In her early career, Arquette received the most recognition for her role as Alabama Whitman, a free-spirited, kind-hearted prostitute in Tony Scott's "True Romance" (1993). The film was a moderate box office success but became a cultural landmark because of Quentin Tarantino's screenplay, which preceded "Pulp Fiction", although some critics were deterred by the graphic violence. In one scene, Arquette puts up a fierce physical struggle in a fight with James Gandolfini (as a viciously sadistic killer) which her character ultimately wins. Arquette's performance received generally unanimous praise from critics. Janet Maslin of "The New York Times" premarked that Arquette played her role with "surprising sweetness", while Peter Travers remarked that "Arquette delivers sensationally". "TV Guide" noted that the film blends and recycles elements from the story of "Bonnie and Clyde" and Terrence Malick's "love on the run" film "Badlands" (1973). It gave "True Romance" overall a favourable review for having "enough energy and verve to create something entirely fresh and infectiously entertaining". Richard Corliss of "Time Magazine" made similar statements and also likened the film to the earlier, seminal "Bonnie and Clyde."