True Sue

Self-insert Mary Sue characters are widely seen as a hallmark of bad writing but sometimes they really work, a prime example being 1993's True Romance. Christian Slater's character, Clarence, is clearly modelled on screenwriter Quentin Tarantino himself. He's a movie nerd and Tarantino has talked about how he based Clarence's first meeting with a movie mogul on his own idea of himself in such a meeting. Throughout the film, characters express their boundless love and devotion to Clarence through words and deeds. Dennis Hopper as his father accepts a lethal beating and Patricia Arquette as his love interest, Alabama, is pummelled ruthlessly by James Gandolfini to protect him.

It's worth noting that Tarantino, when he wrote the screenplay, had been estranged from his father throughout his life. I doubt he had a girlfriend at the time, either, and, anyway, no girlfriend is as perfect as Alabama whose devotion to Clarence is inexplicable as written, created almost entirely by the chemistry between the performers and the work of director Tony Scott, the music of Hans Zimmer, and the costume department. Patricia Arquette looks so good in that movie. In True Romance and Lost Highway she's got to be one of the most stunning actresses in film history. How can Clarence be so lucky? Is it plausible? Maybe not, but it's really sweet.

The main reason Tarantino's Mary Sue works is the sheer cleverness of the dialogue. It may not be realistic for Alabama to fall for him so completely so suddenly but it's endearing watching them bond over Sonny Chiba movies and Elvis Presley.

The film bears a lot of resemblance to David Lynch's 1990 film, Wild at Heart. Both are about a pair of young lovers, one of whom is obsessed with Elvis Presley, and the girl is beautiful and devoted. Somehow the couple in Wild at Heart, as weird as they are, come across as more plausible. Both movies also use a Chris Isaak song.

I always had the impression that Lynch admired Tarantino more than Tarantino admired Lynch but I wonder if Tarantino wasn't influenced by Lynch at least a little.

True Romance is currently available on Netflix while Wild at Heart continues to be Lynch's most elusive film.

Sonnet 1993

Galactic dances stomp the shaky stars.
Expanding time has popped balloons of silk.
Escaping roosters head for chicken bars.
Researchers offer birds their dolphin milk.
Encouraged mammals dive for marble dimes.
Diversions stop the miners chipping cork.
Another page was soaked with troubled times.
Another beef was found engorged with pork.
Beside the station stands a troupe of dames.
They carry tickets meant for Saturn ships.
Intrigued reporters take their secret names.
But no-one's handle's worth a hundred chips.
Casinos cash the savings hoards of whales.
Policemen found it stashed in giant pails.