Pulp fiction review

            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.