre et poétique. Ce qui m'a fait le plus craquer est la musique du début mais aussi la voix off de P. Arquette à la fin du film. C'est aussi un film plein d'espoir car on se rend compte que même si la vie ne vous a pas épargné, vous rencontrez ou pouvez quand même rencontrer la personne qui est faite pour vous sur ce bas monde. Et même si ce n'est pas facile tous les jours, tant que l'amour est là on peut tout supporter et la vie finit par s'embellir. Tout ca pour dire que ce film m'a tout simplement émue, et j'espère que ce sera pareil pour plein d'autres personnes qui le visionneront. Merci pour la sortie en dvd de ce film, parce que je l'attendais vraiment avec impatience et maintenant c'est fait. Je pense vraiment que je ne serais pas décue vu tous les bonus qui sont proposés. Et je comprends qu'il se situe en première position du classement des ventes de dvd sur Amazon, car c'est vraiment la place qu'il mérite !

One of my favorite movies. Patricia Arquette is a hot, badass, romantic. You cant ask for anything better. One of Tarantino's first movies.