True Romance (1993) – Film Review

Director: Tony Scott:
Cast: Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper
Certificate: 18

By Sarah Morgan

In 1987, Quentin Tarantino was an unknown hoping for a big break in the movie business. That was the year he co-wrote and directed his first movie – no, not Reservoir Dogs, but a black and white amateur production called My Best Friend’s Birthday.

It remains incomplete, but the screenplay would form the basis for True Romance. He’d originally intended to direct it, but lost interest and sold the script, which was eventually shot by Tony Scott – it was released after Reservoir Dogs became a huge hit and helped seal Tarantino’s burgeoning reputation as a groundbreaking film-maker of note.

“Bloodbath”

Christian Slater plays an Elvis-obsessed comic book store employee Clarence who falls madly in love with hooker Alabama Whitman (Patricia Arquette). They become instantly inseparable, marry within 24 hours of meeting and go on the run after Clarence kills Alabama’s ultra-possessive pimp. He also steals the villain’s stash of drugs and hopes to sell it to help them fund a new life in Hollywood.

Unfortunately, what the blissfully smitten couple don’t know is that the cops and the mob are closing in on them…

Slater and Arquette are completely lovable in the lead roles – viewers tend to fall for them as much as they do for each other. We’re completely rooting for them throughout, despite knowing some kind of bloodbath will occur eventually. This is, after all, based on a Tarantino script – he’s never been one for pulling his punches.

“Loved a spin-off”

Scott assembled an incredible supporting cast too, which includes James Gandolfini, Michael Rapaport, Saul Rubinek and an almost unrecognisable Gary Oldman. Also popping up is Chris Penn, fresh from Reservoir Dogs, and three other actors who would make bigger marks in the Tarantino universe in future years – Samuel L Jackson, Tom Sizemore and Brad Pitt.

But it’s Christopher Walken as a mob boss and Dennis Hopper as Clarence’s father who deliver the most memorable moment during a tension-filled showdown. Those two bounce off each other wonderfully – I for one would have loved a spin-off featuring their characters.

True Romance continues to win new fans almost 30 years since its cinema release, and deservedly so – it’s a modern classic. And now, you have two versions to call on – both the theatrical release and director’s cut are on this Arrow reissue.