The Beginning of Modern Gangster Films

Rating: 9/10 (8 April 2005)

Quentin Tarantino shows us that gangsters don't talk about gangsters all the time. And it's true, they don't. I believe he is the first director to accurately portray this. This is one of my favorites because of the great acting, brilliant dialog, and adequate fight sequences.
The movie begins with two characters named Honeybunny and Pumpkin sitting at a booth in what looks to be a diner. The two begin to talk about how everybody robs banks and that nobody robs diners. They decide they should be the first, so they stand up on their table and scream, "This is a holdup!" The frame freezes and credits roll.
This movie jumps between three different stories...about one story. John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson are two hit-man whose acting performances are Oscar worthy. Bruce Willis plays Butch, a boxer who refuses to throw a fight for mob boss Marcellus. Marcellus is Travolta and Jackson's mob boss.
The opening sequence is a clip from the third story in the film. After the credits roll the movie goes to a story where John Travolta's character "Vincent" and Jackson's character "Jules" go kill a couple people who stole Marcellus's briefcase containing something very important. This first story also coincides with Vincent taking out Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) out to dinner.
The second story is about how Butch is supposed to throw a fight but refuses so Marcellus sends Vincent and Jules out to kill him. Butch is nearly home free to leave but he left his father's prized gold watch back at his apartment. He goes back to retrieve it and a surprise was awaiting him...
Third and final story is about what the opening sequence expect now you see that Vincent and Butch are eating at the diner. When they are holding the place up, Jules convinces them to give him his wallet back in a humorous cocky way. Vincent and Jules leave the restaurant like they own the world as the credits begin to roll up.
My two favorite things about this movie is the dialog and the great music. I hope you enjoyed this review.