Weekend Love Letter: Dear "Little Green Bag"...

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The beat starts up under Steven Wright's intro, but it really kicks off as Michael Madsen's Mr. Blonde takes his first step into the frame. In matching suits and sunglasses and in slow motion, the characters make their way across the screen. This effortlessly cool group doesn't seem like the same motley bunch of guys we've just spent 10 minutes watching argue about Madonna and tipping. They are all in unison and in control, however briefly. If you look a little closer, you'll see that they're walking downhill, which gives them all a slightly awkward bounce to their steps. Add to that Mr. Orange's screams, which get gradually louder over the music as the credits end, and it's clear they really have no idea what they're getting into. But there's that brief second of perfect control and epic cool. I think the word "iconic" is way over-used, but that's how I would describe this scene. Everything comes together in such a memorable way, and it sets a strong precedent for everything that comes after it, in this movie and in every other one. I'm so sick of slow-motion walking shots now, but you can't blame everyone else for trying to recreate the magic. Leave it to Quentin to always find the perfect song for every scene. I like to set my alarm clock to play "Little Green Bag" in the mornings - I wonder what it says about me that I find it kind of motivational.

No YouTube embedding allowed, but watch the whole sequence here.