5. PULP FICTION (1994)

Although most will remember this movie as the first in which an actor removed pieces of brain (not his own) from an afro and in which home sternum injections were pioneered as a viable medical recuperative, there is much more than just radical medicine in this film. First, it rehabilitated John Travolta's flagging career, presented Uma Thurman in a role that didn't cause widespread wincing, allowed us to believe Bruce Willis was more (or less) than a world-saving cop, and introduced many of us to Samuel L. Jackson. In fact, this film was one of the first successful contemporary ensemble performances - just who is the lead in this movie? No one and everyone. Perhaps the plot is the star. The film weaves together several plot lines in several temporal spheres, all of which occur in the bizarre and heretofore untapped world of contemporary gangsters.

A lot of people die in this movie and many do so violently. Indeed, it's all a bit medieval. But beyond the time-twisting and gore, this film's script is also an innovation. We are exposed to inane fast food banter, porcine dietary pros and cons, and some scripture sampling. One of the greatest indicators of how well a film has permeated the culture is the incidence of its quotedness. This film has been quoted by everyone; not just lines, but entire monologues found themselves the center of conversations everywhere. This movie was just really damn cool.

As much as we have all come to find Quentin Tarantino annoying, we should try to remember him as he was when this movie first opened: irrelevant. The movie is a tremendous landmark in contemporary cinema not in spite of Quentin but because of him; he made the thing after all. And sure, he's got a limited range, but when he's within it, he's capable of great things. Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction are both great films. Watch them and enjoy. Then remember how annoying Tarantino is.

Notes:

  • Won the Palm D'Or at Cannes

  • Nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress

  • Won 1 Academy Award: Best Screenplay

  • Placed #95 on the American Film Institute's "100 Greatest Movies" List