Probably the best film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Pulp Fiction changes the whole notion of narrative with fascinating sub-plots and ultra-hip characters. Everyone has their favourite scenes in this popular and fantastic movie.
Pulp Fiction won the 1994 Palme d’Or award during the Cannes Film Festival and from then on became a cult classic for film fans.
But why Pulp Fiction? What makes it so good to win an award at the glamorous Film Festival in the south of France? Well, this movie was unique, as the story was told in a non-linear way. It features witty and offbeat dialogue with references to the pop culture lifestyle.
The witty dialogue is the strongest and memorable part in this cool movie, in particular the scene when Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samual L. Jackson) discuss the names of fast food items that are called differently outside America. It’s entertaining for the viewer – who can forget that dance scene with Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) and Vincent in Jack Rabbit Slims? Very amusing, especially the scene in the coffee shop. Shocking – that gimp moment and above all, it’s stylish and modern.
Even though the narrative is told in an unusual way – with the ‘end’ told first, then the ‘beginning’ and finally the ‘middle’, the plot to Pulp Fiction can be seen as this: Pumpkin and Honey Bunny (not real names) are two thieves who, while dining at a coffee shop, decide that the best thing to do is to rob it. Vincent and Jules, two hit men working for mob kingpin Marcellus Wallace, are sent to retrieve a very special and very mysterious briefcase for their boss (we never knew what was inside). Vincent later must also show Mrs. Wallace a good time while her husband is out. And Butch Coolidge is an aging prizefighter who is being paid to “take a dive”, but instead, accidentally kills him opponent, and tries to flee town, but not before getting his dead father’s lucky golden watch. These four seemingly unrelated stories are interwoven together in a non-linear fashion.
The unconventional attitude of the movie, in particular its lack of a standard chronological structure, has often led the film to be cited as an example of a postmodernist film. And it’s amazing how many ‘copycat’ movies are trying to replicate this formula.
In conclusion, still one of my favourite films with an impressive range of talented actors and wonderful scenes. It’s remarkable that Pulp Fiction is regarded as the coolest film to see before you die.