True Romance, the crime film written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott, is a whirlwind of a movie that somehow manages to be both a hyper-violent gangster flick and a deeply romantic fairy tale.
The plot centers on Clarence Worley (Christian Slater), a lonely, Elvis-obsessed comic book store clerk who meets and falls for a call girl named Alabama (Patricia Arquette).
Their whirlwind romance takes a dangerous turn when Clarence, in a chivalrous act, kills Alabama’s pimp Drexl Spivey (Gary Oldman)and mistakenly takes a suitcase full of cocaine.
The two go on the run to Los Angeles to sell the drugs, all while a motley crew of mobsters, led by the ruthless Vincenzo Coccotti (Christopher Walken), hunts them down.
The film’s sprawling cast includes a rogue’s gallery of memorable characters, including Clarence’s friend Dick Ritchie (Michael Rappaport) and his stoner roommate (Brad Pitt), Clarence’s father Clifford (Dennis Hopper), Clarence’s imaginary mentor who more than resembles Elvis Prelsey (Val Kilmer), a corrupt movie producer (Saul Rubinek) and his assistant (Bronson Pinchot), and Coccotti’s enforcer Virgil (James Gandolfini).
The film’s strength lies in its relentless energy, sharp dialogue, and unforgettable performances.
Slater and Arquette have electric chemistry as the star-crossed lovers, making their bizarre journey feel genuinely heartfelt.
Tom Sizemore, Christopher Penn, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Beach, Paul Ben-Victor and Ed Lauter round out the all-star cast.
The film features a series of tense, iconic scenes, including a legendary face-off between Hopper and Walken that is a masterclass in character acting and suspense.
The dialogue, a hallmark of Tarantino’s writing, crackles with wit and philosophical musings even in the most perilous situations.
Scott’s kinetic, stylish direction, with its vibrant colors and quick cuts, perfectly complements the script’s frantic pace.
Brad Pitt in True Romance (Photo/Warner Bros.)
Reception for True Romance
True Romance grossed $4 million on its opening weekend, finishing in third place at the box office behind The Fugitive ($8.3 million) on its sixth weekend and Undercover Blues ($4.4 million).
The film grossed $13.1 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars in his review.
Lasting Legacy
The legacy of True Romance is that of a modern cult classic and while it was not a box office hit upon release, it has since been re-evaluated as one of the best crime films of the 1990s.
Its unique blend of genres—mixing noir, romance, and dark comedy—has influenced countless films that followed.
The film is celebrated for its quotable lines, its iconic soundtrack, and its incredible cast, many of whom were on the cusp of superstardom and it remains a wild, exhilarating, and surprisingly sweet love story set against a backdrop of bloody violence and is a must-watch for fans of both romance and crime cinema.
