PULP FICTION (includes trailer)
July 1st 2010 13:05
Pulp Fiction may be a triumph of style over substance, but it’s a triumph none the less. For each generation, there seems to be a film that comes along once or twice a decade that defines the sign of the times, what it’s audience has been waiting for and it speaks to them, not only on a personal level but on a cultural and generational one. It connects with it’s demographic and spreads like wild fire. Films such as these, which spring to mind include The Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink, Blade Runner, Terminator, The Matrix, Fight Club and most definitely Pulp Fiction – a film which it’s die hard fans would continue to spread by a word of mouth, long after it’s marketing campaigns moved onto something else.
There are some who consider Pulp Fiction to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, and then there are it’s detractors, those who recognize it’s creative re-interpretation of other films from the past, as it regularly lifts lines, shots and scenes from La Dolce Vita, One Eyed Jacks, Psycho, His Girl Friday, Breathless and so many others that it becomes a mere cavalcade of film references. I fall somewhere in the middle in my opinion of it. Writer/director of Pulp fiction, Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill) has certainly been accused of plagiarism in his day, outspoken painter/actor Vincent Gallo described him as not a film maker but a collage artist. Pulp Fiction is a film about the films that have inspired it – but it is fun and it’s tour de force of bubblegum gangster violence, dark humour, and surfer music come from a unique voice who knows how to pull off a damn good yarn with it’s punch of transparent but seductive style.
Splitting it’s structure into three main chapters, which is all cleverly wrapped up with a mini story to begin and then book end the film in an ironic and shiny case of wit - one that is too clever for it’s own good at times. Pulp Fiction creates an underworld of classy cats and dangerous dames, all archetypal characters movie buffs will recognize and latch onto. These characters live for looking good and verbalising some of pop culture's finer observations. An old garage full of sharpened, glistening dialogue and conversational topics that are written to perfection, from the grandest rhythm of wordage down the most minor preposition, elegantly playing around with the finer points of the English language. Pulp Fiction’s writing and dialogue, with all it’s powers of verisimilitude, make for one of the most quoted films of all time.
During all of this we meet Jules, played by Samuel L. Jackson (Iron Man 2, Black Snake Moan, Red Violin) and Vincent played by John Travolta (Grease, Get Shorty, Blow Out), whose misadventures dance in the bowels of macabre humour as they dodge near disasters, while getting covered in the blood of other poor souls as a result. Pulp Fiction consists of a criss-crossing of related events over some hoods in Los Angeles, who all get into a jam in one way or another. Sometimes their paths cross to create a grin worthy case of fate and dramatic irony. A suave hood who temptation comes a knocking when he has to keep his bosses feline-ish wife company and out of trouble for one night. An old roguish boxer, who is payed off to loose his final fight and then double crosses his antagonists at the last moment. Then finally, two low rent gangsters who attempt what should be a simple job of fetching a brief case from some associates. The stories deliciously split apart and join up again in energetic flourishes as a sadistic twist of fate gives these characters the bad day they weren’t expecting.
We also meet Marcellus Wallace, the mob boss, played by Ving Rhames (Mission Impossible, Bringing Out The Dead, Rosewood). Butch, played by Bruce Willis (The Expendables, Die Hard, 12 Monkeys), and also includes a fine cast of actors who give some of their best and most fun filled performances ever, including Eric Stoltz (Mask), Rosanna Arquette (After Hours), Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter), Harvey Keitel (Taxi Driver), Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs) and Uma Thurman (Kill Bill) who all have their place in this love letter to pulp stories of the past. Samuel Jackson gives us a lesson in being cool and John Travolta busts out a dance number.
The gallows humour of Pulp Fiction has some of the most celebrated and talked about lines and blood soaked gags in memory, delving into it's good share of constant black humour. The structure of Pulp Fiction is now legendary, as it all unfolds in seemingly random order and the audiences excitement emerges as they see the big picture coming into place, as an invisible chronology emerges in their minds. Unfortunately, the humour always serves simplify everyone in the entire film. Many of it’s fancily written scenes amount to emptiness as the characters continue to 'look good' in the name of nothing in particular. Pulp Fiction is also completely devoid of any of the more interesting elements of his first effort, Reservoir Dogs or his third film, Jackie Brown.
Tarantino’s direction is still solid and confident, he moves his scenes at a luxurious pace, where he makes them as long as he needs to, it never feels self indulgent as much as it feels meticulous, this is perfect film making expressing what should be far less memorable content, but the film weaves it’s spell on you and has a tendency to cause obsession, but it all seems too clever for it’s own good. The smart ass comments that all the characters insist on supplying place the film in such an ironic, too cool for school position that you feel completely disconnected from them, which the last time I checked was a bad thing. When a character does get killed off, amongst all the action, all you do is shrug it off. It all fits into Pulp Fictions comic book view of the world.
