 |
|
|
|
| | | |
| MatchFlick Member Reviews |
view all movie information
Directed By
Quentin Tarantino
Written By:
Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary
Cast:
John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer, Maria De Medeiros, Ving Rhames, Eric Stoltz, Rosanna Arquette, Christopher Walken, Bruce Willis, Frank Whaley, Steve Buscemi, Peter Greene, Alexis Arquette, Julia Sweeney, Quentin Tarantino, Dick Miller, Paul Calderon, Bronagh Gallagher, Stephen Hibbert, Angela Jones, Duane Whitaker, Kathy Griffin, Phil LaMarr
|
|
|
| |
Pulp Fiction (1994)
 email this review to a friend
Movie Review by Will
April 14th, 2006
|  |
The time was 1994 and independent film-making was on the rise. Robert Rodriguez had already made his mark with El Mariachi and Quentin Tarantino's first film, Reservoir Dogs, was a mild success. All over the world, filmmakers were inspired by the successes of these men and others. Then, in the autumn of 1994, three fantastic independent films were released that would change the world of independent film-making as we know it. One was Swimming with Sharks, a sort-of behind-the-scenes look at the life of a Hollywood intern. Another was Clerks, which chronicled a single day in the life of a convenience store employee. And lastly, there was the "story about three stories," the film that would inspire hundreds, maybe thousands, of filmmakers the world over. And it was called Pulp Fiction.
Tarantino's first, Reservoir Dogs, was a fantastic film itself, but no matter how good that was, Pulp Fiction is even better. The film is comprised of three different, interlocking stories (a la Magnolia, Crash), which are bookended by a prologue and an epilogue. Pumpkin (Tim Roth) and Honey Bunny (Amanda Plummer) are two young lovers who moonlight as small-time crooks. Sick and tired of robbing liquor stores and gas stations, they decide to start getting creative with their crimes. This time, they've chosen a little California diner. It would catch everyone by surprise, and nobody would be the least bit prepared. At least, that's what they think.
Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) are professional hit men and employees of the feared and respected crime lord Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames). Sent to retrieve a stolen case with valuable contents, the two think it will be the standard in-and-out job. But something else is amiss. Meanwhile, while out of town on business, Marsellus has requested that Vincent take his wife Mia (Uma Thurman) out for a good time. Constantly telling his friends and colleagues that it is not a date, he finds that the temptation to make a move is a lot stronger than he first thought. Luckily for him, the dinner with her goes well and he seems to be home free. That is, until fate throws him for a loop.
Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) is an aging boxer with only a few more fights left in him. One of the biggest fights of his entire career is coming up, and he's been approached by Marsellus with an offer to throw the fight. Enticed by a hefty sum of money, Butch decides to accept the offer. But when Butch ends up killing the other fighter in the ring, he finds himself on the run from one of the most powerful men in Los Angeles. Shacked up in a hotel for the night with his girlfriend, Fabienne (Maria de Medeiros), the two think that they will be able to get out of the state alive and never return. But when one makes a terrible mistake, attempting to fix the error may bring them more than they had ever bargained for! This is probably the most amazing film I have ever seen. To me, each and every aspect of Pulp Fiction is perfect. Tarantino's clever, fast-paced screenplay never misses a beat, and is well-deserving of the Best Original Screenplay Oscar that it received. He's also at the top of his game in the directing department here, evidenced by the fact that all the actors make all the right moves at all the right times. Speaking of the actors, I couldn't review the film without mentioning some of the great on-screen talent at work here. Everyone in the cast is superb, and three cast members -- Travolta, Jackson, and Thurman -- were nominated for Oscars. Though none of them won, one can't help but wonder why the academy gave Martin Landau the Best Supporting Actor Oscar instead of Jackson, who gives probably the most amazing performance featured here.
One of the most interesting aspects about Pulp Fiction is that the stories included in the film are told in a non-linear fashion, meaning that they are shown out of chronological order. At first, one might think this would ruin the film entirely, but as a matter of fact, it works for it, rather than against. Another puzzler included here is the mystery surrounding the contents of that glowing briefcase. What's really in there? Some have pointed out that the code for the case's combination lock is 666. Is Marsellus the devil? Probably not, but the many theories of the briefcase can leave one mystified.
In the past, I've heard films being described as roller-coasters. Well, if any film deserves that title, it's Pulp Fiction. Filled with twists and turns, carried by the solid screenplay and led with great direction, Pulp Fiction definitely deserves to be called the best film of the '90s, if not the best film of all time.
email this review to a friend
Comment on this Review:
Sorry, you must be a member to add comments to reviews.
Join or Login. |
 Subscribe to MatchFlick Movie Reviews through RSS
|
