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Uma Thurman and Samuel L Jackson did not appear together in Pulp Fiction, but in Kill Bill Vol 2 they briefly crossed paths. This comic thriller can be credited for being the first time that the two actors worked together as a double-act. Thurman portrays Patrice, a high-strung gallery owner in Manhattan who snorts Adderall and has not made successful art acquisitions. Gordon (Jackson), a baker from Brooklyn who is involved in the underworld, suggests using her books to launder mob money by purchasing artworks.
Reggie, a local criminal played by Joe Manganiello, creates fake works of art that are falsely attributed to “the Bagman,” a nickname given because he kills his enemies by suffocating them with plastic bags. Surprisingly, Reggie’s art becomes extremely popular in New York, earning him a lot of money and angering his mafia bosses. The movie draws parallels to The Producers with Reggie’s unexpected success and Bullets Over Broadway with the idea of a tough guy having a talent for art. However, the film’s director Nicol Paone and writer Jonathan Jacobson’s lackluster execution leaves the actors following a predictable and unoriginal script.
Thurman and Jackson seem to enjoy each other’s company. Thurman, in particular, has a knack for delivering humorous and sarcastic remarks, like when she runs into two thugs outside her establishment. One of them comments, “Nice gallery. It’d be a shame if…” Thurman rolls her eyes and finishes the sentence, “Something were to happen to it?” She can handle threats, but she won’t tolerate being bored.
Maya Hawke, daughter of Thurman, adds to the amusement as an outraged artist, while Manganiello lacks charisma and often dulls the screen. It would have been much better if Matthew Maher, known for his energetic performance in last year’s Funny Pages, had played Reggie. He appears briefly as Patrice’s nerdy drug dealer. However, for satire of the art world and genuine laughter, Tony Hancock in The Rebel still surpasses this entire film.
Source: theguardian.com
