Grindhouse

I saw it, along with and yesterday, and LOVED it. No surprises there. Everything about it was spot-on — from Rodriguez’ musical score for Planet Terror being reminiscent of 1978-1981 period John Carpenter scores; to the “Vanishing Point” Dodge Challenger in Death Proof. More homages, in-jokes and nods than I can easily recount here.

Unfortunately, the film opened in 4th place — Easter weekend being “take the kids to the movies” time, which meant that unchallenging comedies like Blades of Glory and Are We Done Yet, and the latest souless Disney CG project, Meet The Robinsons came out on top.

Interestingly, Harvey Weinstein says that Grindhouse played to big crowds on the East and West coasts but failed to click with audiences in the Midwest and South. Where, not surprisingly, they didn’t really have grindhouses in the 70s.

Of the audience who was there for the opening matinee on Saturday, I’d guess that about a third really got it, a third were fratboy types digging on the cool-factor and gore, and a third were pretty clueless.

As for me — I saw two filmmakers decide to make the sort of films that they had grown up on, which nobody makes any more. It was brilliant, and it was inspirational.

Yup — another log on the “Gareth wants to make a movie” fire.

7 Replies to “Grindhouse”

  1. I have not seen Grindhouse, nor am I planning on it.

    However, I greatly respect what they’re doing by making these films and I respect the film makers for what they recreated.

    It’s just…not my thing.

  2. Not sure what Weinstein is talking about. We had Grindhouse type theaters and that was the typical movie you would see at the drive-through. I think that sounds like an excuse for what may have just been a poor opening. It isn’t my thing, but I think I will see it when it comes out on DVD.

  3. I saw it Friday night. That movie had EVERYTHING. I hadn’t been to a flick in a long time where the audience applauded and cheered at the end. My favorite line (I won’t complete it to keep from being spoilerish):

    “…and Nicolas Cage as…”

    The most brilliant WTF moment of the year.

  4. An important BBQ recipe during the zombie apocalypse..loved it!

    The Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry days…I enjoyed both films quite a lot, but I think “Death Proof” just barely edged out as my favorite. Good times!

  5. The comment about the lack of grindhouses was mine, as a commentary on Weinstein’s statement about the regional take.

    You had 24-hour theaters which showed non-stop double and triple bills of exploitation fare? Color me surprised. I didn’t think they existed outside of the coastal urban areas (well, and Chicago).

    The drive-in comment is true enough, though.

  6. I can’t wait to see it! Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino are two of my absolute favorite directors! Hoping to see it this weekend sometime!

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