MOVIES DE ATH PR OOF

‘I want my movies to last for a hundred years. Two hundred years if the technology exists!’ Quentin Tarantino (QT to his pals) isn’t famous for his humility. In fact, meeting the director in the flesh is like being strapped into the 1969 Dodge Charger that roars through his latest film, Death Proof, a seat-of-your pants thrill-ride with a wild- eyed driver at the wheel.

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www.blockbuster.co.uk/preview JANUARY 2008 | 19 MOVIES DEATH PROOF

Pacing around his Hollywood hotel room in DEATH PROOF 18 jeans, T-shirt and beanie hat, QT is an electric Strap yourself in, it’s presence. ‘I know that there’s some girl or boy But it’s hard to take QT’s going to be a bumpy ride who isn’t born yet, and when they are 13, political statements seriously, they’re gonna see one of my movies and go, as moments later he’s enthusing Rent/Buy 14 January ‘Wow! That was really cool, man! I wanna see about cool car chases. ‘One of Stars Kurt Russell, Rosario Dawson, something else by this guy!’ the fun things about doing Death Rose McGowan, Zoe Bell So is QT his own biggest fan? Hardly. Ever Proof was trying to do one of the Director Quentin Tarantino since Reservoir Dogs exploded onto screens in best car chase scenes ever. It was Perfect for Hot rodders, adrenalin 1992, Tarantino has had an army of admirers exciting because I‘d never done junkies and thrill seekers who adore his snappy dialogue, cool retro that before, and that’s a scary sounds and ultra-violence. Death Proof is his place to put yourself. It was the Always one to wear his heart on pastiche of the slasher movies that filled the LA same thing in Kill Bill, where his sleeve, this full throttle action video store where he wrote his first scripts. I’d never done martial arts stuff, movie pays homage to Tarantino’s ‘I always knew I wanted to do a ‘70s-style but had to teach myself.’ beloved Grindhouse movies of the Grindhouse film,’ he says. ‘Those high-octane Tarantino has a history of ‘70s (stuffed with car chases, things looked a blast and were always a real resuscitating the careers of fading violence and buxom ladies wearing buzz. I couldn’t wait to see them when they Hollywood stars, with 1994’s Pulp skimpy outfits). But where the came out. So the starting point for Death Proof Fiction catapulting both Bruce original flicks was the idea of making a slasher film, but not Willis and John Travolta back into were badly just a guy in a mask with a knife or machete.’ the A-list. ‘There are all these scripted and terrific actors I’d like to work badly acted , this Fast cars and faster girls! with,’ he says. ‘When you give gem positively Despite Death Proof’s storyline – the deranged them a good role – especially if sparkles. Stuntman Mike attacks beautiful women with a they haven’t been doing stuff Tarantino has super-charged car – its strong female roles turn that’s inspiring – man, you get a always been a stereotypes on their head. ‘The women are bad commitment and a passion from master of dialogue and this is no assed,’ Tarantino explains. ‘My women stand up them you could never get from different. Except that the for themselves. I don’t consider that a male anybody else. It’s like they’re a characters spouting the pop trait; it’s a human trait. I’m proud of my female fish and they’re drinking water culture witticisms and pedantic characters, because they’re feminine and they for the first time in years.’ diatribes this time are women. talk like real women.’ Kurt Russell is Stuntman Mike, a psychotic driver who lures nubile beauties into his car, where they OUTLINE Swirc/CORBIS © Patrick Momentum Pictures, Allstar, soon come to a grisly end. But with a group of feisty stunt women has he met his match? It may be trashy fun but the final car chase is heart-in-mouth stuff and it’s done with true affection. The result is one of the most entertaining movies you are likely to see – until Tarantino gives us something else to watch.

DID YOU KNOW • Zoe Bell was the stunt double for Uma Thurman in Kill Bill and does all her own stunts in this movie

20 | JANUARY 2008 Pacing around his Hollywood hotel room in jeans, T-shirt and beanie hat, QT is an electric If Death Proof whets your appetite for a ’70s car chase, these classic movies are all available for rental online at www.blockbuster.co.uk

