Spoilers for Pulp Fiction (1994)
Released in 1994, the influence of Pulp Fiction is still going strong. Whatever you think of Quentin Tarantino or his masterpiece, there’s no denying the impact he and it have had on indie and mainstream cinema since it first hit our screens. From its cinematography to its characters and outright hilarious dialogue, the film has often meant one thing to most people…cool.
For those who aren’t as familiar with Mr Tarantino’s wide net of sharp and ultra-stylised cinematic feasts, the word ‘cool’ seems to crop up again and again. It has become synonymous with the director and the brand of cult-gone-mainstream cinema he created.Â
Just one Google search of his name, and you’ll immediately see what I mean - a man overflowing with charisma and a confidence in himself most of us could only dream of. This directly translates to his films, and Pulp Fiction is no exception. Every edgy character, sleek shot and unique line emanates straight from his unequalled coolness.
When you watch any Tarantino interview about his writing process, the first thing you notice is his affinity with his characters. As any screenwriter will tell you, this isn’t easy. Tarantino doesn’t just understand his characters, though. He becomes them. There’s a deep personal connection between him and his writing as he plots his character’s lives. In other words, he is them, and they are him. His coolness is infectious, even to characters on a piece of paper.
The number one example of this is Jules. Played by Samuel L. Jackson in his breakthrough performance, Jules is the epitome of a cool dude. He’s charismatic and expressive, has a way with words (Ezekiel 25:17, anyone?), is effortlessly stylish (check out the Banana Slugs tee) and collected under pressure. Does that ring a bell?
Tarantino may not be a gangster or a hitman ready to pop a cap in your ass, but you can be sure that Quentin is a massive part of Jules. Thus, the coolness is born.Â
This is the mark of a true auteur, and it doesn’t stop there! Tarantino’s use of pop culture, stylised cinematography and music are unique to him and give his films an edginess and watchability.
Take the ‘Jack Rabbit Slims’ scene. It takes place in a 1950s-style diner where Vincent Vega (John Travolta) has taken his gangster boss’s wife Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) out for dinner.Â
The first thing you notice is the atmosphere. There’s a playful, stylish ambience as Mia and Vincent walk in, with Tarantino’s use of deep colour and dynamic camerawork adding to the cool mood as we follow them through the restaurant. The coolness continues as they sit down and talk, with the initial tension Vincent feels for taking his mobster boss’s wife out slowly fading into a shared understanding and playfulness.
Now for the really cool bit…the dance contest. As Mia and Vincent talk, the host asks any couples to come up and strut their stuff. Mia can’t contain herself and drags Vincent on stage to dance to Chuck Berry’s classic You Never Can Tell.
The confidence and swagger of their dancing brilliantly highlight their and Tarantino’s personalities. You get the sense that behind the camera, a young Quentin must’ve been dancing with even more style than the actors, and that’s saying something!Â
If you’ve never seen Pulp Fiction, what have you been doing? If you have seen it, watch it again. As fans of Tarantino will know, there’s nothing like it. I’ll be watching it at least four more times this year, safe in the knowledge I won’t need to use the word ‘cool’ half as many times ever again.Â
Writer/director: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Uma Thurman, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel, Ving Rhames