True Romance [1993]

This is a great movie, a cool movie, a funny movie and an action movie. Directed by Tony Scott, one of the best (if not the best) action movie directors around, True Romance is the story of Alabama (Arquette) and Clarence (Slater) young newlywed lovers on the run with a stolen suitcase full of $5m worth of the mafia's coke, which they intend to sell. But as the old saying goes, the path to true love never runs smooth and a battle of wits ensues between Clarence, the police and the mob leading to a classic finale in this action packed film. As a whole, this movie works beautifully but on DVD it's even better because you can access all your favourite classic scenes that unmistakeably bare Tarantino's hallmark again and again. Such as the opening scene where the heterosexual Clarence (Slater) states that he'd sleep with Elvis if he were still alive, or the showdown between Clarence and dreadlocked gangster (Oldman). Or the showdown between the mob boss (Walken) and Clarence's Dad (Hopper). Classic scenes indeed, particularly the one with Walken and Hopper. It's hard to believe this movie was made back in 1993 because it's still as fresh, still as cool and still looks as enjoyable as it was back then. I just love this movie and if you haven't seen it yet I hope you will too.


A bona fide classic!!!   June 17, 2001
joel.vandenbroek@btinternet.com (London, England)
16 out of 18 found this review helpful

What can one say about True Romance? The film is absolute class. It has action, humour, a little depth and an unbelievable all star cast (there's Christopher Walken, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Dennis Hopper, even the guy who played Balki in that eighties comedy show Perfect Strangers). What probably adds to the greatness of the movie is the fact that it is Tony Scott directing, not Tarantino, who never really seems to get the best out of his own material when he is directing it himself, as he likes to fragment the narrative a little too much at times. True Romance, in the original script, kept on flashing back and forward a la Reservoir Dogs, but Tony Scott decided to make it linear and the movie is probably a lot tighter and better for it. I could not recommend this movie highly enough and the best thing about the DVD version is when it says it's uncut, that's exactly what it is, whereas the VHS version says it's uncut, when, in actuality, it has been cut pretty heavily.


Sometimes overlooked, but it shouldn't be   June 8, 2003
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

This underrated Quentin Tarantino written romantic-comedy-drama-action-thriller (insert genre as applicable!) finally gets the release that it deserves in a two disc special edition. Featuring three separate commentaries (director Tony Scott, stars Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette and writer Quentin Tarantino) as well as a second disc full of deleted scenes, behind the scenes footage and all the usual that you would expect from a set like this, it is an essential purchase for all fans of the film, of which I’m sure there are many because it is a work of rare genius.
Basically, this film has something for everyone, as long as you are not over-sensitive, as being scripted by Tarantino it does have its fair share of bad language and violence. It is funny, well scripted, action packed and has an absolutely stellar cast. The premise is that a newlywed couple Clarence and Alabama mistakenly pick up a suitcase full of drugs and flee to Los Angeles with the intention of selling it. Unfortunately, the case’s rightful owners, the Mafia, are in hot pursuit.
On its original cinematic release, the film was not a massive success, due in part to the negative publicity that surrounded what was seen as some over-the-top on screen violence. It is true that there is a scene where the demure Alabama is severely beaten by a Mafia goon (James Gandolfini aka Tony Soprano, so it’s a bit of a mismatch) but you shouldn’t let this put you off, as this is a fantastic film. In the ten years since it first came out, it has attracted a large cult following, and rightly so. If you missed it first time around, don’t make the same mistake again.


True Romance - Only in motorcity Detroit   October 24, 2003
sarah (england)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

This DVD exxceeded all my expectations!! I had never seen the film before and brought it under the conception that anything by tarantino is worth watching and is it ever!! Gary oldman as drexl the drug pedelling pimp of alabama (who's been a call girl for "exactly 3 days") is a classic bit of casting, brad pitt as floyd the druggie roomate and christopher walken as the scilian mafiosa are fantastic. The special features are well worth a look and anyone who enjoyed the film shouldn't miss out. But the ultimate addiction for me is the love and chemistry on set of clarence (christian slater) and alabama (patricia arquette) its stunning and outshines films such as natural born killers where violence takes the spotlight although there is plenty of it too say the least. Their love story takes twists and turns so unbelivable that you'd never belive that they'd survive which just leaves you praying that they will. this is definately one of my favorite films and i don't regret buying it for 1 moment. it will remain a classic, obviously not restrained by the stereotype, for a long time.


Fine, Tarantino inspired movie   July 31, 2003
Marco Busani (Edgware, London)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

This is a great action/romance movie that doesn't pull any punches. Congratulations, to director Tony Scott for assembling such an all star cast of quality actors for this film; very few obscures here, in fact many of the smallest parts are taken by big stars of the acting industry like: Christopher Walken, Samuel L.Jackson, James Gandolfini, Brad Pitt etc. The movie benefits from an excellent script created by Quentin Tarantino. The movie is fast-paced, soaked in violence and has some moments of real humour. The characters of Elliot Blitzer and Floyd provide many of the comic elements. The Q&A scene is one of the highlights of this film. It has some hilarious dialogue and is acted superbly by Chris Walken and Dennis Hopper. Walken plays the part of Mafia mobster Vince Coccotti and looks like evil incarnate. Furthermore, Christian Slater & Patricia Arquette play the lead roles of a lovestruck couple on the run and in peril very well. The notion of Clarence being inspired by the voice of Elvis in True Romance also functions finely. We even have Tony Soprano or should I say Virgil a mafia hitman played by James Gandolfini, thrown in to further spice things up. Chris Penn returns to team up with Tarantino again as Officer Dimes, having played the part of Nice Guy Eddie in Reservoir Dogs. The Special Edition Dvd is crammed with specials to complete the package. The 3 commentaries accompanying this dvd are all interesting to watch, you have a featurette, trailers,Tarantino's alternate ending, aswell as many deleted scenes. True romance doesn't disappoint and neither does the dvd,top marks.