PULP FICTION - NOTES

PULP FICTION

Jules and Vincent - Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta

- Are told by Marsellus to go Intimidate guys who double-crossed Marsellus. 

- Vincent is told to take care of Mia (Marsellus's Wife), where he has to save her life after she OD's. 

HOMEWORK

In your own words write out the key events which take place in the three different narrative strands. Focus on key events not details.

Write a brief commentary on how all these different strands finally come together and then add as few thoughts on why the film can be considered as experimental. 

- Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield

- Butch and Marsellus

- Jack Rabbit Slim 

- Pumpkin and Hunny Bunny

Time moves around. 

QUESTION

EXPERIMENTAL FILM IS OFTEN THE RESULT OF AN AUTEUR CHALLENGING ESTABLISHED CONVENTIONS WITH FRESH IDEAS. 'WITH REFERENCE TO YOUR CHOSEN FILM, HOW FAR DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT?

OPENING SCENE / BUTCH AND MARSELLUS

- We aren't introduced to the characters; we are expected to know who they are. 

- We are listening to the middle of the conversation. 

- Without realising, they are foreshadowing the events of the film. 

- Left with more questions than answers. 

- He's constantly in shot.

- Mysterious nature to Marsellus.

- Music juxtaposes his words. 

- Angered side to him: red colour on the side of his face. 

- We side with Butch as Marsellus is not in shot. 

- Dark setting; dark atmosphere. 

Why is Butch in cahoots with Marsellus?

Why are hunny bunny and Pumpkin robbing the place?

Why did you start with that?

Why did you not have Marsellus in shot until later?

Why is bruce willis so dead?

With detailed reference to your film sequence identify, analyse and evaluate the extent to which is can be considered experimental. Make reference to key elements of film form to support your presentation.

JACK RABBIT SLIM - SCENE

- You don't see them formally meet.

- A lot sexual tension.

- Lot's of references to other media; Andy Warhol, retro setting, Marilyn Monroe. EXPERIMENTAL FILM.

- Resisting it being comprehension.

- Kuleshov effect.

- Many shot-reverse-shot; expressing the silence. 

- Nostalgia filled restaurant. 

- He's wearing black, she's wearing white. Ying and Yang.

- Colourful setting.

- Long shots.

- Hyperbolic sound when he drinks the milkshake. 

Tarantino presents a nostalgic atmosphere whilst maintaining a sense of sexual tension between both Vincent and Mia. They come together to have dinner, and Tarantino ultimately making the audience uncomfortable at this meeting.

WATCH SCENE

- Patriotism

- War

- Racism

- Vietnam war

- American value

- Holding meaning to inanimate objects

- Christopher Walken blends in to the background

- Average American home

- Mouthpiece for Tarantino views on American patriotism

- Canted angle, centre of the frame, POV shot

- Shot-reverse-shot/ Kuleshov effect

EXPERIEMTNAL:

- Satire

- Portrayal of veterans 

- Mise-en-scene

- Cinematography

- Racism

- Vietnam war

- Emotional scene

AUTER

Film director, who is distinguishable from their style. 'JJ Abrahams and his use of lens flare'. 

Tarantino has a distinctive style; themes and filmmaking across a body of work which becomes recognisable. Specifically, dialogue, juxtaposition, reflections, satire on America. 

Filmmaking conventions; Narrative, characterisation, beginnings and endings, genre conventions. 

Unfamiliar, deconstructs narrative structure, different dialogue, 

EXPERIMENTAL FILM IS OFTEN THE RESULT OF AN AUTEUR CHALLENGING ESTABLISHED CONVENTIONS WITH FRESH IDEAS. 'WITH REFERENCE TO YOUR CHOSEN FILM, HOW FAR DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT?

Tarantino utilises unfamiliar filming conventions, so that the narrative he wanted to present is clear within the context of the film. Tarantino presents himself to be an Auter who expresses a distinctive style of filmmaking within his work. Pulp Fiction is seen as an experimental film as the ideas and concepts he aims to present, links to the 'french new wave' as Tarantino moves away from a Hollywood style and into his own style. 

Tarantino challenges the established conventions of filmmaking by creating a disorganised story, therefore leaving the spectator with more questions than answers. Tarantino tells the story of 3 characters; Jules, Vincent and Butch and how each of their stories merge with each other in different ways. Although all these characters are made to be all villains in their stories, Tarantino experiments with different ideologies in order for the spectator to feel more involved with the characters; ultimately, making the spectator side with them. Towards the start of the narrative, Vincent tells Jules that he has to take the boss's wife, Mia, our for dinner. Vincent later enters her home and starts to hear Mia's voice through the intercom. From the performance of Vincent and his confused and disorientation facial expressions, we are able to understand the binary opposition of old vs new as Vincent seems to not understand the technology that surrounds him. Within this whole scene, Tarantino challenges established conventions of filmmaking by presenting a sense of nostalgia for the audience whilst also describing how corrupt America is starting to become. Tarantino creates a very stylised Hollywood setting with bright and clashing colours, which adds to the warmth that Tarantino tries to establish for the spectator. Mia mentioned the name Marilyn Monroe and describes her "15 minutes of fame", which was a quote made by Andy Warhol; another figure of the past. Tarantino uses these cultural references to challenge the filmmaking conventions as he creates his own style of filmmaking by bringing a new and fresh perspective on the world around him. 

The scene where Christopher Walken's character talks to a young Butch and describes the watch that his father left behind, could be seen to be Tarantino challenging these filmmaking conventions to present experimental filmmaking via the themes and ideologies he aims to present. He utilises the kuleshov effect of both Butch and the Captain as we can see both reactions to the importance of the gold watch. He uses very long and extended cuts to emphasises the importance of the Captain's words and his views on America. Tarantino essentially uses the Captain as a mouthpiece to express his own thoughts on America and presents his ideologies on the portrayal of veterans. This would be classed as experimental as this section is just purely dialogue on the importance of an inanimate object, which is uncommon in a narrative. Although, this part does play a part within the narrative and the importance of this watch led Butch to conflict; therefore, following the three-act-structure. Ultimately, as an auter, Tarantino gives the spectator a clear storyline, but shifts perspective and timeline; essentially, changing the established conventions of filmmaking.