Letters to the Editor
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A Few Missed Points
One thing which seems unnoticed is the politics of Grindhouse, especially Rodriguez. Planet Terror involves betrayed and depraved vets of the War On Terror unleashing a zombie bioweapon in a coldblooded scheme to discover a cure. The Machete trailer is satire of immigrant politics.
Which is actually part of the Grindhouse genre. Part of the thrill is the accidental and intentional cultural subtexts of these allegedly thoughtless films. The arthouse and grindhouse of the 70s wasn't that far apart, stylistically or philosophically - behind the camera if not in the end product.
It points out how schlock is a constant in movies, but in the past primitive production values excused the dumber films and added a certain charm, while current high budget action/horror are usually just as wooden but far more soulless.
One perverse aspect of Grindhouse is how it's not so much exploitation but energy which is released under the guise of sleaze. The plots would fit more conventional treatments, but here they have combative twin babysitters who would either be cut from a more traditional flick or presented in an even more cartoony, beer ad offensive, way.
For all the leering, these films are less misogynist than usualy fare (if not entirely free of it). Women get to DO stuff and the most sexist male characters meet hideous fates.
I'd say those who are turned off by the female bonding scenes in Death Proof may be confused by sexism. The banter is just as enjoyable as other Tarantino flicks, except it's largely confident happy females instead of blustering insecure guys.
Tarantino seems to respond to how his films (including Kill Bill) have few banter scenes for women. This is like his female version of Reservoir Dogs.
It's still a presentation of a male fantasy, but instead of Russ Meyer or a purely visual tough girl, these are foulmouthed, hedonistic and unapologetically brazen. Within this context Stuntman Mike is not just an echo of past films, but male insecurity. His murderous impulse directed at the youth and independence of these women. The moment he's confronted by women with similar skills, he's bested and turns coward.
It's far from perfect (there's a joke I thought implied rape which struck a sour note) but there's a lot more meaty moments for groups of women in this film than nearly all American action movies and even some chick flicks.
I'm just saying.