Tarantino’s Oscar Nominated “Pulp Fiction” Still Keeps Adrenaline Pumping After Three Decades

Not long ago, while figuring out which Oscar nominated films to check out, I came across one on streaming that I’ve heard was really great and this film has been on my must see list for years. And, believe it or not, this was my first time checking out the 1994 Quentin Tarantino film - “Pulp Fiction.”

Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield are hitmen with a penchant for philosophical discussions.

In this multi-strand crime film, their storyline is interwoven with those of their boss, gangster Marcellus Wallace; his actress wife Mia; struggling boxer Butch Coolidge; master fixer Winston Wolfe and a nervous pair of armed robbers, Pumpkin and Honey Bunny.

Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film “Pulp Fiction” has been called by numerous critics and film goers as being his best film of his career. And after finally checking the film out, I can see why quite a few people (and numerous Tarantino fans) have enjoyed this film.

This 1994 Quentin Tarantino classic delivers a non-linear narrative, unforgettable characters and some iconic dialogue. The stories that are interlocked throughout this film gives us some dark humor (most of which can give you a little laugh) and the typical Tarantino violence that his films are known for.

Throughout this Oscar nominated film, “Pulp Fiction” does have a decent balance of crime-filled moments and wit. The hitmen characters, Vincent and Jules (played brilliantly by Travolta and Jackson), have quite a few stand out moments that can really keep you entertained. One of their most entertaining, witty moments involves them discussing what a Big Mac is called in other countries. It may not sound so interesting and entertaining, but if you have seen the film you might know what I’m talking about.

With “Pulp Fiction” being split into three stories, each story shows how one small thing can go wrong with the characters that the story is focusing on. And that one small thing can cause the whole story’s situation to come tumbling down, leading to some increasingly desperate characters to absurd measures. All of these stories definitely do lead to violent moments - which is sort of expected for a Tarantino film. Some of the crime-filled moments can also get your adrenaline pumping (slight reference to a pivotal scene in the film).

Despite the film being split into a few segments, the non-linear narrative really isn’t hard to follow for any first time viewers out there. “Pulp Fiction” is one of those films that can still captivate audiences thirty years after its initial release. With its story structure, memorable characters/cast and a great soundtrack, this film remains a favorite for both Tarantino fans and fans of cinema in general.

Let me know on my Wyoming County Press Examiner reviews page on Facebook what your favorite Quentin Tarantino film is!

Trivia: The film cost only $8 million to make. The initial budget was reportedly even lower until Bruce Willis was added to the cast (he had a recent string of domestic flops but still a box office draw overseas). The film was already profitable when its worldwide rights were sold for $11 million. The film went on to gross over $200 million worldwide.

In 2007, the AFI (American Film Institute) ranked this as the No. 94 Greatest Movie of All Time. “Pulp Fiction” has received quite a few Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen and Best Film editing.

MPAA rating: R for strong graphic violence and drug use, pervasive strong language and some sexuality  (running time 154 minutes)

Where to find the film? You can find this Tarantino classic on Hulu/Disney Plus, Paramount Plus, MGM+ and various PVOD rental services.

• The movie cost only $8 million to make. The initial budget was reportedly even lower until Bruce Willis was added to the cast (he had a recent string of domestic flops but was still a box-office draw overseas). Five million dollars went to pay the actors' and actresses' salaries. The film was already profitable when its worldwide rights were sold for $11 million (again, mainly on the strength of Willis' presence). It went on to gross over $200 million at the box office.

• Quentin Tarantino wrote the character of Winston "The Wolf" Wolfe specifically for Harvey Keitel.

• Uma Thurman did not actually like the song that was played in the Jack Rabbit Slim's Twist Contest (Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell"), and she told Quentin Tarantino about this, saying it just did not sound right. Tarantino simply replied, "Trust me, it's perfect."

• Mr. Blonde, a.k.a. Vic Vega, played by Michael Madsen in Reservoir Dogs (1992), is the brother of Vincent Vega. Quentin Tarantino even had a spin-off film in development, titled "Double V Vega," which was a prequel to both movies. This film was scrapped, because both actors were too old to play younger versions of themselves.

• In the scene where Captain Koons (Christopher Walken) is giving young Butch (Chandler Lindauer) the gold watch, Walken appeared to pause during the end of his explanation for the story behind the golden watch. This is because Christopher Walken had forgotten his next lines before recovering in time to make it look as though he paused on purpose. It was decided to leave this error in the film, due to how authentic it appeared.

• This film was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 2013.

• The movie's line, "You know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris? They call it a Royale with cheese." was voted as the #81 of "The 100 Greatest Movie Lines" by Premiere in 2007.

• Although widely regarded as John Travolta's second comeback film (Look Who's Talking (1989) was his first), it served a similar purpose for Bruce Willis, whose films outside of the Die Hard franchise had been considered disappointments (except for Look Who's Talking (1989)). His supporting roles in this film and Nobody's Fool (1994) have been credited with preventing him from losing his A-list status.

• In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked this as the #94 Greatest Movie of All Time.

https://youtu.be/s7EdQ4FqbhY?si=VIG1K1VMOE0eNjZZ