# 98

98: Pulp Fiction (1994)

John Travolta (Vincent Vega), Samuel L. Jackson (Jules Winnfield), Uma Thurman (Mia Wallace), Tim Roth (Ringo), Amanda Plummer (Yolanda), Bruce Willis (Butch Coolidge), Ving Rhames (Marsellus Wallace)

Marsellus Wallace is a tough guy—a guy who allegedly threw a man from a fourth story window because he gave Marsellus’ wife a foot massage. Jules and Vincent are hit men who work for Marsellus and are charged with the task of retrieving a valuable suitcase that was stolen from Marsellus. The plot of Pulp Fiction is simple, but the way that it’s broken up into five chapters and then presented out of chronological order is simply genius. Of all the films in my top 100, Pulp Fiction is the most violent and obscenity riddled. I first saw the film when it was released. I was fifteen years old and very green. The scene with the gimp in the basement of the crazy pawn shop owner; when I first saw the film I had no idea what was going on. I knew something bad was happening to Marsellus, but exactly what—I didn’t really understand. Of course I played it off to my friends that I totally understood every part of the film. Admitting ignorance I would have looked like a dork, and this was 1994 before being a dork was really cool. But I knew I loved this film. I went out and bought the soundtrack and committed it to memory, I dyed my hair black and got a bob a-la Uma Thurman as Mrs. Mia Wallace. So why did a 15 year old, who spent most of her week with her nose in fashion magazines and weekends at the dance studio practicing for the local production of the Nutcracker, love this film? As it turned out I didn’t need to understand all the details to know that this was something I had never seen before, Pulp Fiction was fresh and stylish and it had a killer soundtrack (pun intended). And though the film is full of violence and action—the best part is the dialogue. Razor sharp dialogue delivered by a stellar ensemble cast. Travolta’s career was resurrected as a result of this film and deservedly so—Travolta is brilliant as an affable hit man. Though Vincent Vega kills people for a living you know he has heart when he expounds on the intimacy of a foot massage. Uma Thurman is sublime as Wallace’s wife—a willowy coke addict who’s only claim to fame was starring in a failed TV pilot. When Uma slinks around singing Urge Overkill’s “Girl You’ll Be a Woman Soon” I can’t look away. Uma is also devastatingly charming in the Jack Rabbit Slim’s sequence. But my favorite performance: Samuel L. Jackson as Jules. When Sam Jackson takes a bite out of the “Big Kahuna” burger it is Oscar worthy. That I’m not distracted by the chunks of brain in Jackson’s hair while he delivers lines is a testament to his awesome performance in this film. Sam Jackson never gives a bad performance, but this is my favorite—yes I love it even more than his Mace Windu.

Triva: I was researching Chief Illiniwek last week and found Pulp Fiction mentioned in the court report for one of the cases related to the controversy of the Native American mascot of the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign. In the film Travolta is seen wearing a University of California-Santa Cruz Banana Slugs t-shirt. The film was mentioned because of the shirt and the shirt was mentioned as an example of an inoffensive school mascot. It’s pretty hilarious because that’s maybe the only universally inoffensive part of the film. The t-shirt is in the film because that’s director Tarantino’s alma mater.

If you like this film I also recommend the following films which do not appear in the Lisa’s Top 100:

Fresh (1994)

The Red Violin (1998)

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)/Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)