But more important than any of that is what they talk about. Like David Mamet and Elmore Leonard, Tarantino is endlessly fascinated about what his characters say when they're not talking about the situation at hand. And for all their bravado, what they talk about is probably little different from other people at the time, though of course, they do it more eloquently than you or me. At that breakfast table, for example, there's a spirited debate not only about Madonna's "Like a Virgin," but also about tipping (Mr. White is able to give figures on why waitresses need tips to live). And they also talk about movies, TV, music (a radio station plays old 70's hits, with Steven Wright playing the DJ), and women they've known. But Tarantino shows that a lot of it is bravado. When Mr. White is threatening Mr. Blonde because he thinks he's dangerous, Mr. Blonde merely smiles and says, "You're a big Lee Marvin fan, aren't you?" And when an undercover cop is told by his boss that he needs to get into his character, he's underscoring that basically all the crooks are trying to get into character. It's just that some are better at it than others.
Tarantino's writing is clearly up to par here; he said at the Toronto Film Festival that he was going for a novelistic feel, and it works here. For the most part, his directing is fine as well, though it could use some work. There are several shots in the warehouse that are long shots where a medium or a close-up might have worked just as well, or better, and it seems like he's showing off a little. But one place he doesn't need help in is with his actors. Tierney has played a number of tough guys in his career, and knows not to overdo it. Likewise, Madsen could have very easily chewed scenery as the psychotic Mr. Blonde, but he plays him restrained, making him all the more frightening. Roth makes a good impression as Mr. Orange, and relative newcomer Buscemi is also terrific as Mr. Pink. As for Keitel, he not only knows how to play a tough guy, but when his character faces a moral dilemna in the film, he also portrays that aspect well. RESERVOIR DOGS, all in all, does a familiar story well, no matter where it came from.
