Directed By: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino, Harvey Keitel
Tag line: "One night is all that stands between them and freedom. But it's going to be a hell of a night"
Trivia: Tim Roth and Steve Buscemi were approached to play Pete Bottoms but neither could fit it into their schedules
I wish I had done things a bit differently before watching From Dusk Till Dawn.
I should have gone in cold, avoiding the trailer and all of those reviews that revealed important plot points. But I didn’t. I was fully aware of the film's big twist before sitting down to see it, and while I still love From Dusk Till Dawn, I can’t help but wonder what my reaction might have been if I didn't know what was coming.
Written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Robert Rodriguez, From Dusk Till Dawn is the story of the Gecko brothers, Seth (George Clooney) and Richie (Tarantino), a pair of outlaws wanted for, among other things, armed robbery and the killing of several Texas police officers.
Written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Robert Rodriguez, From Dusk Till Dawn is the story of the Gecko brothers, Seth (George Clooney) and Richie (Tarantino), a pair of outlaws wanted for, among other things, armed robbery and the killing of several Texas police officers.
Hoping to escape into Mexico, the brothers kidnap Jacob (Harvey Keitel), a former man of the cloth, and his two kids Kate (Juliette Lewis) and Scott (Ernest Liu), who are traveling in an RV. With the promise that he and his family will be released once the brothers are safely in Mexico, Jacob sneaks the Geckos across the border to an all-night biker bar, where Seth has arranged to meet some old friends.
Yet as they will learn all too quickly, this particular saloon, situated in the middle of nowhere, is far from your average hangout!
George Clooney, who at the time he appeared in From Dusk Till Dawn was also starring in the TV drama, ER, brings an intensity to Seth, coupled with a firm grasp on reality, something sorely lacking in his brother. As an actor, Tarantino has always had his detractors, yet here delivers one of his best performances as Richie, the psychopath following in his older brother’s footsteps. Of the two Geckos, his Richie is the more dangerous (he rapes and kills a bank teller they had taken hostage), and Tarantino perfectly conveys the character's disturbing nature.
George Clooney, who at the time he appeared in From Dusk Till Dawn was also starring in the TV drama, ER, brings an intensity to Seth, coupled with a firm grasp on reality, something sorely lacking in his brother. As an actor, Tarantino has always had his detractors, yet here delivers one of his best performances as Richie, the psychopath following in his older brother’s footsteps. Of the two Geckos, his Richie is the more dangerous (he rapes and kills a bank teller they had taken hostage), and Tarantino perfectly conveys the character's disturbing nature.
And if you like action, From Dusk Till Dawn has plenty of it, opening with a showdown at a convenience store in which the Geckos face off against a lawman (Michael Parks) and a cashier (John Hawkes) before finally burning the place to the ground.
As for what happens when the group walks into that bar in Mexico, It's best you experience that for yourself. I will tell you the second half of From Dusk Till Dawn features a handful of recognizable faces, including Cheech Marin, Fred Williamson, Tom Savini, Danny Trejo, and Salma Hayek, as well as a story twist so extreme it eclipses everything that went before it.
As for what happens when the group walks into that bar in Mexico, It's best you experience that for yourself. I will tell you the second half of From Dusk Till Dawn features a handful of recognizable faces, including Cheech Marin, Fred Williamson, Tom Savini, Danny Trejo, and Salma Hayek, as well as a story twist so extreme it eclipses everything that went before it.
I realize this twist has already been spoiled by a slew of others (As an FYI, it’s even featured in the trailer below, so beware), but on the off-chance there’s someone out there who hasn’t yet seen the movie, I have no intention of ruining what I believe is an amazing surprise.
And if you are one of those who have yet to see From Dusk Till Dawn… what are you waiting for?
And if you are one of those who have yet to see From Dusk Till Dawn… what are you waiting for?
3 comments:
This is one of my personal favorite movies. I'm glad I went into it without knowing anything about it, just saw Tarantino's and Clooney's names on Netflix and went after it thinking it would be some heist movie or something. I was pleasantly surprised at how entertaining it is.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, when I saw it: including Tarantino’s performance.
I might just have to rewatch it.
(Oh, the trailer doesn’t show up, here in my part of the UK.)
I adore the film "Dusk Till Dawn" Dave. I mean what's not to love slam,bam action aplenty! But when I bought the DVD the extras were outstanding best of all what has become my all-time favorite film commentary with #RobertRodriguez & #QuentinTarantino just straight shooting the shit talking about the film they co-wrote & made so well! Talk about feel like fly on the wall of this conversation between these guys! Gold pure golden moments!
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