True Romance (1993)

True Romance is loaded with a lot of eye candy that can easily lead to high expectations. As the credits roll by, favorite actors like Sameul L. Jackson and Christopher Walken roll by. The cast sort of flips the expected line up in reverse, putting Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette in the lead roles, and actors like Brad Pitt and Gary Oldman make brief appearances as minor, insignificant characters like a pimp and a pothead. Perhaps this was a strong creative decision, or maybe, this film was released during a time where Slater and Arquette were more potentially famous?

Either way, True Romance harnesses everything a man would prefer to see in a romance movie; sex, drugs, and lots of violence. The film begins in Detroit, where it shows off the cold, desolate feel of urban Michigan in the winter. Christian Slater plays oddly interested, yet street wise man named Clarence, who is searching for some kind of companionship. He finds it unexpectedly in a call girl named Alabama that his boss sets her up with. The two develop instant chemistry, which develops mostly into a sexual relationship. He takes it upon himself to "free" Alabama from her pimp, Drexl. This is where the film begins to show a level of aggression that Tony Scott delivers unexpectedly well.

From then on, the plot centers around a briefcase full of cocaine Clarence finds upon killing Drexl, and how selling it will supposedly make their dreams come true. The movie picks up again in Los Angeles, where they submerge themselves even more into a world of crime-driven movie producers and actors to set up a deal. They room with aspiring actor Dick Ritchie (Michael Rapaport) who provides some comic relief attachment to the couple. The plot concludes with producers, actors, cops and the Italian mob engagening in a huge shoot-fest.

There was lots of physical humor and smoothing talking, which is probably what causes me to show this one off to the unsuspecting Tarantino fans. I also really liked Val Kilmer as Clarence's Elvis-impersonating conscience.