LATE TO THE PARTY: RESERVOIR DOGS (1992)

Freddy Newendyke (Mr. Orange) is not a quintessential good guy, nor is he a good guy pushed into doing bad things. He's an alienated undercover who discovers he would've been happier living among professional criminals, and he's ashamed of it. A very flawed character, and an interesting one.

Also, Freddy's rehearsal and presentation of the "commode story" is unconventional and kind of fascinating -- as are the subtle details we get about how Freddy sees the world and his job. Before he leaves his apartment, Freddy goes back to retrieve a ring: a lucky ring, possibly a wedding ring considering the song "Fool for Love" on the soundtrack. Notice how Tarantino ever-so-carefully mirrors the undercover and criminal with this small gesture and, earlier, Larry (Keitel)'s description of a break-up with his former partner (Alabama). Small wonder that they bond.

For me this film is second only to JACKIE BROWN in Tarantino's filmography because the characters have real fears and concerns (even if they are familiar to this genre), and aren't pawns to cinematic references. I admire PULP FICTION, but it's bloated and self-satisfied, and everything from the past decade (KILL BILL, DEATH PROOF, BASTERDS) is palatable only in fleeting moments and performances.