Marketed under the banner, "From the Creators of Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction," Killing Zoe was written and directed by Roger Avery - the guy who wrote the gold watch speech given by Christopher Walken in Pulp Fiction while Quentin Tarantino and Tarantino's producer, Lawrence Bender served as executive producers.
Zed (Eric Stoltz) arrives in Paris to do a job for Eric (Jean-Hughes Anglade), an old friend he hasn't seen in eleven years. He settles into his hotel room, orders and enjoys a French ̶p̶r̶o̶s̶t̶i̶t̶u̶t̶e̶ escort named Zoe (Julie Delpy). After business, the two realize that they both have feelings for each other. The smitten couple are awakened by Eric who throws Zoe out and proceeds to take Zed out to meet his friends for an drug-fueled night in Paris. Before I forget, the job Zed has been brought to Paris to do is to crack a safe at a bank they're robbing the next day and while Zed is simply hungover, Eric and his crew are still feeding the heroin monkeys on their backs and burst into the bank with zeal and theatricality, ready to kill at a moment's notice.
The rest of the film is about the resulting bank robbery. Now I know that you're thinking that this is just another bank robbery film and my response is yes, it is and no it's not. What follows is one of the better bank robberies I've seen since Dog Day Afternoon, Point Break or Heat. What makes Killing Zoe different than the run-of-the-mill bank robbery film is the lack of a police drama unfolding outside of the bank or action sequences involving the robbers trying to get away.
What also intrigued me the more and more I watch this film is my investment in Stoltz's character. While every one of the other bank robbers is not unlikeable, you are really focused on Zed and Eric and they are the two characters you know the most about. The thing is, that what you do know about Zed and Eric is very little and it makes you want to pick up clues as to who they are.
There also seems to be a very weird underlining theme of homosexuality throughout the film as Eric is shown having sex with one of his fellow bank robbers, not to mention an extreme sense of brotherhood towards Zed and trying to prevent Zed from being with Zoe on a couple different occasions. Homosexual acts aside, Eric's cock-blocking of Zed is enough to make any viewer wonder what his problem really is.
The characters of Zed and Eric also are stark contrasts to each other and this is especially apparent from the moment we meet Eric and they way he treats and talks about Zoe. Eric is very outspoken,outgoing, funny and primed to explode, while Zed is more of a clear thinker who is more quiet and calculated. You can tell that he was someone who did some hell raising when he was younger and is still chasing that high despite the fact that we can tell that he has grown up to a certain extent. Eric on the other hand is hopelessly addicted to heroin and is obviously chasing a different high.
Delpy plays Zoe as the hooker with the heart of gold - She is an art student by day and an escort by night in order to pay for her classes. She is passionate about art and has a high opinion of herself, despite her profession. Even though the idea of an escort falling for a client in such little time is a farfetched idea, the chemistry between Stoltz and Delpy makes it a little more believable. Their playful dialogue in bed after sex doesn't feel forced but at the same time, I don't believe they are head-over-heels in love with each other. There is a connection here but it isn't over exaggerated.
Killing Zoe is an independent film and it shows but not the extent that it is unwatchable. Stylistically, it is shot with an overall basic style of cinematography but at times is more free, mostly during the times Eric is onscreen. Colors are very dark and droll in the beginning and at times where it's necessary, for example, in an underground jazz club. In contrast, there are some good, sparse uses of bright reds and blues from the halfway mark of the film to its conclusion.
What I love about the film is its simplicity, simple plot and the intriguing set of main characters. I also like its style and bleak outlook of the future (especially depending on how you perceive the ending). When I was fourteen, I had never seen Dog Day Afternoon and Heat hadn't been released yet. Killing Zoe is not the best crime film ever, especially considered against "traditional" standards but it's certainly not one of the worst. It came at a time where film was matching what grunge was doing to music. It was a different breed that, sadly isn't around any more even when it comes to bank robbery films.
If you're going into Killing Zoe expecting it to be a Tarantino film, you will be disappointed as his film-making style or exuberant dialogue is not present here, however it is something you can tell he probably enjoyed.
4 Syringes (Out of 5)
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In this fashion my partner Wesley Virgin's tale begins with this shocking and controversial VIDEO.
ReplyDeleteYou see, Wesley was in the military-and shortly after leaving-he discovered hidden, "mind control" tactics that the CIA and others used to get everything they want.
THESE are the exact same tactics tons of celebrities (notably those who "became famous out of nowhere") and top business people used to become wealthy and famous.
You've heard that you use less than 10% of your brain.
Mostly, that's because most of your brain's power is UNCONSCIOUS.
Maybe this thought has even taken place IN YOUR own mind... as it did in my good friend Wesley Virgin's mind 7 years ago, while driving an unlicensed, beat-up trash bucket of a car without a driver's license and $3 on his banking card.
"I'm so frustrated with going through life paycheck to paycheck! Why can't I become successful?"
You took part in those conversations, ain't it so?
Your own success story is going to start. All you have to do is in YOURSELF.
UNLOCK YOUR SECRET BRAINPOWER