Being my all-time favourite film, I find it difficult to describe without an overwhelming use of superlatives. It is, quite simply, nothing short of magnificent. Despite being a rather lesser known brainchild of Quentin Tarantino, there is no doubt, in my mind, that True Romance offers and maintains the same quick-witted dialogue, array of streetwise, colourful characters, and sheer charisma as his cult classics (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction). This is putting aside his masterful ability to effortlessly blend violence and “true” romance on the screen.

True Romance is a 1993 American romantic/crime drama directed by Tony Scott and written by Quentin Tarantino. Despite not being the highest rollers at the time, the film now features an ensemble cast plucked straight out of somebody’s dream. As well as Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette spearheading the picture, we are introduced to a Brad Pitt, Gary Oldman, Samuel L. Jackson, Val Kilmer, Dennis Hopper, and Christopher Walken (to name but a few) in one shape or form. Nowadays, a studio would most certainly have to flash the cash to acquire a cast like this.

It tells the story of a comic book store clerk/film buff (Slater) who meets a gorgeous Patricia Arquette, by chance, at a Sonny Chiba triple feature showing. Following a flirtatious encounter and romantic night of passion, we are subjected, in a great way, to a cavalcade of gangsters, guns, violence, drugs and pimps. To quickly summarise: she is actually a prostitute hired for his pleasure; she falls for him but has a relentless pimp; a suitcase of cocaine is stolen; a Sicilian mob are the furious owners of this suitcase; an edge-of-your-seat game of cat and mouse takes place; Clarence (Slater) and Alabama (Arquette) try to make a quick buck in order to live and die in each other’s arms.

If you haven’t watched True Romance yet, please do!