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The video store guy told me this movie was very, very funny—but also provided
a disclaimer (I’m not sure why, except I’m guessing not a lot of people rent it at the same time they’re
renting Pride and Prejudice). He said he had to warn me that some very
unorthodox things happened in it. He almost sounded guilty for recommending
it.
And he’s not the only one—I’ve heard that cautious, sheepish
tone in others’ voices as well when they were recommending this movie.
Having now seen it, I can see why—this movie shows what happens to people
completely used to drugs and violence and murder, and on the way it shows a
lot of drugs and violence and murder. It’s one of those movies that makes
its point by trying to shock you with as much violence as possible in contrasting
it with intense practicality and deadpan humor. You’re supposed to enjoy
the humor, but think about why you’re laughing.
That said (and warning appropriately issued to those of you who may not want
to watch this movie because of the subject matter), the video store guy was
right about how funny this movie is. It combines the humor of Seinfeld—for
instance, it opens with a couple in a diner calmly discussing the philosophical
and practical reasoning behind robbing restaurants—with the kind of incisive,
empathetic character portraits of hitmen you can find in HBO’s series The
Sopranos. Pulp Fiction asks the sort of questions most people don’t
think to (or are afraid to) ask about the ins and outs of daily life of professional
hitmen.
This highly literate movie balances violence, comedy, drama, philosophical discourse, and
practical situations—while juggling time periods—in a near-flawless
narrative. I can see why it won so many awards.
