Pulp Fiction Movie Review

Pulp Fiction (1994)

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Written by: Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary (stories), Quentin Tarantino (written by)
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Ving Rhames, Harvey Keitel, Rosanna Arquette, Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz, Phil LaMarr,
Rated: R
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Plot
The lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.

Verdict
It's a movie you have to watch. While it put Tarantino at the forefront of the industry, it's value is in how it makes an action movie around inconsequential dialog. These criminals face some bizarre problems that this movie treats quite lightly. The performances are amazing, though that's boosted by a very sharp script. Composed of intertwining stories, every scene is engrossing. Each performance is enchanting. It's not just good, this is a great movie.
Watch It.

Review
The movie's legacy and influence is undeniable. It was just the second of Tarantino's movies, but it had a far reaching impact in the industry.

Movies tried to copy the non-linear storytelling and quotable dialog, and while Tarantino was inspired by budget movies of the '70s this move exceeds them because the dialog and characters are sharp and engrossing. Tarantino takes the style and genre movies with which he grew up and elevates them.

Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta play Jules, Vincent

This starts with a couple discussing their future and whether they should abandon crime. They conclude they should instead rob the diner they're in. After the title credits we shift to Vincent (John Travolta) and Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) with the classic conversation about the "royale with cheese." This action movie so far is concerned about dialog, and that's because the dialog is really good. That duo is captivating. This movie takes time for small details like how Jules and Vincent hold back when they're early to intimidate low level college criminals.

This movie is a class in film making, from the shots chosen to what's shown and not. Everything is intentional. It's clear Tarantino has a vision. His shots are conducive to the mood he's creating. Typically movies don't pair gritty violence and the humor with how this treats the daily lives of criminals.

Through Jules and Vincent we're introduced to Marsellus (Ving Rhames) and in turn Butch (Bruce Willis).

Ving Rhames, Bruce Willis play Marsellus, Butch

While this follows a few characters across the span of a few weeks or a month, all of the characters are captivating. There's no desire to get back to the real story. Each character is the hero of their own story. The narratives are linked only by characters we've seen previously. I clung to every word, every shot. This is engrossing from the first shot. Few movies or directors can do that.

While the actors do a great job, the dialog certainly helps. The script is the foundation to any movie, and this really is a day in the life type thing for a few different criminals. This world is a bit sleazy and lurid, that's the point. We see the criminal element directly or by chance. It had been a while since I had seen this, and I forgot just how good it is.