Vacations Blog

There is no better movie in the history of movies than True Romance.

I think that should be repeated…a few times – both for confirmation’s sake and to up my word count.

There is no better movie in the history of movies than True Romance.

There is no better movie in the history of movies than True Romance.

I mean, sure, you’ve seen it and loved it, but let’s recap very quickly some of its finer attributes before getting into the locations around Los Angeles you can visit and pay homage.

First of all, it was written by Quentin Tarintino before he got all…well, Tarintino. Directed by Tony Scott before he became the guy that directed Domino. Score by Hans Zimmer – who’s still cool. Some of the most memorable scenes that you’ll still hear quoted to this day, be them about Sonny Cheeba, or Elvis, Sicilians and where they came from or movies made about Vietnam – which bring us to the actors.

Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman [in his greatest role], Samuel L. Jackson, Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken, James Gandolphini, Michael Rappaport, Saul Rubinek, Chris Penn, Tom Sizemore, and Bronson Pinchot.

There is no better movie in the history of movies than True Romance.

Now, while most of the movie takes place in Detroit, only in Hollywood would you find a place that was made to look like Detroit – which even sounds strange to write. But if you’ll remember on Clarence’s birthday, he goes to see not one, but “three kung fu movies” – this is where he meets Alabama, in the theater itself.

The beauty lies in how in the world they made a hipsters theater like The Vista into a Motor City dive on a cold evening is beyond me. The place itself is actually worth the hype that all the tapered jean-wearing ironic kids outside claim it to be and well worth a visit should you want to see a movie in the land where they make movies.

The other scene that sticks out in my mind as one to visit would be The Safari Inn – this is not only the context of Brad Pitt’s funniest dialog ever, but also where Gandophini took his character to such depths, that there was no question about who to cast in The Sopranos.

And while it’s a drive out to Burbank, it brings back what you wish all movie locals would. There’s the overhang where Alabama kisses Clarence and tells him what she’s going to do until he gets back, the exterior of the room that housed one of the most intense scenes in cinematic history and the street they all pull out on after [spoiler].

So visit ‘em both.

And when someone asks why, you can tell them:

There is no better movie in the history of movies than True Romance.

Well done, you’re really sounding like you believe that.

All photos by author. More photos here. Dig.