Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 15, 1994 TAG: 9411230069
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
And at first, viewers may be worried. The pace is deliberate with long, banal conversations staged before an unmoving camera. It all seems pointless, deliberately artificial and even ugly. But about a third of the way into this long film, everything falls into place, and you realize what Tarantino is up to.
Essentially, the film is three interrelated, circular stories about mid- to low-level gangsters in Los Angeles. The main characters are Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent (John Travolta), two philosophical hitmen; Marsellus (Ving Rhames), their boss, and his wife Mia (Uma Thurman); and Butch (Bruce Willis) a fighter who's been ordered to take a dive.
Filling out the stories are a supporting cast of drug dealers (both professional and amateur), shady lawyers, cheap crooks and low-lifes who beggar description. Imagine Robert Altman's version of crime writer Jim Thompson's most bizarre tales and you're getting the idea.
These are unattractive, quirky folks; the kind of people who smoke cigarettes and eat at the same time. They inhabit a garish world littered with second-rate pop culture, and the action is backed up by a soundtrack filled with those grating oldies you wish you could forget.
Director/co-writer (with Roger Avary) Tarantino keeps his curious mixture bubbling with a streak of strong black humor, well-drawn characters and some of the most unpredictable plot twists you'll ever encounter. To reveal any of them would spoil the fun. As his contributions to "True Romance," "Natural Born Killers" and "Reservoir Dogs" show, Tarantino isn't afraid to use outrageous violence. There is some of it here, but that's not his real point. It's the crazed, desperate, flawed characters.
The film is definitely not for everyone. The challenging pace, the extended running time and the overall grittiness of Tarentino's world will certainly put off some moviegoers. But those who already know and appreciate his work won't be disappointed.
"Pulp Fiction" lives up to its advance billing.
Pulp Fiction ***1/2
A Miramax release playing at The Grandin Theatre and Salem Valley 8. 154 min. Rated R for strong violence and language.
by CNB