Pulp Fiction (1994)

 

If 'Reservoir Dogs' put Quentin Tarantino squarely on the map of 'awesome/interesting directors', this one consolidated that epithet. Simply put: this is a timeless masterpiece, filled to the brim with memorable characters and especially a plethora of quotable lines and scenes that have not only stood the test of time, but that are in themselves timeless. 

Yes, it just is that damn good. 

Set in a realistic world that still feels fictitious in many respects, 'Pulp Fiction' entwines several tales with one another, not necessarily in chronological order. The one figure that is present in each tale is that of Vincent Vega, a hitman for crimelord Marsellus Wallace, an almost enigmatic figure. Vincent and his friend/colleague Jules are tasked to retrieve a briefcase that contains something very special. Not only that, but there is the issue that Vincent is tasked with spending time with Marsellus' wife Mia as he himself is out of town. And then there's an ageing boxer by the name of Butch, who decided against the odds to throw a fight in his favour against Marsellus' explicit instructions. 

The stories in and of themselves are interesting enough, but if there's one thing that Tarantino used to do better than most, it's write and deliver dialogue that is not only snappy, but memorable. In fact, this entire film is a treasure trove of quotes and lines that have entered the vernacular. Even after seeing this film only once, there are pieces that will drill their way into the brain. 

Heck, who doesn't have an inkling of an idea what "Ezekiel 25:17" is about? Or "Royale with Cheese"? 

Every actor on display is bringing their A-game. You could easily argue that it is especially true for Samuel L Jackson, who went on to massive success ever since and you'd be right. But a returning John Travolta or Bruce Willis also had their career resurgence thanks to this one, and it also made Uma Thurman a household name. Heck, these characters are all so damn finely tuned and honed by Tarantino's direction, it becomes poetry.

Not a lot else to say, really. This is a masterpiece. If you haven't seen it: what's keeping you?