Sometimes, you stumble upon a delightful form of coincidence. Recently, I decided to revisit the classic Reservoir Dogs (1992). The last time I watched the film was probably fifteen years ago when I first picked up the DVD. Not even two days after recently revisiting this Tarantino classic, I spotted the special 2-disc edition at a thrift store. Naturally, I couldn’t pass it up.
The Perfect Length for a Film
Reservoir Dogs is, for me (and probably many other adults), already a perfect film when you consider its runtime of just 88 minutes. Let’s face it, who has the time for a two-and-a-half or three-hour movie when there’s work the next day, or when you’re not exactly swimming in free time due to family responsibilities? No one, right?! Furthermore, it’s quite an achievement to craft such a fantastic film in such a short amount of time, despite the fairly simple plot.
Revisiting Reservoir Dogs: Focusing on the Details
However, it can be challenging to rewatch a film like this. You’re already aware of the plot twist at the end. So, you end up focusing on other things, like the acting performances, the dialogues, and other standout moments. For instance, I find Tim Roth’s performance to be almost otherworldly, and Harvey Keitel shines as a fantastic actor. And what about that conversation about tipping culture in the United States, where one of the Mr.’s refuses to pay the tip? Simply brilliant!
The Charm of a Single Location Film
The entire film takes place (almost) entirely in one location, and Reservoir Dogs is still a joy to watch. It unfolds in a time when the internet and mobile phones hadn’t yet made their mark, which makes it even more charming.
A World Without Instant Identity Checks
At that time, it was quite difficult to know who you were dealing with because you couldn’t easily verify someone’s identity online. That meant you had to have met in real life to know who you were dealing with. Today, that seems hard to imagine, but it fits perfectly within the world of the early ‘90s. It was a charming time when there was seemingly so much less to fear. Almost as charming as when every movie buff had a big shelf full of DVDs to choose their next adventure from. I’m glad I picked up that special edition of Reservoir Dogs.
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