A pop-culture geek finds true love and a suitcase of cocaine. A modern fairy story, an ode to the movies, and a movie nerd’s fantasy script come together; riffing on Malick’s Badlands and wearing its references on its sleeve, True Romance stands up well to this day, and has a cast of up-and-comers and veterans to die dor.
Tag: Tony Scott
6 Underground (2019, dir. Michael Bay)
A tech billionaire finances a vigilante squad dedicated to removing threats to global peace. Well-made fun-but-dumb action-comedy playing to the director’s trademark obsessions and strengths in mashing up Michael Mann and Tony Scott. An auteurist work; spectacular in both the Debordian and the blowing-shit-up-good senses.
Crimson Tide (1995, dir. Tony Scott)
A submarine captain and his new second-in-command clash during a military crisis. Excellent testosterone-fuelled drama, making full claustrophobic use of naval service underwater tropes. Superior technical credits and a rousing score supplement the crew of capable character actors.
Spy Game (2001, dir. Tony Scott)
A veteran spy on his last day at the CIA works to protect a compromised asset. Slick and confident thriller balancing office politics, espionage and action moments. An entertainment in the sense of the kind of film Graham Greene might have directed in the 2000s.
The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009, dir. Tony Scott)
A ruthless crew hijacks a New York subway train. Glossy but stirring second remake of the 1970s Walter Matthau/Robert Shaw classic. Inevitably the movie is opened up to the story’s detriment, but this is nevertheless an exciting and well-played flick.
Unstoppable (2010, dir. Tony Scott)
A veteran train driver and a rookie conductor try to stop a runaway freight train. A splendid rendition of a hoary B-movie premise; Unstoppable does everything right in its handling of the subject matter. Tony Scott’s last movie is a kinetic blast throughout.
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