True Romance (1993) / Thriller

MPAA Rated: R for strong language
Running Time: 110 min.

Cast: Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt
Director: Tony Scott
Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino
Review published July 31, 1996

A young comicbook dealer (Slater, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves) falls in love and marries a young call girl (Arquette, Holy Matrimony) after killing her pimp. Unfortunately, he decides to steal a half million dollars worth of cocaine from his place before leaving and now they has some seriously determined and ruthless gangsters after them.

Finally, overblown director Tony Scott (Days of Thunder, Beverly Hills Cop II) hits the right notes with a crackling script by Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs), and a surprisingly effective performance by Christian Slater, all of whom I usually dislike.

Buoyed by a terrific supporting cast, the film is rarely uninteresting and is even less predictable. No, it's not Pulp Fiction, but it isn't far off.

Qwipster's rating:

©1996 Vince Leo