1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Pulp Fiction

#908- Pulp Fiction (1994)
Starring: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino


Plot Summary: The first of three stories involves Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield are sent by their boss, Marsellus Wallace, to retrieve a mysterious briefcase from one of his business associates. In the second story, Vincent is asked by Marsellus to escort his wife, Mia, for a friendly get together while Marsellus is out of town. The final story features professional boxer Butch Coolidge, who does not live up to a deal he made with Marsellus and is now on the run before Marsellus and his associates can get to him.


When I saw Pulp Fiction for the first time, I was blown away by it. Never before had I seen a film do what it did and have such an impact on pop culture. The plot outline is nonlinear, there are numerous discussions that are irrelevant to the plot, and the characters, in any other film, would be unlikable. By the end of the film, it easily became one of my favorite films, one that I am able to watch over and over without losing interest in it. Quentin Tarantino has become one of my favorite filmmakers because of his recognizable style of writing and directing, which I feel is at its finest in Pulp Fiction.

Tarantino is notorious for creating classic characters that are able to leave a lasting impression on the audience. John Travolta was able to revitalize his career through his portrayal of Vincent Vega. Vincent is able to leave an impression on the audience as he is utilized in all three parts of the movie.  When the film focuses on him taking out Mia Wallace on a friendly get together, Vincent has a natural charisma and chemistry in his scenes with Mia, and has a very strong conflict of whether or not he will give in to his temptations when it comes to Mia, as he feels a spark with her as they have dinner. Travolta plays Vega as a character that epitomizes the word "cool." From dancing the twist, to talking about cheeseburgers in France, Vega has a way of making anything look or sound cool.

Vincent's partner in crime, Jules Winnfield, is played by Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson is one of the film's greatest features as he delivers one of the films greatest lines in its most famous scene. Before killing Brett, a business partner of Marsellus Wallace who is in possession of an important briefcase, Jules recites Ezekiel 25:17 from the Bible. Jackson's recital of the Bible passage is a moment that will forever cement Jackson's reputation as a bad mother-you-know-what. Jules also has a major moment of clarity in the film, as he feels that God has used divine intervention to speak to Jules about his life. The film concludes with Jules contemplating the true meaning of the passage, and finding a new perspective about how he wants to live the rest of his life.

Uma Thurman plays Mia Wallace, who Vincent accompanies to dinner as a request for Marsellus. Mia is as a smooth talker, with an answer for almost anything. She not only loves good conversation, but also enjoys an awkward silence, as it is a sign to her that she is comfortable with the person in order to just sit there in silence with them. My favorite part about Mia is that in this film of crime and violence, she acts as a free spirit, which is shown through her actions, as well as through music. Tarantino uses "Son of a Preacher Man" to introduce Mia, which I found was a song that fit the scene, as well as Mia, very well. As the film's poster girl, Mia is another strong character that adds something captivating to Pulp Fiction.

Butch Coolidge is played by Bruce Willis. Butch agrees to throw a boxing match for Marsellus, only to win the fight and try to flee town. Butch's strongest quality is that he has dedication to what is important to him. This is most apparent in the gold watch he carries. The watch is a family heirloom, dating back to Butch's great-grandfather, and has been carried through World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War. Butch is willing to risk his life to go to his apartment to retrieve the watch, knowing that Marsellus's men could be there waiting to kill him. Butch has a 1950s "tough guy" look, which is what Tarantino was looking for when he picked Bruce Willis for the part. Tarantino felt that Bruce Willis was the only guy with the look and attitude to do Butch justice, and I fully agree with him.

Pulp Fiction is not only a great film because of its characters, but also for the directing style of Quentin Tarantino. What is now considered a recognizable style for the director, was a style that was still considered new to mainstream film in the '90s. The film is shown out of order, which I think helped the film feel unique. While it has an unconventional structure, any viewer can put the film together as the pieces are presented throughout the film. Tarantino incorporates pop culture references in his dialogue, such as conversations about McDonald's and a restaurant dedicated to 1950s nostalgia. Tarantino's screenwriting creates conversations that most filmmakers would not consider putting in their films, which is what makes Pulp Fiction stand out as a great film and makes Quentin Tarantino an influential name in filmmaking.


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Pulp Fiction is one of those films that I could talk about for hours. It has a tremendous cast, great writing and cemented Quentin Tarantino as one of film's greatest directors. An easy recommendation for seeing and owning in your film collection.
 
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Pulp Fiction and movie images are copyrighted by Miramax Films