bfi research

BFI ResearchBy Michael Selby

T

he empire magazine outlining the similarities between Ringo

Lam’s City on fire and Quieten Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs.

P

lot points

City on Fire (1987)

More City on Fire“

You may, however, find that the first hour of City surprising, in that it has no more in common with Dogs than it does with Deep Cover or White

heat”.

“

In the end, Tarantino’s took no more from this than he did from The killing, the taking of Pelham 123”

W

hat did he take from each film:

P

elham – colour coded names

T

he killing – the fractures narrative style

“

I’ve always thought that the closer we can hitch movies to books,

the better off movies

will be”

Reservoir Dogs

R

eservoir dogs is Tarantino’s first hit with audiences, even though it didn’t make

much money.

W

hat did he do different from other heist films:

L

eft out the heist. “In a typical Hollywood movie this would have been the being

scene”.

A

lthough he had a low budget

O

ther styles:

“

In the opening eleven pages you learn nothing abut the characters or

the story”.

C

ontrasting music sequences

h

ttp://www.youtube.com/watchv=MRbtEjv29z0&feature=related

“

the role of these soundtrack albums are not to be underestimated.”

inglorious Basterd’s

Thanks for listening