Tarantino's Best Crime Film of the 90s is Finally Free to Stream This Month

Summary

• Released in the 90's by a novice director, this film revolutionized the movie industry.
• It's raw, brutal, full of action, and packed with suspense.
• There's only one place to stream it for free.

Quentin Tarantino has been a voice of authority in the film industry for decades. His opinions may not always be popular, but they always command respect.

It's almost impossible to remember a time before his innovative style of filmmaking, with its witty dialogue, stylized violence and non-linear narratives. But back in the early 90s, he was an unknown trying to make his way in the film world.

It all started at a barbecue?

In 1992, Quentin Tarantino burst onto the movie scene with a heist movie that was the result of a chance meeting with producer Lawrence Bender at a barbecue. He completed the first draft in less than a month and, after impressing Bender, was able to secure financing to move the project forward.

And so, Reservoir Dogs was born.

A critically acclaimed movie that has stood the test of time

Tarantino's debut film premiered at the Sundance Festival in January 1992. It marked an epoch in the industry and garnered a lot of attention, which only increased as its theatrical release date approached in October of that year.

It grossed a rather paltry $2 million at the box office, but launched the career of its director.

The film scored 90% on the Tomatometer, with an even higher audience rating of 94%.

It was groundbreaking at the time and has lost none of its lustre over 30 years later. We now know what to expect from Tarantino, but the sheer quality of the writing, direction and production of the movie would grace any era.

Great casting, great acting, great movie

Reservoir Dogs featured actors who fit neatly into its neo-noir style. Larry Dimmick was no stranger to the genre, having starred opposite Jack Nicholson in The Two Jakes and Joe Pesci in Wise Guys. He brought an air of authority and respect to the role of Mr. White that wouldn't have looked out of place in The Godfather.

Others who brought credible mob credentials included the late Chris Penn, Michael Madsen and Steve Buscemi.

Tarantino also makes an appearance as Mr. Brown.

What's it about?

It's a heist movie about a heist gone wrong. The gang members are anonymous to each other and are given code names to avoid detection. So how do they get found out?

They become convinced that they were set up and that the police knew all about their plans. If there's a rat among them, he must be identified and dealt with accordingly. But who could it be?

Holed up in their hideout, the tension mounts. No one knows who to trust and no one wants to reveal what they know. The movie has everything you'd expect from a Quentin Tarantino movie; raw violence, brash energy and a whole lot of mayhem.

It's not just one of his best crime movies of the 90s, it's one of the best movies ever made. Period.

Considering it was Tarantino's debut, it doesn't take a genius to figure out how he became a legend so quickly.

Where can I watch it?

You might think you need a premium subscription to one of the many streaming services to watch such a classic, but no. Reservouir Dogs is now available for free on Plex, and you can watch it here.

You can also stream it with a Prime subscription, or rent it from Apple TV or Google Play.