Tarantino's Magnum Opus

Rating: 10/10 (6 January 2019)

Quentin Tarantino remains as one of the most unique modern filmmakers. The films he's directed are known for their nonlinear storylines, satirical subject matter, overabundance of violence, punchy dialogue, pop culture references and songs from the 60s to the 80s. So in order to find the one that embraces it all, look no further than his most beloved feature, Pulp Fiction. Made as a tribute to film-noir comics and pulp magazines, the film won the Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival the same year it was released. With that said, many consider this to be Tarantino's magnum opus, and I definitely agree.
The plot itself is divided into thee different segments that are told in non chronological order. The first one details mob hitmen Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson), whom share their own philosophical discussions with one another. Their story is intertwined with their boss, Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames) and his actress wife, Mia (Uma Thurman). The second one details struggling boxer Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) and his loved one Fabienne (Maria de Medeiros). And the third one details Vince and Jules fixing a murder problem with master fixer Winston Wolfe (Harvey Keitel) and encountering an anxious robber couple, "Pumpkin" (Tim Roth) and "Honey Bunny" (Amanda Plummer). With all of these storylines around, the film works based on what happens to each character. The mystery angle is played as each narrative comes afloat, making the viewing experience shockingly suspenseful.
Since this film is well known for the character interactions, it's no brainer that the dialogue is extensive, charismatic, snappy and heavily intriguing. Each character has their own personal views on life and other subjects that make one ponder a lot, especially Jules, as his arch becomes quite theoretical to the point of wanting him to make ease with himself. I think my personal favorite storyline revolves around Butch, since the macguffin behind his tough guy persona is what ends up driving his arch forward the most. In addition to having such a bittersweet life waiting for him, all the crap that happens to the guy always has me worried about his well being. The funny thing is, we don't know what will ever happen to most of the characters. Many of their arches just sort of conclude without a resolution, which appropriately displays the uncertainty of what will become of them to keep the audience wondering.
There's no denying how much this film makes use of its relatively small budget, and it looks amazing. The usage of camera angles, fast paced editing, lighting and panning really help elevate the already unpredictable flow that the movie set in stone. The cinematography by Andrzej Sekula successfully recreates the gritty underground homage to the hardboiled crime novels that inspired the feature. Not to mention, while there is no original score, the film makes heavy usage of the rock & roll and pop soundtrack that Tarantino loves to showcase in his work. Depending on the situation, any of the recordings are very crucial to the postmodern pizazz that the film established. Several films have been built around already existing songs like The Blues Brothers and Yellow Submarine, and this film is no exception; it utilized them wonderfully through style and substance.
Even though Reservoir Dogs was Tarantino's directorial debut, I think this film took what was good and bad about that feature and kicked it up to eleven. Pulp Fiction is a fantastically well crafted crime flick that took the genre to new heights that were never before achieved back then. Many filmmakers have tried and failed to recreate the magic of this film's versatility, but of course, you can never truly recapture lighting in a bottle like that again. Given that this year makes the feature's 25th anniversary, I think you should do yourself a favor and give it a watch if you're yet to see it yourself. It might surprise you for better or worse, but the shear experience of it will never leave your mind.