Starring: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer, Maria de Medeiros, Ving Rhames, Eric Stoltz, Rosanna Arquette, Christopher Walken, Bruce Willis
Review: Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) are hitmen with a penchant for philosophical discussions. In this ultra-hip, multi-strand crime movie, their storyline is interwoven with those of their boss, gangster Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames); his actress wife, Mia (Uma Thurman); struggling boxer Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis); master fixer Winston Wolfe (Harvey Keitel) and a nervous pair of armed robbers, "Pumpkin" (Tim Roth) and "Honey Bunny" (Amanda Plummer).
While not my all-time favorite Quentin Tarantino film, Pulp Fiction has achieved cult classic status for good reason. This film was Quentin Tarantino's true coming out party, establishing him as an immaculate nonlinear storyteller, all the while cementing the iconic Tarantino tropes that we know and love today. This film features an intelligent script, and a brilliant cast that delivers all the wisecracks, banter, and fun that money can buy. Each character has their own unique personality, even down to the two hitmen played by Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta. Jackson's Jules Winnfield is more brash and aggressive, while also maintaining a curiosity about the world around him, and a belief in divine intervention. Travolta's Vincent Vega is loyal to a fault, and oftentimes finds solace in bathrooms where he's able to sit in solitude and collect himself. In contrast to Jules, Vincent is more laid back and introverted in nature, yet both are hitmen who seemingly have no reservations about taking a human life.
Pulp Fiction perfectly blends humor, violence, dialogue, and the flamboyance of '90s Los Angeles into a story that is so elaborately developed that it essentially ends right where it begins. Tarantino magnificently does this in a way that isn't confusing, and really lends itself as one of the positively iconic traits of this movie. Whether you're a Tarantino fan or not, Pulp Fiction falls under the category of "Can't Miss" cinema. Stop off at your local burger joint, grab yourself a Royale with Cheese and some french fries with mayonnaise, and watch this film today!
Fun Fact: The shot of Vincent plunging the syringe into Mia's chest filmed by having John Travolta pull the needle out, then running the film backwards. Watch carefully and you'll see a Mark on Mia's chest disappear when she's revived.