Reservoir Dogsappeared in 1992 like a thunderbolt, immediately establishingQuentin Tarantinoas a cinematic force.
This was cemented byPulp Fiction, a potent mixture of quotable dialogue, explosive violence, and narrative ingenuity.
Its success quickly spawned a legion of imitators.
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This list considers some of the very worst of them.
Youre too f***ing sensitive."
Even the most tragic among them are too irritating to root for.
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Plus, for a heist comedy, its shockingly devoid of tension, humor, or memorable set pieces.
Once theyre gone, theyre gone."
It’s likeThe Hangover, but with less jokes and more nihilism.
Very Bad Thingsleans into shock value, butit executes its gore, violence, and repulsion without finesse.
The relentless bleakness becomes a lot to stomach.
This is one to be skipped.
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The copy is never as good as the original, however.
The acting and visuals are fine.
Some of the dialogue here is unintentionally funny, particularly the scenes featuringRod Steiger.
By the time the film limps to its inevitable shootout, the viewer’s patience has probably worn thin.
I’m a nice guy!"
Wahlberg does his best with the material, but his character is too absurd to take seriously.
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Why would a nice guy with people-pleasing tendencies become a contract killer?
Crime anthologyPawn Shop Chroniclesfollows multiple overlapping stories revolving around a shady pawn shop in a small Southern town.
The nonlinear aspect is gimmicky and serves no real dramatic function.
Some viewers might get a kick out of this approach, but most will find it one-note and mean-spirited.
How the hell do you lose eight heads?!
Writer-directorTom Schulmanalso doesn’t wring all that much humor out of it.
“American Straysis another Tarantino knockoff that mistakes random acts of violence and bizarre characters for compelling storytelling.
Once again, we get a hodgepodge of vignettes about various oddball characters who converge at a diner.
They include mobsters, hitmen, and homicidal vacuum cleaner salesmen.
It’s thoroughly absurd to the point of looking like a spoof but without the humor.
Some of the stories don’t even fit in with the others.
But it’s more confusing than engaging.
It’s hard to blame them.
“Flypaperis abizarro crime comedyinvolving sex, meth, violence, and betrayal.
The film blatantly borrows from QT but doesn’t seem to understand anything about what makes his movies work.
Memorable moments include aLucy LiuandJames Wildersex scene in a water-free pool full of rattlesnakes.
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