Anyone who's seen a Tarantino film--or even heard of one--knows he's eager to press the hot buttons of audiences. Hence, scene with the unfortunate Big Brained Brad and his cohorts, caught between Jules cruel jibes and terror at their imminent fate, or poor Marvin's accidental, comical shooting, and so on. Scene after scene he intentional mixes emotions that we don't think should be mixed--comedy and terror, satire and violence. Crushing us in such vices make his scenes hard to forget, even for those who don't find gets caught between the jaws of his dramatic machines. Consequently, he gets everyone's attention--one of his major goals--but such visceral attention often misses the moralistic world his characters inhabit.
With all the excitement it's easy to miss Jules' transformation from vicious hitman to St. Francis-like wander actually giving away all he has to two other petty criminals in the hope that they reform their wayward lives (whether they will or not isn't the point, we're focused on Jules). His soon-to-be ex-partner Vince will face his own moral test in the form of Mia Wallace. Will he stay true to the trust of his employer, Marcellus, or give in to the obvious attraction Mia and Vince develop over the course of their evening?
Vince does stay true, and it's also easy to miss that Tarantino's created a perfect cinematic love story which never even comes to an actual kiss (though Vince blows Mia one at the conclusion of their "not-a-date" night). Nevertheless, Vince pays for his imagined transgression (and perhaps his duller vision, not to mention his drug addiction and murderous profession) when Butch returns to honor his father's (and family's) memory by retrieving the forgotten watch. Similarly, he returns to save his mortal enemy at the hands of psychotic rapists--ultimately to his benefit since his "debt" to Marcellus is repaid, but that outcome would have been hard to predict as he crept samurai-like down the improvised dungeon steps.
Despite Tarantino's apparently amoral approach good is rewarded and evil punished with almost Code-like predictability in Pulp Fiction.
With all the excitement it's easy to miss Jules' transformation from vicious hitman to St. Francis-like wander actually giving away all he has to two other petty criminals in the hope that they reform their wayward lives (whether they will or not isn't the point, we're focused on Jules). His soon-to-be ex-partner Vince will face his own moral test in the form of Mia Wallace. Will he stay true to the trust of his employer, Marcellus, or give in to the obvious attraction Mia and Vince develop over the course of their evening?
Vince does stay true, and it's also easy to miss that Tarantino's created a perfect cinematic love story which never even comes to an actual kiss (though Vince blows Mia one at the conclusion of their "not-a-date" night). Nevertheless, Vince pays for his imagined transgression (and perhaps his duller vision, not to mention his drug addiction and murderous profession) when Butch returns to honor his father's (and family's) memory by retrieving the forgotten watch. Similarly, he returns to save his mortal enemy at the hands of psychotic rapists--ultimately to his benefit since his "debt" to Marcellus is repaid, but that outcome would have been hard to predict as he crept samurai-like down the improvised dungeon steps.
Despite Tarantino's apparently amoral approach good is rewarded and evil punished with almost Code-like predictability in Pulp Fiction.
This is the part about this movie that I find so attractive. I find myself liking parts that I should be disgusted by. I laugh in the scene where Vincent shoots the guy in the car. Possibly due to the way they react. They are very upset by the timing and mess of it all. The morality of killers I guess. The thing I realized after watching the film this time is that essentially everyone in the film is a criminal or bad guy. Maybe that is what gives a pass on the violence.
ReplyDeleteI did hear a few reactions of why they didn't like the movie. The dialogue does seem a bit forced at times. It seems like these guys don't ever really seem to take a break from saying smart ass things.
Nick, I would have to agree with you. The scene where Marvin accidentally gets shot is funny to me. Perhaps this seems rather morbid but that's what Tarantino banks on in most of his movies. Its not so much the violence of it that makes it humorous but the context to which it happens. They are casually driving down the road having a discussions of miracles and divine intervention before Marvin accidentally has his head blown off. No one expects that to happen, and Tarantino kind of "throws a wrench" into the mix as if the movie wasn't constantly complicated and chaotic as it already is. I can agree that the first few times I watched the film the dialogue seemed a little long and the scenes drawn out, but I think it all makes for good cinema and only adds to the appeal of the film. You could quote the movie for months after viewing it and find yourself laughing about the smart ass remarks and one-liners that make this movie classic.
DeleteWhen watching the film it didn't even cross my mind that it has a "love story" plot. I feel that this was another thing that Tarantino slipped by me. I think that this part of the film gives great contrast to the weighted action and violence.
ReplyDeleteWhen watching the film it didn't even cross my mind that it has a "love story" plot. I feel that this was another thing that Tarantino slipped by me. I think that this part of the film gives great contrast to the weighted action and violence.
ReplyDeleteDerek, the Mia and Vince section of the movie is very much a love story that often gets overlooked because it occurs much earlier in the film and there are so many characters and stories that come together throughout the film. Also the unexpected circumstances that arise at the conclusion of their date with Mia snorting heroin and her having to be revived by an adrenaline shot to the heart kind of overshadow their connective romance. We do see Vincent blow the kiss at the end of their date which is somewhat symbolic of their interest and "love" for one another, but again these things become easily overlooked because there are so many thing that are going on throughout the film. Its often easy to miss the subtleties of Tarantino's work because I feel like we become so engaged with the characters and the interactions that give us a greater understanding of the big picture.
DeleteIt has a similar appeal as Stranger than Paradise in terms of a love story. There may be a connection but we all acknowledge it as something that could not happen. Mostly because it is interrupted by Mia's overdose.
DeleteAnother interesting thing to note about Mia and Marsellus Wallace is the fact that overtime they are on screen together they never speak a word to one another. It kind of leads one to believe that possible something is going on within their marriage or things may not be so great. This also could be an explanation for Mia and Vincent having a romantic connection at Jack Rabbit Slims. At first the date it somewhat awkward but transforms into an interesting conversation and dancing which leads the two characters back at home dancing through the doorway with a trophy in hand. We are lead to believe that something is potentially going to happen between the two characters. Vincent even sits in the bathroom to contemplate his loyalty to Marsellus and has to walk himself through how he is going to respectfully end the date so he can go home to masturbate and fall asleep. What disrupts this potential romance is Mia snorting the heroin, once again Tarantino mixes things up and further complicates the story. He almost makes us forget about the love interest between the two characters.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Mia and Marsellus never speak is one thing I never noticed until someone pointed it out. I also discovered that they stole the trophy. You can hear it on a tv that Butch walks by when he is returning to the house.
DeleteNick, I'll have to check that out about the stolen trophy! I totally missed that!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite thing about Tarantino is the way he walks the line between absolute graphic and disturbing violence to campy over the top blood splattering humorus violence. Kill Bill is a perfect example of this. The opening scene where the bride gets shot in the head is very graphic and disturbing. The scene later in the restaraunt in Japan where everyone is getting limbs cut off and spraying blood everywhere is far more humorus.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite thing about Tarantino is the way he walks the line between absolute graphic and disturbing violence to campy over the top blood splattering humorus violence. Kill Bill is a perfect example of this. The opening scene where the bride gets shot in the head is very graphic and disturbing. The scene later in the restaraunt in Japan where everyone is getting limbs cut off and spraying blood everywhere is far more humorus.
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