Pulp fiction is a very well known movie because it has a
cast with A list movie stars, lesser known actors, and a phenomenal director.
Quentin Tarantino, who routinely creates movies in a non linear storyline where
things are portrayed not in chronological order, have large amounts of
violence, and references to pop culture. Pulp fiction is considered a “black
comedy crime fil” because of it mixture of violence, humor, and its non
chronological storyline. The movie is very iconic and got excellent reviews
from critics. The movie is different compared to other crime movies l because
of its unconventional storyline how its basically three different storylines in
one movie.
The sequence of the plot of the movie definitely gives the
movie texture but, since the movie is out of order understanding the tone of
the movie may be difficult to understand for someone seeing it for the first
time. Throughout the movie I think the audience will see and begin understand
the texture that Tarantino is trying to portray because even though there are
different storylines it all ties together at the end
The movie begins with a prelude and takes place in a diner
with a couple who are contemplating to rob the diner or robbing a bank. The
couple ultimately decides to rob the diner and announces they are robbing the
diner and demand everyone to put their wallets in the trash bag. This is the
first part of the movie. It then goes to the main characters of the movie Jules
and Vincent (Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta). They play as hit men that
work for Marcellus Wallace (Ving Rhames). They are sent to an apartment
building to retrieve a valuable briefcase belonging to Wallace that was stolen
by crooks. There are 3 men in the apartment and, one of the men is in the back
and runs out to shoot the hit men. Jules then recites a bible verse (a very key
part to the movie) and they execute the man.
The next scene (story 1) is at a strip club where Vincent
and Jules are seen in raggedy gym clothes which I will elaborate on why later. They
get to the strip club a few hours after the first scene. Marcellus is in there
with Butch (a boxer) where they are discussing on Butch throwing his next fight
for Marcellus as a debt owed. In the meantime, Vincent and Butch take a dislike
to each other which is relevant in a later scene. Marcellus is going out of
town and assigns Vincent to take his wife Mia out on a date. Marcellus
specifically reminds him to treat her right and show her a good time. They go
to a restaurant where they seem to be attracted to one another and enter in a
dance contest. The two go back to Marcellus’ mansion and Vincent goes to the
bathroom to talk himself of trying something with Mia in the meantime, she
overdoses on cocaine. Vincent panics as she is going into cardiac arrest and
takes her to a friend’s house. She does not end up dying but this extremely
scares Vincent hoping his boss does not find out and they swear to secrecy.
The next story is a prelude (“the gold watch”). Butch has
double crosses Marcellus since he wont the boxing match. Butch and his girlfriend
are laying low in a motel she then reveals that she has misplaced “the gold
watch” which is extremely important to butch since his father had given it to
him.
Butch goes to retrieve the watch at the last motel they were
staying. He parks blocks away and proceeds with precaution because he is being
hunted by Marcellus and his goons. He notices a gun on the kitchen counter and
hears the toilet flush. He grabs the gun and shoots Vincent in the head who is
coming out of the bathroom. Butch is then driving and is waiting at a red light
and sees Marcellus walking across the street and tries to run him over which he
fails to do. He runs into a pawnshop and Marcellus follows. They begin to fight
in the pawnshop but held at gunpoint by the owner. The two wake up in the
basement tied up and gagged where are then raped by the owner and his cousin who
are redneck serial killers. Butch eventually gets free and knocks the one out
while the other is raping Marcellus. Butch uses a samurai sword to help
Marcellus and he agrees to forget about the money and betrayal. Butch leaves
while Marcellus stays, and butch leaves to get his girlfriend and flee town.
The last story to this movie is a flashback to just after
they executed the guy in the first scene. There was a guy they took with them
because he tried to unload a clip on them at the apartment but every single one
misses. Vincent thinks it’s a miracle and Jules says its not. In this scene
they are driving in a car with the guy and Vincent is asking if he believes in
miracles and ends up blowing his brains out. They take him to a friend of Jules
(the director of the movie). They get all cleaned up by a man sent to them by
Marcellus and everything is taken care of.
The beginning scene comes back where they are in the diner
getting breakfast. Vincent goes to the bathroom and comes back in the middle of
the heist. This is where Jules has a change in attitude because doesn’t want
the gangster life anymore. He tries to talk down the burglars while Vincent
just wants to shoot them. He then recites the bible verse he normally says
before killing someone. He believes he has had it wrong this whole time and
states it again this is only one part though “The
path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the
selfish and the tyranny of evil men”. He always thought it was cool to say
before killing someone but he realizes maybe he is the the evil man and needs
to change his lifestyle. They let the couple go before he gets his wallet back
and they leave with the briefcase and go to the strip club and that is how the
movie concludes.
