4.
Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino, 1994
Why is it one of my most favorite movies of all time?
There
are simply way to many fantastic scenes, memorable characters, and excellent
lines of dialogue to pick from. I could probably pick something to gush about
every five minutes of the movie. You know what they call a Quarter Pounder with
Cheese in France? Foot massages, Big Kahuna burgers, grandiose recitations of
bible scriptures, I’m only about ten minutes into the movie and I could keep
going.
Tarantino,
like all of the directors in my favorite movies list, has a patently unique
visual style to his direction that he completely owns. The pitch-black humor
and raunchy, witty dialogue make each and every one of his movies re-watchable,
and Pulp Fiction is the epitome of
his works. And the music. Such a fantastic soundtrack that resonates perfectly
with whatever is happening on screen. A great example of Tarantino’s unique
music choice adding inestimable value to a scene is when Vincent (zonked out of
his mind on heroine) goes to pick up Mia and “Son of a Preacher Man” is playing
over the house sound system. It creates the perfect chill mood for the rest of
their “NOT a date” at the restaurant Jack Rabbit Slim’s (which makes a cameo
appearance in my novel). In fact, the very next scene is the incredible
tracking shot following Vincent as he strolls through the restaurant on his own
personal tour. I swear, writing this makes me want to put the movie on right
now.
Pulp Fiction is the most re-watchable
movie of all time for me, narrowly beating the #2 film on this list. There’s
just so much there, but it all comes back to the dialogue (I know I keep
harping on this but there’s a reason Tarantino is world famous for the words
that come out of his character’s mouths). As a writer, the most compelling experience
for me of any movie is the dialogue (that’s why I absolutely love watching two
people walk around and talk to each other in the Before series by Richard Linklater). The gore, debauchery,
surprises, and characters of the movie are all owned by Tarantino’s dialogue,
and his words are what makes the movie transcendent.
The jumping
chronology of the film also helps make it a unique viewing experience, and was
groundbreaking stuff back in the day. The characters are unique and memorable;
almost every one of them are villainous yet the audience roots for them not
necessarily to succeed, but to be able to continue doing their thing so we can
figure out what new, deplorable situation will arise next. My favorite
character in the movie is Bruce Willis’ Butch followed by Jackson’s Jules
Winnfield.
Favorite Scenes:
Far,
far too many to choose from, so I’m just going to make a list: the scripture
speech, “Son of a Preacher Man”, tracking shot into Jack Rabbit Slim’s, the
dance, the adrenaline shot (superb build-up of suspense mixed with humor, the
girl in the background taking bong-rips while adrenaline leaks from the tip of
the god-awfully long needle), the ride in the cab, hitting Marcellus Wallace
and the gimp rape scene, I just shot Marvin in the face, the Wolf, and Jules’
moment of clarity (“But I’m trying, Ringo. I’m trying REAL hard to be the Shepard”).
I’m sure I’ve missed a ton of scenes, but you get the picture.
Lasting Memory of the Viewing Experience:
I did
not watch Pulp Fiction until my
junior year of college. A good friend and roommate at the time informed me that
I would love the film, and was actually quite surprised I’d seen Reservoir Dogs but not Pulp Fiction. Let’s just say he probably
rued the day he introduced me to Pulp
Fiction—recorded on our DVR from the Starz channel. Over the fall and
spring semester of that school year I probably watched the movie at least
fifteen times, with a very late night average start time. To this day I still
regularly watch Pulp Fiction at least
three times a year, and that’s only because I restrain myself from watching it
more in fear that I might eventually dampen the viewing experience (not
likely).
Other Movies from the Director that I Love:
Every
single one of Tarantino’s movies are superb in my opinion (only Death Proof can be considered merely “good”),
so let’s just go ahead and rank them: 1.
Pulp Fiction 2. Reservoir Dogs 3.
Kill Bill Volume 1 4. Django Unchained 5. Inglorious Basterds 6. Kill
Bill Volume 2 7. Jackie Brown 8. Death Proof
Up next: “But I'm a superstitious man, and if some
unlucky accident should befall him, if he should get shot in the head by a
police officer, or if he should hang himself in his jail cell, or if he's
struck by a bolt of lightning, then I'm going to blame some of the people in
this room. And that, I do not forgive.”
