Pulp Fiction (1994)
Starring
John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel
Director
Quentin Tarantino
Awards
Academy Awards
Best Original Screenplay - Quentin
Tarantino and Roger Avary
Academy Award Nominations
Best Actor - John Travolta
Best Director - Quentin Tarantino
Best Picture
Plot Synopsis
Quentin Tarantino's funny, violent and tongue-in-cheek tribute to
the less "classic" side of filmmaking, the potboilers and capers, the
blaxploitation flicks and gangster movies. The film interweaves three tales, told in
achronological order, and only at the end do the connections become clear. One story
focuses on the exploits of two hit men on duty for "the big boss"; another tells
the story of two lovers-on-the-lam who plan to hold up a diner; and the third features a
down-and-out pugilist who's ordered to take a fall... only he's not too keen on going out
a loser.
Film Notes
"With the knockout one-two punch of 1992's Reservoir Dogs
and 1994's Pulp Fiction writer-director Quentin Tarantino stunned the filmmaking
world, exploding into prominence as a cinematic heavyweight contender. But Pulp Fiction
was more than just the follow-up to an impressive first feature, or the winner of the
Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival, or a script stuffed with the sort of juicy bubblegum
dialogue actors just love to chew, or the vehicle that reestablished John Travolta on the
A-list, or the relatively low-budget ($8 million) independent showcase for an ultrahip
mixture of established marquee names and rising stars from the indie scene (among them
Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames, Harvey Keitel, Christopher
Walken, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer, Julia Sweeney, Kathy Griffin, and Phil Lamar). It was
more, even, than an unprecedented $100-million-plus hit for indie distributor Miramax. Pulp
Fiction was a sensation. No, it was not the Second Coming (I actually think Reservoir
Dogs is a more substantial film; and P.T. Anderson outdid Tarantino in 1997 by making
his directorial debut with two even more mature and accomplished pictures, Hard Eight
and Boogie
Nights). But Pulp Fiction packs so much energy and invention into telling
its nonchronologically interwoven short stories (all about temptation, corruption, and
redemption amongst modern criminals, large and small) it leaves viewers both exhilarated
and exhausted--hearts racing and knuckles white from the ride. (Oh, and the infectious,
surf-guitar-based soundtrack is tastier than a Royale with Cheese.)" (Jim
Emerson, Amazon.com)
Co-produced by Band Apart and Jersey Films. Filmed in
DeLuxe color with Anamorphic lenses. Jack Rabbit Slim's took 75 people, nine weeks and
$75,000 to build. The restaurant was based on diners in the movies Speedway, Red Line 7000,
American Graffiti, and Grease.
Uma Thurman is the daughter of the first American to be ordained a Buddhist monk. She was
named after the Hindu bestower of blessings. Pulp Fiction grossed $9.3 million
the first weekend it opened. It took $8 million to produce. Danny DeVito was one of the
executive producers. Shooting took approximately 500 days. Tarantino is featured onscreen
as Jimmy of Toluca Lake.
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