Critical Film Review- "Pulp Fiction"

2056 Words9 Pages
The phrase "breaking the mold" is used somewhat frequently in movie reviews, often by overzealous pseudo-critics desperately clinging to a belief that their new found favorite film charted some sort of undiscovered film-world territory. Every now and then, however, there is a Hollywood product that truly lives up to such a phrase. The 1994 sophomore project by Quentin Tarantino, with its nonlinear storyline and quotable dialogue around every turn, is certainly one of them. Though laced with language and subject matters that some folks may not agree with, Pulp Fiction delivers unforgettable acting and a driving soundtrack which, when combined, result in a film to experience rather than just watch. The uncommon writing style of Pulp Fiction can be described most clearly as three stories and three smaller vignettes that are interwoven to produce one larger allegory. Each story follows a somewhat simple form: a lengthy dialogue between the protagonists, a surprising transition towards a somewhat violent or shocking event, and a calm rapprochement to seal the deal. What is unique about this theatrical recipe is that, while all of the elements are essential to give the bigger picture and interdependent in the effort to produce the overall message, the stories don't follow your normal start to finish movie timeline. Simply put, some of the events from each story are actually taking place at the same time as particular moments of the other stories. The film is set in Los Angeles during the mid-1990's and opens with a man and a woman, Pumpkin (Tim Roth) and Honey Bunny (Amanda Plummer), having coffee at a diner, while Pumpkin tries to explain why he doesn't want to hold up liquor stores anymore. The steady, continuous shots and camera angles seem to almost place the movie viewer in a table across from where they are sitting. Their

More about Critical Film Review- "Pulp Fiction"

Open Document