The year 1994 was a turning point for the American movie industry, Hollywood. Quentin Tarantino released his ever-famous Pulp Fiction. This movie was conceived and written over two years, 1992 – 1993, and the movie was a cinematic masterpiece. Pulp Fiction had not only been a movie appreciated in that era but is a timeless classic, which had been called an iconic movie of all times by critics.
The making of this movie, direction, and on-shoot locations were memorable for the cast and the movie lovers alike. Quentin Tarantino used all of his creativity in designing this masterpiece, which got the movie bag all the big awards and a significant record at the box office.
The genre of the movie is comedy, indie, and pop. Every critic on the block considers this film an accurate representation of all three genres. The write-up of the screenplay is such that it initially confuses you. It will hook you, and eventually, you will remember it for a lifetime.
The movie begins with two people hanging out in a café having a typical conversation about food and its name worldwide. In that scene, an iconic line by Samuel Jackson in Pulp Fiction on the hamburger was delivered.
Main Cast and their Character
The cast of this movie was hand-picked by Tarantino. Even though the directors altered their choices multiple times due to the actors’ availability and preference, the final results were the best. Each actor did justice to their work, and now, there isn’t a single person who could say that someone else could have done better.
Tarantino implied his best idea when he applied minor detailing. Every scene revolved around the main plot and cast. The presence of minor cast, minimal features, and spontaneous elements made this film an epic and a pleasant experience for the audience.
The movie is an example of great ideas and teamwork. The actors were the lucky ones who starred in a movie, now considered as a staple movie in the timeline of 90s pop-culture movies.
John Travolta as the impeccable Vincent Vega
John Travolta was facing a dip in his career when he signed Pulp fiction. In the 1970s, he rose with his work because of multiple movies and television projects. The ’80s were not very favorable to him, and his professional life started going downhill.
Pulp fiction helped him regain his position with a witty demeanor. He represented a hit-men who believed in killing. Travolta exhibited strong chemistry with Jackson in his dialogue delivery, body language, and connection as a colleague.
The initial consideration for this part was Daniel Day-Lewis. Still, Jackson bagged an academy award nomination, proving him the best choice for the role.
Samuel Jackson as the unflinching Jules Winnfield
This film proved to be a boost for Quentin Tarantino’s reputation in the industry. It gave a lift to Samuel Jackson’s career with a portrayal of Jules Winnfield. A ruthless man with humorous language, Jules Winnfield was the man who faced it all in the film.
Though considered a supporting actor by the Oscar nominating committee, Samuel Jackson’s character had gone through multiple ups and downs in the film. From killing people for double-crossing his Mafia boss to reciting bible passages as a response, to the point where he genuinely considers missing multiple bullets a miracle and a final change of heart.
Without missing a beat of his character’s core, Jackson’s portrayal of numerous emotions, the comic dialogue, made him prominent amongst his contemporaries.
Bruce Willis as the double-crossing Butch Coolidge
Willis, when he signed the movie, was also in a similar position to Travolta. A dipping career and a name nobody wanted to work. Tarantino retook the risk. Against the protests of other members, he chose to go with Willis because of his physique. Other members’ protests were the perfect portrayal of Butch. Moreover, Willis rose to fame once again by his image and reclaim his well-deserved fame.
Uma Thurman as desperate Mia Wallace
Mia Wallace was a budding actress and the mafia boss’s wife. Her little secret was her companionship with her husband’s most trusted hit-man, Vincent Vega. Powerful actress by the likes of Meg Ryan with other big guns of the industry was one of the first choices for this role.
Uma Thurman came into the mind of the director much later. However, Tarantino only had eyes for her. This movie got her an Oscar nomination and a place in the highest-paid actors in America, which she chose, not to cash until three years later.
Ving Rhames as merciless Marsellus Wallace
The casting team made the first offer for this part to Max Julien. He did not accept the role, and Rhames auditioned for it. His entire personality was speaking volumes about the ever-controlling Wallace. His performance in this movie banked his high-profile projects.
Other supporting Characters
Quentin Tarantino was a visionary man. He could visualize any designed scenario and its real-life implications. As a result of his ability to understand multiple situations, each scene contained the main cast. Still, Tarantino ensured to include several supporting or minor roles to give the scene the aura of real-life and hit the core of pop culture. Characters like Winston Wolfe, Jody, and Trudi were crucial to making the movie look hyper-realistic in its approach.
The uniqueness of the plot
The plot design was unusual because it was not in chronological order. From the audience’s point of view, the movie looks abrupt at first. But this haphazardness hooks you to the overall plot of the film.
It gives you a viewpoint not only of the people involved but also of a regular passerby. It shows the human side of the gangsters and the violent side of ordinary people.
The beginning and end of the movie are the same, revealing that the film is ending at the beginning.
The connections and references of the characters are raw in their core. Tarantino’s approach towards this movie was not that of a regular filmmaker. He had meticulously thought of every scene before he made the big move of translating it into a cinematic masterpiece.
Final word
Pulp Fiction is an acclaimed cult classic—a movie known for its direction, videography, ideas, and concept. Quentin Tarantino put his heart and soul into the film, making it renowned for generations to come.
The gory details of murders and a dangerous man turning towards the right path are the two most unlikely concepts coming together in one film, yet Tarantino made that possible. The side plots of the film ensure that the audience remains hooked to the movie. The director studied the smallest of details.
Every scene is impeccable and unique. The movie holds a touch of class. It is also a bold approach that no music was made specifically for the film; the director chose a premade score for the background of the scenes.
To date, the most intriguing thing is the ending, which was vague at best because, if Jules had given up his old ways, why did he take that doubtful suitcase while leaving?