Just before the release
of Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino wasn’t a big name in the movie industry at
that time, like directors such as Martin Scorsese. However, following the
release of Pulp Fiction, Tarantino emerged as one of cinema’s greatest
writers/directors, all thanks to Pulp Fiction even if Reservoir Dogs was his
very first film
Pulp Fiction
collectively tells the story of two hitmen, a mob boss, a boxer and the mob
bosses’ wife living out their lives and naturally being involved with crime.
The great thing about Pulp Fiction is the perfect tying in of every single
thing that happened in the film whether it be one of Tarantino’s extremely
engaging conversations or just a murder, or a simple joke. Unlike other crime
films such as The Godfather which is so full of heart, Pulp Fiction is an
illustration of what life would be like under crime never showing any hints of
emotion even when main characters are tortured as is Butch, in one specific
scene. Tarantino was aware that his style and approach towards this now crime
masterpiece was unique at the time for various reasons, especially the
storytelling which is utter Tarantino brilliance.
When a film does not
have heart but more so violence and heavy crime, there needs to be endearing
characters spread throughout one of these films for us to really engage and
immerse ourselves in such a world where crime is life. Thankfully, Tarantino by
this stage had completely mastered how to write not only dialogue but his
characters who are some of my all time favorites. Samuel L Jackson plays Jules
Winnfield, a foul mouthed hit man and a friend of Vincent Vega, played by John
Travolta. The two share incredible chemistry and are an absolute joy whenever
they share a moment of screen time. Thankfully, there’s more than a moment!
There’s a whole story and a half with the two, which is how Pulp Fiction is
told. It is told throughout various stories taking place in different
characters’ lives all of which share some necessity to the end of the film,
whether it be Jules executing an innocent Brett or whether it be about Butch
receiving advice from Marsellus Wallace. Even though ‘The Bonnie Situation’ is
my favourite story, I love all three stories equally which is what Tarantino
intended and which is what he succeeds at thankfully. However, ‘The Gold Watch’
segment is more engaging than I remember the last time I viewed this film. It
is full of humor and is probably the only story that features any emotion depth
in any way, yet the film in every way turns out a piece of legend!
Every single actor does
their part perfectly. Jackson and Travolta are the true stars of this film,
figuratively and literally. However, the supporting cast consisting of Bruce
Willis, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer and Christopher
Walken all do a fantastic job. Even Tarantino himself has a role in the film
and whilst this is one of the weaker performances in the film, it still has
some great moments. This is where the film truly dominates most of cinema’s
films. Not in the story or the acting, or even the direction. But in the
dialogue. I am not someone who gets engaged to dialogue to the extent I have in
Pulp Fiction, which is quite possibly the most quotable film I’ve ever had the
pleasure of viewing. Tarantino is able to perfectly place everyday
conversations into a unique crime film in a way that not only is it
entertaining but it develops characters and a story. Most of the characters are
completely understood from the dialogue they say. Some of my favourite dialogue
ever came from Jackson and some other fantastic lines from Travolta and Willis.
This film is one of the
most perfectly paced 150 minute films. To think that by the end of this film, I
truly wonder what has happened to time completely tells that when one is able
to forget about the duration of a film, they are immersed and that is what I
was. I was taken into a world full of crime and violence, so empty of peace and
happiness which is simply not where I want to ever be but was able to take
myself and accept myself into such a world. Everything about Pulp Fiction is
utterly perfect and when you add the incredible entertainment factor and the high
re-watchability factor that Pulp Fiction has, then you basically find yourself
having a timeless masterpiece that is not only Tarantino’s best but one of the
all time greats.
Grade- 10/10 without a doubt!!!
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