‘A fun thing about B u lli t t Steve McQueen was never Death Proof was trying better than as Frank Bullitt – the epitome of cop against to do the best car chase ever’ the system. San Francisco looks amazing during the movie’s crowning moment, Forbidden fruit! an astonishing chase that sees muscle Did he set out to help Kurt Russell in cars hurtling around the city’s streets the same way? ‘Kurt understands the in the Deep South. ‘I call it a at speeds of up to 150mph. Hollywood that Stuntman Mike “Southern”, he says, ‘I want to knows,’ QT reveals. ‘I said to him: deal with America’s horrible Th e Fre n ch Conn e c tion “You’ve played a real rogue’s gallery past with slavery, but do it like Gene Hackman won an Oscar for his of characters and I want to add a a genre film. I want to address performance as narcotics cop Popeye Doyle special one to your shelf.”’ everything the country has in this gritty, documentary- Of course, Death Proof wouldn’t be never dealt with because it’s like thriller based on a true a Tarantino film without a splattering ashamed. I think I’m the man to story. Don’t miss the of gore. But QT isn’t apologising: do it.’ There’s the characteristic exhilarating sequence in ‘I don’t think my films are too violent, QT modesty again. which Jimmy races an or influence people to be violent. Is there time for acting with elevated train in his car – I don’t think either sex or violence all this directing? Tarantino gets into oncoming traffic. in films is harmful, except when it serious again: ‘I want to make comes to children. And that’s up to movies. I have to make movies. D u e l parents to expose them or not. But The reason I don’t make more This thrilling movie from it’s all part of childhood. Part of is that when I make one it’s an Steven Spielberg is one growing up is looking at what you’re adventure,’ he says, fizzing with long car chase – simple but not supposed to look at, the energy. ‘But when I get through unbelievably effective. excitement of the forbidden fruit.’ with it, I get back to my friends Dennis Weaver stars as Tarantino’s next projects are a and the opposite sex and Mann, a driver who finds World War II film called Inglorious everything I’ve put on hold for a himself being relentlessly Bastards and a Spaghetti Western set year. I try and get some sleep.’ pursued by a truck driver who’s intent With all that energy to control? on killing him. That ’s it. Brilliant. Good luck, QT... The G e t away ★ Most Rented Quentin Tarantino Violent and chock-full of action, Sam Peckinpah’s superb heist thriller stars 2005 Sin City (guest director) Steve McQueen as a convict 2005 Kill Bill Volumes 1 & 2 who makes a deal with a corrupt cop. Needless to 1994 Pulp Fiction say things don’t go well, 1992 Reservoir Dogs and he soon finds himself on the run – from both the cop and a gang of crooks.

JANUARY 2008 | 21 MOVIES DEATH PROOF

SMALL TALK

Kurt Russell has had his share of ups and downs in a long and colourful movie career, but he says he wouldn’t have it any other way

Tell us about your How authentic is all the ★ Mo s t Rent ed Kurt Rus s ell character in Death Proof. film’s crazy driving? 2006 Poseidon I to o k o n e wo rd a n d ra n w i t h There are no special effects – it – coward. Stuntman Mike is j u st p e o p l e d r i v i n g ca rs . A s 1982 The Thing a guy who kills women. I think my c h a ra cte r says : ‘ Rea l ca rs 1981 Escape from New York i t’s t h e co re o f a l l p syc h o - d r i ve n by rea l st u p i d p e o p l e ’ . k i l l e r c h a ra cte rs. H e’s a b a d , What ’s your ambition? b a d p syc h o j o b, b u t a l s o l o ts What was getting beaten To ca r r y o n wo r k i n g fo r o f f u n to p l ay. up by three women like? a s l o n g a s I ca n , d o i n g a s I k n ew w h a t I wa s g e tt i n g m a n y d i f fe re n t k i n d s o f Do you have anything in i n to. M y h o p e wa s t h a t I ro l e s a n d n e w c h a l l e n g e s common with him? co u l d m a ke i t s o t h a t wo m e n a s p o ss i b l e. I l ove w h a t W h e n I wa s yo u n g e r, I d i d i n t h e a u d i e n ce wo u l d I d o n ow – I t h i n k i t st u n ts w i t h h o rs e s a n d t h e n s c rea m a n d h o l l e r a n d sto m p m u st b e a r re ste d w i t h ca rs , b e ca u s e I u s e d to a n d c h e e r – a n d t h ey d o. d eve l o p m e n t to d r i ve ca rs s e r i o u s l y. I ra ce d re m a i n a s to t a l l y a s a yo u n g g u y a n d wo n s i x Are you proud of e n t h u s i a st i c a s N a t i o n a l s a n d o n e Wo r l d your career? I a m . Pe r h a p s a C h a m p i o n s h i p. Ra c i n g wa s a I ’ve m a d e s o m e b a d c h o i ce s . d o cto r w i l l te l l p o ss i b l e ca re e r fo r m e, b u t S o m e b o d y o n ce s a i d to m e : m e t h a t . t h e n I c h o s e b a s e b a l l a n d ‘ Yo u r ca re e r l o o k s l i ke i t wa s fo c u s e d o n t h a t i n ste a d . T h e co n t ro l l e d by a d r u n k d r i ve r.’ st u n t wo r l d wa s o n e t h a t I A n d t h a t’s a ct u a l l y t r u e. I t’s wa s a l re a d y ve r y c l o s e to, a s f u n n y, i t’s ca re l e ss , i t’s b e e n b a c k i n t h o s e d a ys , t h e m o re o u t o f co n t ro l . I ca n ’t d e n y i t . st u f f yo u co u l d d o a s a st u n t B u t I e n j oy t h e f u n o f i t . k i d , t h e m o re wo r k yo u g o t . ‘I’m getting old but at least I look like I’ve lived a life. My face shows it and I realise that’

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