Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Reservoir Dogs (1992) directed by Quentin Tarantino, is an exceptional film. The storyline follows a group of experienced criminals under pseudonyms, who have been selected to rob a jewelry store for a shipment of diamonds. The robbery goes wrong, and the men all flee the scene, slowly meeting up at their planned safehouse. As they begin to discuss the events of the failed robbery, they begin to realize that there is a mole in the group, and begin to accuse and turn on each other as the men try to figure out who it is. 

This leads to a four-way Mexican standoff, and one of the men getting away with all the diamonds. Reservoir Dogs was Quentin Tarantino's first feature length film, but he says it was his favorite film to make to this day. The storytelling plays with time beautifully, creating backstories for each character mid-film, jumping between before and after the robbery as each character disproves that he is the cop. 

Each man establishes and breaks bonds with the others, giving the audience a sense of unease and confusion as to who to trust. While the film's main storyline is about the jewelry robbery, the cutaways through time offer deep insight into each criminal's personal life, and the life of the police officer as well. This helps to form an emotional bond between the audience and the characters. Visually, the film is magnificent as well. Tarantino's attention to detail pays off greatly. 

From the bright red blood contrasting with the subtly green painted walls, to the minor character aspects that bring them out of the film and into real life, Reservoir Dogs creates a major connection with audiences, making them feel bad for this group of violent, armed robbers. In the final scene, one man reveals to his one friend and supporter in the group of criminals that he is the undercover cop with his dying breaths. As the police finally raid the building and catch the two men among the bodies of their partners, the undercover cop’s friend shoots him in the head as he holds him in his lap, creating a possible allusion to Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck’s classic novel. 

From this perspective, it is not a killing out of anger, but rather a mercy killing for his dying friend. This can be shown by the fit of rage that the dying cop’s friend has, followed by his calming down and acceptance of both of their hopeless situations.