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March 1995, Week 2

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Subject:
From:
Mikel Koven <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Film and TV Studies Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 13 Mar 1995 13:20:58 CST
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----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Idunno.
 
When I saw True Romance my thoughts were more along the line at how
poorly director Tony Scott (Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop II) understood
Tarantino's affection for Hong Kong action cinema, especially the cinema
of John Woo.  There was Wooesque iconography thoughout the film, which in
Tarantino's hands function as self-conscious homage (using two guns at
once, guns in each others faces, etc), but by virtue of the fact that
Scott probably never bothered to research Tarantino's sources (I think it
was T's first screenplay), does not understand why such icons are in the
script.  What Scott saw, and is manifested in his film, is the
superficial American action film, whereas Tarantino probably saw the
potential for True Romance to have the "violent art" cinema aesthetic
that Woo can achieve.  Tarantino achieves this in the films he can direct
himself.
 
Just some quick notes to avoid writing a paper for tomorrow.
 
Mikel Koven
 
On Sat, 11 Mar 1995, Eoin O Mahony, sociology PG wrote:
 
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Maybe the question that should be asked is:
>    Perhaps the director of True Romance wants to be LIKE Tarantino
> and that is why it is sick and macho etc.
> Eoin O Mahony
>

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