Opening with long mid-shots and seemingly unnecessary chatter, the film spends a few minutes delivering a kind of challenge along the lines of “Alright, let’s clear the floor of the kids and make room for real cinephiles—no need for unnecessary expectations!” Then, without almost a single dull moment or idle dialogue, it unfolds into one of the finest examples of contemporary independent cinema. In line with Tarantino’s motto that “suspense is all about stretching the rubber band,” the director masterfully delivers even the potentially boring static monologues, truly deserving praise. The fact that it rarely strays into cliché territory earns it extra points, too! That it unfolds in real-time and takes place within the duration of a basketball game is just the cherry on top!