Courtesy photo
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Hide the children. And while you're at it, hide anyone who has not yet been corrupted by the disturbing images of a Quentin Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez film. The sex, the violence, the language. Good God, the language.
Audiences can expect more of the same when “Grindhouse” opens Friday, April 6. The double feature, a rarity in today's movie climate, is comprised of Tarantino's slasher flick “Death Proof” and Rodriguez's zombie fright fest “Planet Terror.”
Tarantino and Rodriguez have been friends/work associates for some time and are among the foremost authorities on cutting-edge cinema. And while the two directors are similar in many ways, they also have a few differences.
With that in mind, before “Grindhouse” invades theaters nationwide, here's a Rodriguez/Tarantino “tale of the tape.”
QUENTIN TARANTINO
Age: 44
Height: 6-26/1/2
Birthplace: Knoxville, Tenn.
Star-making film: “Pulp Fiction” (1994). Some would say 1992's “Reservoir Dogs,” a point well taken. But the question remains: How many of you saw “Reservoir Dogs” before “Pulp Fiction” made Tarantino a household name?
Style: Tarantino films typically feature fractured chronology, witty and profane dialogue as well as pop culture references galore.
Achilles heel: Tarantino often plays a small role in his films. The problem is, he acts about one-tenth as well as he directs.
Recurring actors: Michael Madsen, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman
ROBERT RODRIGUEZ
Age: 38
Height: 6-2
Birthplace: San Antonio
Star-making film: “Desperado” (1995). “El Mariachi” is Rodriguez's “Reservoir Dogs,” a quality film that wasn't fully appreciated by the masses until a more popular film — “Desperado” — made its director a superstar.
Style: Rodriguez got the nickname “the one-man film crew” for a reason. He works alone, he works quickly and he works cheap. No wonder Hollywood loves him.
Achilles heel: His children. We'll cut Rodriguez some slack for the first “Spy Kids” flick. And because he made the films for his children, we'll even let “Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams” slide. But “Spy Kids 3: Game Over?” “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D?”
Recurring actors: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Danny Trejo
Clint Hale | 210SA |
