"How do specific cinematic and dramatic elements bring out the literary elements (plot, setting, characterization, theme) of the film?"

Rating: Null/10 (4 May 2004)

In this movie, "Pulp Fiction," different cinematic and literary elements were used to bring out the literary elements of the movie. The director, Quentin Tarantino, did an excellent job of using different camera techniques and also drama techniques in order to make the story line stand out. I believe that this is one of the best movies of all time, and this was accomplished through the use of cinematic and dramatic elements. When using the camera to express the plot, setting, theme, etc., the director performed many different actions. There was an abundance of point of view shots and dolly shots. In the scene where "Marvin gets shot in the face," there is a point of view shot from Marvin's perspective and it shows John Travolta's character turned around facing the camera while sitting in the passenger seat of a car. The camera uses this shot to show the objects in the front windshield moving and makes clear that the setting is in an automobile. Another point of view shot that shows significance to the story is when Bruce Willis's character comes back to his house to get his watch and finds a gun on the counter. When he sees the gun, the camera turns to the point of view shot where Bruce Willis's character is focusing on the weapon. This shows that the gun has a significance and the scene becomes dangerous. It thickens the plot of the story greatly. The director also uses dolly shots to express the mood of the story. When John Travolta's character and Uma Therman's character are dancing the twist, there is a dolly shot that moves around the characters in a circle. This gives the effect that the camera and cameraman themselves are dancing. The dance and dolly shots give off a positive mood and lighten up the movie right before it drops into Uma Thermans overdose. Quentin Tarantino also used many dramatic elements in order to advance the plot and setting. John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson's characters have a certain attitude radiating off of them even when they do not have any dialogue. Their suits match as hit men and they both have extreme hair styles. These dramatic elements bring out their characters and make a connection with the audience. The director also uses music to set the mood of the movie. While doing the twist, there is pleasant music to portray the mood as happy and there is no danger for the characters. The director did not only advance the plot with the story line, but he also used dramatic and cinematic elements.