TARANTINO, Quentin. Pulp fiction.
1994. United States: Miramax Films. 154”.
Pulp fiction has all those elements required
for a Tarantino’s film: blood, guns, violence, a stream of bad language (only
the word fuck is used 265 times), a peculiar but really good amount of soundtracks
and, of course, a time-twisting structure.
The
plot interlocks four different tales with two mob hit men, a boxer, a
gangster's wife, and a pair of diner bandits as main characters. These stories
are presented out of sequence, so you don’t really know the complete story till
the end of the film, which actually is not the end of the story. Because of
that, that film becomes too much better when you see it twice or three times.
In fact, it had a great both critical and audience reception, but nowadays it
stills being seen by those noir film lovers and it is considered an “epic film”
by film buffs.
Pulp fiction mixes black comedy and
thriller, so you are laughing and, suddenly, you are in tension, then you are laughing
again. However, that film is not only intended for our entertainment. We can
find there that Tarantino criticize the insouciance, violence, homophobia, and
racism present in the 1990’s American society, with the growing contempt to the
poor, those who are disenfranchised and the disinherited.
But
one thing I find particularly interesting about that film is the redemption. Each
of the main stories ends with some form of redemption (Butch is forgiven by
Marcellus after he saves him, Jules let Pumpkin and Honey Bunny live), but the
key redemption is when Jules decides to retire (because he believes he and
Vincent didn’t die when they went shot by a “miracle”, an act of God) so he don’t
die in Butch’s apartment like Vincent does. This decision takes part at the end
of the film, although that happens in the middle of the story, so maybe this is
one of the reasons that justify the nonlinear storytelling (or perhaps Tarantino
was simply bored of lineal order).
Besides
the amazing plot, the nonlinear storyline, and the rich dialogue, Pulp fiction is also known for all the
details and references it contains, which shows many characteristics of
Tarantino. Some of my favourites are: when Butch decides to save Marcellus when
they are raping him, he has to choose a weapon and he takes a katana (the same
as Uma Thurman uses in Kill Bill) because
Tarantino loves these long swords. The twist contest scene (one of my favourite
scenes of the film) was about the point to be supressed because Uma was scared
of not to reach de dancing level of John Travolta. Jules’ wallet, which said “bad
motherfucker”, belonged to Quentin Tarantino in the real life.
These
are just some of the many curiosities that Pulp
fiction has, since this is one of the most successful and referenced films
of the last ten years.
I
highly recommend it and I consider it is a basic film all people should see at
least once.