This may sound like a bad deal if you are looking to have the deepest part of your soul harrowed by true art, but most viewers aren’t and they will gladly welcome Pulp Fiction’s precocious fun as it’s maker looks to thrill and titillate your cinematic senses in the most impressive way he can. The case always remains though that Tarantino is very much guilty of making Pulp Fiction simply to show how clever and cool he is.
I discovered Pulp fiction when I was 17 and it was one of the films that made want to make movies. I had seen it countless times based on all it’s slick strengths that dazzled me so in my younger years. I loved the film for a long time but I have gotten older and learned, for better or for worse, to be more discerning over my movies. I’ve grown out of it, having completely lost touch with the desire to dissect it’s many joys or relive it's scenes. If you are a younger viewer who hasn't seen Pulp Fiction, then see it as soon as you can as it’s worth a lot of the praise it receives, you will probably be amazed by it. I feel like I've grown out of the film, seeing it now merely as a guilty pleasure, but deep down inside I miss that giddy obsession and adoration I once had for it, not many other films once brought out such a level of joy for me. My lack of buying into Pulp Fiction's brilliance is now my curse to bear.
So - what are your favourite Pulp Fiction quotes?
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
From a plot perspective, just like Memento this is a film that succeeds because of structure.
The dialogue is undoubtedly superb and the characters memorable...in the end it is fantastic popcorn entertainment, nothing more, nothing less.
Like you, I was enamored with the film when it first came to cinemas and have seen it too many times to count. That fact alone means that i acknowledge its strength.
I am a sucker for the pop culture references and enjoy spotting the other films that it deliberately steals from...but steal is to harsh a word because there is no denying Tarantino makes every scene his own and that is what art is...taking what already exists and building on it. rather than using the past for mere inspiration QT uses it as a point of pride in his work.
All this babbling and no point,...the fact is that it is a good film, that demands attention and though not as nuanced as Jackie Brown, Dogs or Basterds still can only be criticized from a "I-have-seen-too-many films" personal angle because the technique is flawless.
Favourite Quote is either -
"Let me tell you what now. I'm a call a coupla hard, pipe-hittin' niggers, who'll go to work on the homes here with a pair of pliers and a blow torch. You hear me talkin', hillbilly boy? I ain't through with you by a damn sight. I'm gonna' get medieval on your ass."
"Well, I'm a mushroom-cloud-layin' motherfucker, motherfucker! Every time my fingers touch brain, I'm Superfly T.N.T., I'm the Guns of the Navarone! In fact what the fuck am I doin' in the back? You're teh motherfucker who should be on brain detail! We're fuckin' switchin'! I'm washin' the windows, and you're pickin' up this nigger's skull!"
Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
Nice review Shaun. I think even when they first saw it, most people realised that Pulp Fiction was a relatively frivolous piece of work. I'm not the film's biggest fan - I tend to think Dogs is the clear stand-out of the big T's work - but appreciate it nonetheless.
Fact for the day: I actually know a guy who's dad is Ving Rhame's kosher lawyer.
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
MATT! - agreed, I thought I would have more people arguing their case funnily enough, but I think time has revealed Pulp fiction to be a technically perfect case of twinkies. 'kosher' lawyer you say - why? Does he asks for his contracts to be blessed?
Matt, have you seen my review for reservoir dogs that I did a few days ago?
Also gents, pardon some of the repetitiousness in my review, I wrote it at an ungodly hour when I was battling to stay awake.
Fav quote???? I'm still a sucker for "They speak english in 'what'?, English motherfucker do you speak it. Describe what Marcellus looks like", "He's black..." "Go on..." "He's bald" "Does he look like a bitch?" "what?" shoots him
Funnily enough I still pop out reguarly with "this is a tasty burger"
and JD - the mushroom cloud layin motherf*cker, motherf*cker bit is still also my favourite quote.
Thanks for reading
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
Frankly, it was the making, or re-making some Grease fans might say, of Travolta.
I loved its blunt brutal indifference and pop culture settings, an amazing ensemble work on behalf of the entire creative team.
cheers and great review too Shaun
fog
Comment by Deni
Abstract Magick
Cinema Herald
When I saw Pulp Fiction, I didn't think much of it. I was wondering why people were raving over this film. It was good but it didn't leave any indelible impression on me what so ever. I had a few good laughs and it did teach me a few catch-phrases that I still use today.
David - perhaps the Uma Travolta dance scene irks you because they are always trying to milk Travolta's dancing skills in almost every movie he's in since Saturday Night Fever. He looks like a retarded dracula with a bad hair cut in that dance sequence.
My favorite scene is when Bruce Willis tries desperately to get his daffy girlfriend to get the hell out of dodge because he's in trouble and she keeps stalling him by asking stupid questions. And then there is the scene where that poor soul get's his brains blown out in the back seat quite unexpectedly...I laughed at that because it was just sooo random.
Cheers,
Deni
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
Thanks Fog - good to hear you liked the film, as JD said, from the technical point of it's story its flawless..
Hey - Deni - I loved it at first when I saw it as a youngster but have since found it stale after too many views. There some good scenes in it Thanks for reading!