Samuel L. Jackson as Jules Winnfield in 'Pulp Fiction' (1994)
Fifteen years on, Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Pulp Fiction’ (1994) stays cool. The film uses six degrees of separation to remove and bring together the stories of two hit men, two restaurant robbers, a gangster’s wife and a boxer in crisis. The end result: a cinematic masterpiece.
Tarantino’s film is memorable for its rhythmic script and brilliant performances. Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent Vega (John Travolta) are immensely likable, despite being criminals. Even though they bicker, they share a chemistry that is unmatched by most cinematic duos. Butch Coolidge (played by Bruce Willis) is macho and brute, but also uneasy because of his criminal ties. Willis pulls off the conflicted antihero with flying colours. Ving Rhames (as Marsellus Wallace) is equally effective. He portrays the criminal figurehead with confidence; his deep voice demands power. Mia Wallace (played by Uma Thurman) is also memorable. Thurman lends a striking softness to the film. Her silent era image is arresting, as Vincent discovers over dinner at Jackrabbit Slim’s. Tim Roth (Pumpkin) and Amanda Plummer (Honey Bunny) are also brilliant, despite brief screen time. Tarantino’s decision to divide their scene at the beginning and end of the film works well; it bookends his story nicely. In contrast, Maria de Medeiros’ portrayal of Fabienne is annoying and uninteresting, a rare drag on the film’s great script and cast. Short, successful performances, however, by Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz, Rosanna Arquette, Phil LaMarr, Duane Whitaker, Harvey Keitel and Peter Greene make up for any lost ground in the film.
Tarantino’s use of disjointed time sequences, snappy dialogue, sharp humour, pop culture references and a groovy soundtrack keeps viewers entertained at all times. The film is still fun and intelligent today, a slick, self-reflexive celebration of film culture and history.
(5/5)
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