Violent R-Rated Crime Classic Introduced The World To A Master Director, Stream Without Netflix
These days, there are very few filmmakers who can inspire the kind of cinematic name-recognition necessary to draw massive crowds to the box office. One of the greatest directors of all time, however, seems to have no problem filling seats, even though he has only helmed a small handful of movies. The filmmaker in question, Quentin Tarantino, got his start with one of the greatest crime thrillers of all time in 1992’s Reservoir Dogs, and has only continued churning out classics ever since.
Quentin Tarantino’s Shocking Debut
For those interested in catching Reservoir Dogs, or those deeply in need of a rewatch, the film is currently streaming for free on Amazon Prime Video via Freevee. The movie serves as the feature film debut of Quentin Tarantino, who wrote and directed the claustrophobic classic while working in a video rental store in Southern California. Tarantino had always shared a deep interest in cinema, and studied the language of foreign films voraciously, resulting in his very first feature-length screenplay catching the attention of such Hollywood giants as Harvey Keitel.
A Heist Gone Terribly Wrong
The narrative of Reservoir Dogs centers on a gang of men with colorful aliases who struggle with the aftermath of a diamond heist gone horribly awry. After a brief introduction to the characters in one of the most incredible opening sequences of all time, the audience is thrust directly into the action, as the gang are spread out, injured, and reeling from a high-speed pursuit with the police. As the crew slowly begin to arrive at their planned rendezvous, an abandoned warehouse, they begin to suspect that someone amongst them is a rat working a sting operation for the federal government.
A Cinematic Assault On The Senses
As the ultra-violent plot of Reservoir Dogs unfolds, audiences are treated to a few well-choreographed shoot-outs, a couple of eye-opening flashback sequences, and even a disturbing yet visually creative torture scene, all set to an epic soundtrack under the title “K Billy’s Super Sounds of the 70s.” By the time the closing credits role on this classic 90-minute movie, you’ll be left with your jaw on the floor, and clamoring to see more from this at-the-time undiscovered talent named Tarantino.
An Instant Classic That Still Holds Up
The fast-paced plot, heady dialogue, and moving performances of Reservoir Dogs were immediately lauded by critics and fans alike, resulting in the film currently touting a 90 percent certified fresh critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite being filmed on a shoestring budget, which even required most of the performers to arrive in their own personal suits, the film still manages to look like a high-grade professional movie today, over 30 years after release.
Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Michael Madsen, and Tim Roth provide career-defining performances in Reservoir Dogs, with supporting actors such as Chris Penn, Lawrence Tierney, Edward Bunker, and Tarantino himself rounding out the cast.
Better Than Pulp Fiction?
Personally, I love everything about Reservoir Dogs, and still consider it to be one of Tarantino’s finest efforts to date. The fact that it’s a heist movie that never shows the heist is incredibly endearing, and the true story of the film’s rag-tag production only makes the professionalism on display more fascinating to me with every rewatch. Though I’m sure many viewers would be appalled by this ranking, I’m even content to list Reservoir Dogs above Pulp Fiction on my list of Tarantino classics.
Stream Reservoir Dogs On Amazon Prime’s Freevee
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If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of catching Reservoir Dogs, be sure to do yourself a massive favor and stream the film today on Amazon Prime Video via Freevee. Just be sure to tip your waitress if you decide to catch a bite before watching the film, lest you incur the wrath of service industry workers across the world.
