Killing Zoe is a 1993 movie directed by Roger Avary.
WHAT HAPPENS?
An American safecracker and a French junkie attempt to pull off a bank heist.
ONE LINE REVIEW
Killing Zoe is a quintessential, Tarantino-inspired 90’s gangster film.
THE ACTORS
Eric Stoltz leads an eclectic cast as American safecracker Zed. Stoltz inhabits the character with a laconic cool and basic humanity – a trait lacking in the band of criminals he joins with. Julie Delpy’s Zoe is used sparingly but her inspired performances critically bookend the story – she’s clearly Avary’s muse yet overcomes a narrowly defined role. Jean-Hugues Anglade rounds out the cast as the volatile, drug-addicted Eric – an outlandish role that he exuberantly fills.
THE DIRECTOR
Avary’s first movie features the wonderful energy and indulgences of a first-time director. The script is clearly in love with itself and often the movie’s style dwarfs its substance. The failed bank heist story – which became a poorly imitated trope in the 90s – does offer a unique story and setting. There are some creative and flashy camera sequences, along with an abundance of washed out 90’s style.
THE BEST – Guided Walks
Found in hundreds of 70s movies – like this one – one of my favorite quirks is guided walking – where one character takes another character’s arm and directs him to a spot. Killing Zoe is loaded with these actions – perhaps unintentionally – which makes for fun background scenery.
THE BEST Part 2 – Mouthy Hostages
One of the contemporary (and likely revisionist) critiques of the movie is its brutal and ultimately empty violence. Hostages are coldly executed. While a bit more socially acceptable at the time, these moments don’t age well. The scenes are jarring – especially given their lack of style and creativity, which Avary otherwise generously infuses his movie with.
But then again, the scene with the mouthy American hostage is an exception.
THE BEST Part 3 – Squib Death
One of the main characters meets their fate in the final moments with a glorious Bonnie and Clyde-esque tribute. The character’s body gets ripped apart by a gratuitous series of plugs – a scene that offers some much-needed retribution.
THE BEST Part 4 – Bank Robber Masks
I’m a sucker for bank robber masks – click HERE – and Killing Zoe features a fun Mardi-Gras inspired variety.
THE WORST – Addictions
It’s the early 90’s so heroin use is glorified – especially by Anglade’s Eric. The early part of the movie features extensive drug use – there’s both a hedonistic and completely far-fetched portrayal of partying, as virtually every drug in Paris is spread out on a table. In another sign of the times, every character that is not Delpy is a three pack a day chainsmoker.
THE WORST Part 2 – Violence Without Style
After Tarantino’s ascent, many young directors tried to emulate his stylized violence – and most failed. There’s a dark comedy associated with Tarantino’s most brutal scenes that somehow reveal heart. Avary – like most of his contemporaries – can’t channel this energy. While “cool” in a 90s vacuum, Killing Zoe’s most violent scenes don’t translate well to contemporary times.
THE WORST Part 3 – Random Dead Cats
I get the feeling this was an inside joke.
THE WORST Part 4 – Trusting Police and Prostitutes
The movie’s ending contains a gaping plot hole that makes you question logic. However, it’s probably best to view the movie within its quasi-fantasy genre. Otherwise, nothing Delpy’s Zoe does proves realistic.
FOX FORCE FIVE RATING – 3/5
Killing Zoe is a great 90s time capsule and fun reminder of the style that dominated the era. While the movie suffers from self-indulgences, it’s still fun and inspiring to watch a first-time director and diverse, talented cast evolve a quirky genre.
