From Dusk Till Dawn Review
Written by: BlackTequilaKiss
Buckle up, sit back and prepare yourself…for…utter…UTTER…mayhem!! This is George Clooney being the bad-ass I know and love him for! This is the movie that shows him acting perfectly.
This IS the f*cking insaneness I want, desire and ultimately got!
As you can tell I adore From Dusk Till Dawn. It’s loud, brash, in your face and not afraid to speak the damn truth. This is entertainment, no frills; no holding back, just right at ya. From opening scene it is wham-bam, thank you ma’am! Darn it this movie just thrills me even thinking about it.
PLOT-
Seth Gecko and younger brother, Richard are on the run. Due to the fact that whilst they were in Texas the robbed a bank and things got bloody. Escaping across the border into Mexico they have two aims. Pay the local kingpin and start a new life. However things turn ugly when they hold a family hostage and everyone is forced to make a pit stop at the Titty Twister when the meeting with the kingpin is arranged for the morning. But first they will need to survive from dusk till dawn in the strip joint from Hell.
This movie is really among my favourite no-brainers along with many others. It takes minutes for the plot to exert itself and from that point on chaos ensues. Seriously it is just such fun (aside from a few darker scenes) which makes the time it is on fly by. To argue about the flaws is so irrelevant as the film is so kooky that the flaws actually fit perfectly.
CAST-
George Clooney (Seth Gecko):
He has done many, many movies but I have seen very few of his and FDTD remains one of his best in my opinion. Hardcore, fast-paced and insanely off his head Clooney is brilliant as Seth. However it is wonderful how he can go from being the usual him to a tender human being. There were many moments in this where the character shows a great deal of humanity and I loved how he managed that transgression. Clooney + FDTD= Genius.
Quentin Tarantino (Richard Gecko):
The guy is nuts! Lol this movie was my first leap into a film with Tarantino and he plays a creepy guy so well. He was made for this role. The naivety his character shows is the mark of a good actor. I loved his role especially the turning point inside the bar that was a lot of fun to behold! I do have a certain amount of respect for this guy because when he gives it his all, he rocks!
Special accolade as to go to Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis and Ernest Liu. Three admirable actors. Keitel is beautiful as Jacob, father of Kate and Scott. He plays the role well and is a magnificent atonement to the screen. Lewis is just fantastic, damn I love her attitude in this! For a teen she is smart, sassy and actually rather clever giving Clooney a run for his money.
Much respect. And then there is Liu, underrated in this flick because so much thought goes to the other primary actors. That said he does a great job playing a nervous wreck. Scared of what will happen to the family and sticking doggedly to what he believes in. Such a lovely actor that he was wonderful to watch on the screen.
Great chemistry and balance made this movie even more astounding for what it is worth.
ALL THE OTHER TITBITS-
Music: Fast and oh so furious! Energetic and full of life it cranked up the quieter moments. Just fast-paced fun that served a solid & great purpose!
Special effects & The Like: Ok let’s get the cat out of the bag. The vampire effects were nothing special but when you apply it to a movie with this kind of zest who cares!! It’s still impressive enough not to warrant ruining the movie.
The Gore: Oh paradise save me a seat, this IS what I am talking about! From the beginning moment in the Titty Twister until the last scene it is full of blood and various other limbs. It’s gory without destroying the pace of the film and darn I adore how in your face it is. They did not shy away in this film!
Lighting & Camerawork: The stark brightness of night in the aforementioned bar is a far cry from the soft linger of the sun at the end of the film. How they can make night and day look so unique is to the credit of all of the team on this film. Camerawork was shaky at times but yet in this movie it was welcomed not hindered by me. I thought it added a graininess and grit to a movie that was unconventional to say the least.
Basically this movie equals fun. Yes the vampires weren’t the best ever but with a storyline that worked well, characters who you actually give a damn for and some of the most memorable quotes in a movie seen, this was a bloody fantastic ride from start to end.
I can watch this movie again and again, it never gets old. This is one of those you have appreciate for it’s energy, wit and style that is devoid in many Hollywood movies of late. Put simply, a CORKER of a film.
Re-watch this if you have it, watch it if you haven’t and remember/ understand why this is such a fun movie to sit through.
An Absolute Blast!
BTK.