Roger Avary co-wrote Pulp Fiction(1994) with Quentin Tarantino, and his debut feature as a director deals with many of the same themes.
Eric Stoltz is Zed, an American safecracker visiting his old friend Eric (Jean-Hugues Anglade) in Paris to rob a bank.
Arriving in Paris, Zed treats himself to sex with a prostitute on his first night (bizarrely, while the film Nosferatu is playing on the television).
The young Zoe (Julie Delpy) charms the American, but shortly thereafter, Eric arrives and brutally throws her out of the room.
He takes his childhood friend along to a wild party filled with drugs, alcohol, and sex. Zed had expected them to prepare for the bank robbery scheduled for the next day, but Eric thinks that isn’t necessary.
Zed realises that the gang is prone to extreme brutality and shows no regard for anything or anyone. Yet, he allows himself to be persuaded to take drugs as well, leaving him groggy the next morning. But then – before you can say Reservoir Dogs – they are already off to the bank.
Once there, Zed quickly realises that the gang has no idea what it is doing.
When no one can open the vault, Eric brutally shoots first a female employee and then the bank manager.
Zed sets about cracking the safe, but is horrified to discover that Zoe is one of the bank employees (she only works as a prostitute on the side) and is now in mortal danger, as Eric – who has just shot up – is spiralling out of control and gunning people down indiscriminately.
At some point, Zed must decide whether to stick with the unhinged Eric or save Zoe instead.
Avary gives his predictable heist tale a fresher edge than usual, with neat camerawork and a smattering of good jokes amid the unflinching splatter.
It’s still warmed-over Tarantino at best, though Julie Delpy adds a nice twist as the good-hearted prostitute of the title.
Zed
Eric Stoltz Zoe
Julie Delpy Eric
Jean-Hugues Anglade François
Tai Thai Ricardo
Bruce Ramsay Jean
Kario Salem Claude
Salvator Xuereb Oliver
Gary Kemp
Director
Roger Avary
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The young Zoe (Julie Delpy) charms the American, but shortly thereafter, Eric arrives and brutally throws her out of the room.
Zed sets about cracking the safe, but is horrified to discover that Zoe is one of the bank employees (she only works as a prostitute on the side) and is now in mortal danger, as Eric – who has just shot up – is spiralling out of control and gunning people down indiscriminately.
Zed
