Review

dave-1507

This is an excellent film... Looking at the credits the usual gang are all listed:- Tarantino, Rodriguez, Bender, Banderas, Roth....

As the name might suggest after a brief intro the film is split into four stories (each in a different room). The stories act independently of each other, although if you watch/listen carefully you should be able to spot how they interlink, (for instance; a background phone call made during the misbehaver's). The character who moves between all the stories is played by Tim Roth; The Bellhop. Roth is working on New years eve in the hotel as the bellhop. Throughout the night for one reason or another Roth is called into each of the four rooms and so each story begins.

If you are a fan of films which usually involve Tarantino, Rodriguez and Bender, or if you just like to see something refreshing and different once in a while then you will like this. If on the other hand you need great special effects, and actors who can't act, then you probably won't enjoy 'Four Rooms'

The dialogue is pretty intelligent, and the acting is excellent, although perhaps not to everyone's taste. Tim Roths character seems to be a bit of a tribute to "The Bell Boy" which is mentioned in the film (in true Tarantino style, who usually references other films in his own). Tim Roth is bang on as the Bellhop and I couldn't think of anyone better to play the role.

The hardest part for me, was deciding which story I liked the best. The first was light hearted and hilarious. Admittedly I didn't enjoy the second story as much, it was a little slow. The style reminded me of the cut scene from Pulp Fiction with Esmeralda and Butch after the fight - it was interesting, good, but slowed the whole film down. The third story was much more attention grabbing and constantly had me cringing waiting for the worst to happen. The final story was witty, pretty fast moving, and when the purpose of Tarantino's bet is revealed you find yourself moving closer to the edge of your seat until the credits role.

Favourite bits:- The cheeky dialogue in the first story (The missing ingredient) Roth telling the misbehaver's how his baby sitter used to make sure he stayed in bed with his eyes closed. Tarantino's bet and the final conclusion!

score 10/10

dave-1507 28 December 2004

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0986562/