Since being disappointed by the Tarantino film Death Proof,I have been looking for a movie that would server as a perfect re-introduction to a film genre called Gridhouse.
Around a week or so ago,a friend of mine began talking about an actor who they had recently become a fan of called Warren Oates.As he started to finish talking about the westerns that Oates had appeared in,he mentioned the he had gotten hold of a "great" Grindhouse film featuring Oates called Dixie Dynamite.By the time he had finished talking about how much fun the film was,I decided that this movie would be my first "official" Grindhouse film viewing.
The plot:
Finishing the making of his latest batch of Moonshine,Tom gets an unexpected visit from the local police force,who tell him the he is going to be arrested for having illegal made Moonshine for the last few years ,even though all of the cops have known (and been perfectly fine) that he's been making it for ages.
Feeling betrayed by his "friends" ,Tom decides to make a run for it.Sadly,his attempt to runaway ends in tragedy,when one of the cops "accidentally" shoots Tom's car,and causes it to blow up.Shortly after Tom's death,one of the cops the was involved in the "accidental" death goes to visit a ruthless land develop called Dean,who pays him off,and tells him the he will receive more cash,if he can arrange for the ownership of Tom's seven- acre land to go to him. Reluctunly,the cop agrees to Dean's demands,and then decides that he should go and pay a visit to Tom's daughters Dixie and Patsy,so they at last have a chance to hear the terrible news.
Almost from the moment that they are told about their fathers death,Dean starts circling around Dixie and Patsy with his plans to get hold of their fathers land by any means necessary.Luckally,the girls have a friend called Mack,who shows them the wild side of life with his extreme motorbike racing.Seeing the determined nature of Mack to succeed in the races,Dixie becomes very inspired by Mack's attitude,and decides that she can not let the men who killed her father succeed with their plans.
This leads to Dixie and Patsy deciding,that instead of letting everyone walk over them,and get hold of their fathers land,they are instead going to get some "special training from Mack,and fight back against the men that killed their father...
View on the film:
For the films pace,director and co-screenwriter (along with Wes Bishop) Lee Frost throws something new into the film every ten minutes,so as to make sure that the film is always on track and never dull.Whilst there are quite a few signs of the films low budget, (such as California standing in for Georgia!) it actually helps to give the film some extra "southern" charm,with the extremely risky looking practical chase/fight scenes always keeping you on the edge of your seat,due to Fost putting the camera right in the centre of the hard-hitting action,which includes an amazingly brutal motorbike rally section,which also features an uncredited Steve McQueen!.
Looking at the very good cast,I was left feeling a bit disappointed that Warren Oates was only given a supporting role (instead of having a bigger role,such as the land developer.)Thankfully,Oates still plays his supporting role in the film (and his singing on the films score!) very well,with the scenes of him trying to help out would-be rebels Dixie and Patsy, (played by the beautiful,sassy actresses Jane Ann Johnston and Kathy McHaley)allowing the cast to show a very natural,entertaining playfulness,which makes each scene that features all of them to be ones that,along with the gripping stunts,a joy to watch.
Final view on the film:
An excellent Grindhouse film,with jaw-dropping stunts,a fun story and a very entertaining cast.
Around a week or so ago,a friend of mine began talking about an actor who they had recently become a fan of called Warren Oates.As he started to finish talking about the westerns that Oates had appeared in,he mentioned the he had gotten hold of a "great" Grindhouse film featuring Oates called Dixie Dynamite.By the time he had finished talking about how much fun the film was,I decided that this movie would be my first "official" Grindhouse film viewing.
The plot:
Finishing the making of his latest batch of Moonshine,Tom gets an unexpected visit from the local police force,who tell him the he is going to be arrested for having illegal made Moonshine for the last few years ,even though all of the cops have known (and been perfectly fine) that he's been making it for ages.
Feeling betrayed by his "friends" ,Tom decides to make a run for it.Sadly,his attempt to runaway ends in tragedy,when one of the cops "accidentally" shoots Tom's car,and causes it to blow up.Shortly after Tom's death,one of the cops the was involved in the "accidental" death goes to visit a ruthless land develop called Dean,who pays him off,and tells him the he will receive more cash,if he can arrange for the ownership of Tom's seven- acre land to go to him. Reluctunly,the cop agrees to Dean's demands,and then decides that he should go and pay a visit to Tom's daughters Dixie and Patsy,so they at last have a chance to hear the terrible news.
Almost from the moment that they are told about their fathers death,Dean starts circling around Dixie and Patsy with his plans to get hold of their fathers land by any means necessary.Luckally,the girls have a friend called Mack,who shows them the wild side of life with his extreme motorbike racing.Seeing the determined nature of Mack to succeed in the races,Dixie becomes very inspired by Mack's attitude,and decides that she can not let the men who killed her father succeed with their plans.
This leads to Dixie and Patsy deciding,that instead of letting everyone walk over them,and get hold of their fathers land,they are instead going to get some "special training from Mack,and fight back against the men that killed their father...
View on the film:
For the films pace,director and co-screenwriter (along with Wes Bishop) Lee Frost throws something new into the film every ten minutes,so as to make sure that the film is always on track and never dull.Whilst there are quite a few signs of the films low budget, (such as California standing in for Georgia!) it actually helps to give the film some extra "southern" charm,with the extremely risky looking practical chase/fight scenes always keeping you on the edge of your seat,due to Fost putting the camera right in the centre of the hard-hitting action,which includes an amazingly brutal motorbike rally section,which also features an uncredited Steve McQueen!.
Looking at the very good cast,I was left feeling a bit disappointed that Warren Oates was only given a supporting role (instead of having a bigger role,such as the land developer.)Thankfully,Oates still plays his supporting role in the film (and his singing on the films score!) very well,with the scenes of him trying to help out would-be rebels Dixie and Patsy, (played by the beautiful,sassy actresses Jane Ann Johnston and Kathy McHaley)allowing the cast to show a very natural,entertaining playfulness,which makes each scene that features all of them to be ones that,along with the gripping stunts,a joy to watch.
Final view on the film:
An excellent Grindhouse film,with jaw-dropping stunts,a fun story and a very entertaining cast.