A Refreshing Assault on the Senses

Rating: 9/10 (31 May 1999)

One of the best independent film ever made, Pulp Fiction is a towering achievement while not really being any good at all. It is a dirty, edgy film which is essentially about nothing other than what it feels like to be in this situation. It is reminiscent of Goodfellas, which has that same almost documentary-like feel to it, and has no definable plot.
At the centre of this film however is the acting. Quentin Tarantino draws every ounce of life out of each character and creates an endless series of freaks that you would love to study , but would never want to know. A lot of talk surrounded John Travolta's Oscar loss in this film to Tom Hanks, but it was Samuel L. Jackson who was robbed. He eats the screen alive in every scene - the most famous being in the diner at the end but the best being the hit on Brett ("Check out the big brain on Brett") in the first scene after the credits. Even Bruce Willis fits his role as a scheming low-life boxer perfectly.
The non-linear story telling and campy feel to this movie work, and make it come across like a crude mating of a 70's cop show, blaxpoitation and a soap opera. But the sharp, witty, original and daring screenplay never misses it's target and not a single scene comes off as forced or awkward.
The violence in this movie got a lot of attention at its release, but you cannot convince me that it has anything worse than an episode of NYPD Blue. It really is not that violent. The scenes with Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames and "the gimp" are truly offensive and tough to watch, but they are not that violent. That being said, the f-shots in this movie are countless.
When you first view Pulp Fiction, so much is thrown at you in such an unconventional way that you may well dislike the film. Give it a second or even third chance. It is well worth it. Pay close attention to the cameos - they make the film. **** out of ****.