“I haven’t killed anybody since 1984…” – Vincent Coccotti
One may love to ponder what True Romance would’ve looked like if Quentin Tarantino kept hold of his script, or maybe even what Reservoir Dogs (1992) would’ve looked like if director Tony Scott had purchased that script instead. Maybe in another reality that would have come to pass and both movies would’ve still flourished if they had switched hands. But for me both of these scripts fell into the right hands, and can earnestly proclaim that they remain two of my all-time favourites.
True Romance tells the serendipitous story of Clarence (Christian Slater) and Alabama (Patricia Arquette). Clarence is a geeky comic-book clerk who discusses his love for Elvis and kung fu films, and Alabama a hooker for hire who is equal measure bimbo and badass. Their tale of true love quickly spiralling into tribulation when a stash of stolen cocaine attracts the mob, the FBI and a big-time movie producer. The couple flee the dangers of Detroit with cocaine in hand and head for California to use the stolen goods as leverage to fund a new life for themselves.
True Romance serves up a smorgasbord of razor-sharp dialogue, heart-pounding action, and a love story that can only be described as beautifully chaotic. Despite not directing, Tarantino’s trademark writing style is still firmly in tact, but is given the elevation from the vision of veteran director Tony Scott, whose flamboyancy and bubble gum flourish gives True Romance the look and design to really make it pop. Scott also flips the script from a non-linear narrative – which would become the staple structure to much of Tarantino’s early work, and a different finale.
Clarence and Alabama are the real driving force of the movie’s central story. Their reckless romance setting the stage for some sensational scenarios, with ‘The Sicilian Scene’ – which pits the acting power of Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper, as a real show-stopper. Scott also enlisting an ensemble cast majorly consisting of big actors playing bit parts, with Gary Oldman as a dreadlock donning pimp Drexl, Tom Sizemore and Chris Penn as a pair of federal agents, James Gandolfini demonstrating why he was perfect for the role of Tony Soprano years before it even become a thing and Samuel L. Jackson, Val Kilmer and Brad Pitt in roles so small if you blink you might just miss them.
But that’s what I enjoy most about revisiting this rambunctious and ultra violent affair. It’s effortlessly alluring and the directing/writing duo of Scott and Tarantino works tremendously. Every actor has their role to play (even if very small) and no character, scene or exchange ever feels wasted. Its vintage vibrancy still looks as great as ever and Hans Zimmer’s score still electrifies. True Romance, even thirty years on you’re STILL so cool.
Critical Clay 