An Unique Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (1 November 2003)

I saw this film in theatrical release when it first came out. I was stunned that it garnered mediocre reviews. I keep returning to the film to learn more about story, direction, and cinematography.
A recent book critical of American art and culture (by a, shall we say, conservative cultural warrior) posed the question "What work of art of the past 50 years will be remembered 500 years from now?" The questioner, and the editorialist who quoted the question were taking aim at Quentin Tarantino. Well, "Pulp Fiction" will be remembered, and so will everything produced/directed by Stanley Kubrick. And of all of his films, this one is my favorite.
The choice of the novel by Thackery as source material was brilliant. But Kubrick took it a step further by adopting an attitude flavored by Balzac and de Maupassant, although not as cynical. Rather, it is a work of naturalism, deliberately heightened by the Kubrick's signature geometrical camera direction, and his use of natural light.
Every serious lover and student of film-making must see this movie, and see it again, and again. It has the quality of masterpiece, and stands up to repeated viewing better than any film I have ever seen.