True Romance

"You're an actor. Act, motherfucker." Nicholson

☆☆☆☆☆ Classic 

True Romance (1993) is a mixture poetic violence and language that oddly assaults the senses pleasurably.

Directed by Tony Scott from a Quentin Tarantino screenplay.

Starring Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken among many others.

True Romance is my favorite Tarantino script. Tony wisely chose to let his star cast improv and take their scenes to new heights. The violence at times is unnerving, but never out of place. The dialogue  is as good as Aaron Sorkin's in David Fincher's, The Social Network (2010).

The list of memorable performances is truly astounding. Starting with the trailer home scene between Christopher Walkin and Dennis Hopper. Followed closely by Gary Oldman's freaky Jamaican pimp, drug dealer. Brad Pitt's memorable stoner stole every scene he was in. While James Gandolfini's hit man with a conscience was scary to watch. Christian's best film work. Slater owned the role that had originally been offered to Brad. Patricia makes you fall deeply and madly in love with her honest, off center performance. Tom Sizemore and Chris Penn are dynamite together.

In the scene below Christopher and Dennis bring to new heights Quentin's magnificent dialogue. I love the playfulness of both actors. As the scene progresses their bond strengths and so does their admiration for each others work and the extraordinary dialogue.

Film Scene

Trivia - Dennis Hopper has said that the only words improvised in his scene with Christopher Walken were "eggplant and cantaloupe".

Original Film Trailer

Original Script

The Social Network

"I'm not a bad guy." Mark

☆☆☆☆☆ Masterpiece

The Social Network (2010) is a tale told by master story tellers.

Directed by David Fincher

Starring Jessie Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Armie Hammer and Justin Timberlake among many others.

David Fincher teamed with screen writer Aaron Sorkin to create a spellbinding film. Aaron's dialogue reaches the zenith of screen writing. Before viewing the film, I resisted watching it. I thought to myself, how could anyone make an entertaining film about the lives and loves of computer programmers? Well, the dynamic duo of Fincher and Sorkin did the impossible. These two genius created a riveting film that retells the drama and intrigue that has come to be known as Facebook. The complex story and directing of Sorkin and Fincher reminds me of Wei-Kueng Lau's, Infernal Affairs (2002).

What I will write about is just my observations from viewing the film, "The Social Network". The film is an account of Mark Zuckerberg, who famously built Facebook, by himself from a Harvard dorm room or did he? I leave that to each viewer to decide for themselves.

Jessie is eerily possessed throughout the film by his characters detached and amoral personality. Eisenberg takes Sorkin's rapturous dialogue and colors it with an emotionless delivery that is disturbing and sad.

Justin is simply mesmering in his role. Timberlake always surprises in his acting work. Justin has this very polished presence that is perfect for his character.

Armie's face plays the twins and he is brilliant in both roles. Physically Hammer had body double Josh Pence play one of the twins during scenes where both twins are on camera, as in the courtroom scene below. Hammer's face was then digitally grafted onto Pence's face during post production.

Andrew Garfield  had the tough job of playing a character that gets rejected. I enjoyed that Garfield chose to tone down his anger when he discovered he was betrayed. 

Anyways, the scene below is masterfully directed by David Fincher. Note how David goes from the courtroom to other scenes to explain the three versions of story being told by each character as written by Sorkin. All actors do superb justice to the writing of Aaron Sorkin.

Film Scene

Trivia - Aaron Sorkin the screen writer plays the advertising executive that Jessie and Andrew meet in NYC. 

Film Trailer

Film Script