Who knew a bunch of hit men could stand around and talk about cheeseburgers and foot massages and still make for fascinating cinema?

Rating: 9/10 (1 June 2015)

Pulp Fiction is apparently named for the low quality paper Tarantino wrote his screenplay on. All I can say is thank you low quality paper for providing one of the top 30 finest films of the 1990s and may this film's endurance pay eternal homage to you. Now lets dig into the good stuff.
Pulp Fiction's non-linear story really boggled and irritated me the first time I watched it, but now I can't go without it. What on earth happened between the second scene, where Vince and Jules were so calmly in control, and third scene, where they rock up wearing loose fitting t shirts and boxer shorts. What on earth is the purpose of Ringo and Yolanda? Keep watching. Why was Vincent all alone in Butch's room? Keep watching. The strategic placement of The Bonnie Situation is pure gold, because when we watch Jules' decision to retire, we have already seen the trials, tribulations and ultimate tragedies that befall Vincent without him.
You can look through IMDb's list of alternative casting choices for this movie, and whilst some may intrigue you, this movie would be completely different (and in my view worse) without Travolta, Jackson, Thurman, Willis, Rhames, Keitel, Plummer, Roth and even Tarantino himself in the lead roles. Every single one of them embodies their character and we could not go without them. John Travolta is a sleazy, drug-addicted hit-man who is one hell of a dancer. Uma Thurman is equally good in as the alluring and composed boss' wife as she is in her overdose scene (which I maintain is one of the best put to screen). For Samuel L. Jackson, this is his moment - every single line he puts to screen is a quotable moment, and everything form his sculpted facial hair to his costume design becomes part of one of the most iconic characters of the 90s. It is one of 1994's greatest crimes that Jackson lost the Oscar to Martin Landau. No one stands around quoting Bela Lugosi, but you bet your sweet ass they can quote Ezekial 25:17 in almost its entirety.
But boy does this screenplay sound great. Who knew a bunch of hit men could stand around and talk about cheeseburgers and foot massages and still make for fascinating cinema. The banter between Travolta and Jackson is gold. The confrontation with Brett is cinematic platinum. Tarantino is just so good with words. The screenplay not only eventful, but packed full of non-traditional events that there never will be a film like Pulp Fiction again. Who'd have thought to throw in a pawn store rapist into the chase scene between Wallace and Butch? Tarantino, that's who.
I will not profess Pulp Fiction to be a perfect film. Its not. The banter between Butch and his girlfriend isn't nearly as entertaining as the rest of the film and I think it about ten minutes of footage could've been cut from that story. I also never really understood the point of the Wolf, because he is called in to fix a problem that really shouldn't be that hard to fix. But they are small problems in a classic film and I won't dwell on them anymore.
Pulp Fiction is special, its classic and if you haven't seen it, I'll buy you a DVD and send it to you so I can claim charity work. That this and the equally masterful Shawshank Redemption lost to Forrest Gump at the Oscars is so unjustifiable that its almost funny. Almost, but not quite.