Greatest Movies of All time #4: Pulp Fiction

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.”