You’ll know when you’re watching aQuentin Tarantinomovie based on two things: the copious amounts of blood (especially in his action films, likeKill BillorDjango Unchained) and the dialogue. Listening to conversations in a Tarantino movie is a unique experience. Sometimes, they’ll begin with a random story that segues into an explosive bout of violence, or a speech that reveals more about the character speaking it. Tarantino has a unique gift for delivering dialogue that reveals more about the character, while also leaving quite the impression on viewers. Nowhere is this more prominent than inPulp Fiction.
Pulp Fictionis usually regarded as one of Tarantino’s best movies (if not his outright masterpiece) and the best scene in the film involves Jules Winnefield (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent Vega (John Travolta). Jules and Vincent work as hitmen for crime boss Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames), who sends them to retrieve a mysterious briefcase. They also encounter Wallace’s associate Brett (Frank Whaley) and his friends, which leads toone of the best scenes that Tarantino’s ever written.
This ‘Pulp Fiction’ Scene Is a Prime Example of Quentin Tarantino’s Killer Dialogue
From the moment Vincent and Jules step into Brett’s house, the tension is so thick, you could cut it with a knife. There are some funny moments, like Jules telling one of the guys reclining on the couch to lay back while also discussing the merits of hamburgers with Brett — which leads to one ofPulp Fiction’s most underrated zingers: “Hamburgers! The cornerstone of a nutritious breakfast.” The audience, however, knows that something is about to go down. The moment that truly underlines the tension is when Jules takes Brett’s soda, asking “Do you mind if I have some of your tasty beverage to wash this down with?” and drinks it without breaking eye contact with him.
Every movement of Jules' is that of a predator slowly cornering his prey, leading to two unexpected moments. The first is when he asks the guy on the couch where Wallace’s briefcase is; when another one of Brett’s friends, Marvin (Phil LaMarr), tries to answer,Jules shouts, “I don’t remember asking you a goddamned thing!” The second is when Brett tries to talk his way out of things, but is unprepared for Jules pulling his gun and shooting Couch Guy dead. Brett’s shocked expression was probably the same expression the audience had, which is what makes it so memorable.
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What truly cements the scene is Jules' volcanic outburst at Brett, which contains linesthat have cemented themselves in cinematic history. From the infamous, “Say what again!” moment to demanding that Brett tell him what Marsellus looks like, this entire scene is packed full of dialogue that sears itself into your brain. While Tarantino’s written plenty of memorable speeches in his other movies, Jules' rant works because of Jackson’s volcanic performance and the buildup to said performance. How else do you explain the fact that people were convinced that heactually read a passage from the Bible? Jackson even took the time torecite Jules' speech forPulp Fiction’s 35th anniversary, and the fact that he remembers every single word of it speaks to Tarantino’s skill with writing dialogue.
‘Pulp Fiction’ Might Be Non-Linear, but This One Scene Affects the Entire Movie
Quentin Tarantino made a bold choice withPulp Fiction’s story by writing it as a series of non-linear stories. Whether or not you know about the film’s chronological order, Jules and Vincent’s meeting with Brettdrives their character journeys for the rest of the film. After a nearly fatal interaction with one of Brett’s friends, Jules is fully convinced that “divine intervention” is telling him to quit his criminal ways — and that’s a feeling that only grows further when Vincent accidentally shoots Marvin while he’s in the back of their car.
As for Vincent, who waves off Jules' warning as paranoia, he’s tasked with escorting Wallace’s wife Mia (Uma Thurman), and there’s a potential spark between them…that’s immediately snuffed when Mia overdoses on a stash of heroin. In the case of Vincent, he’s shot dead by one of Wallace’s other men, Butch (Bruce Willis). Jules, on the other hand, manages to talk a robber into not killing him, once again utilizing his Bible verse. This time, he doesn’t speak of vengeance, but wants to take a more peaceful path. “I’m tryin' real hard to be a shepherd,“Jules says in a weary voice, underlining just how tired he is of criminal life. This layered approach to dialogue, whether hilarious or heartbreaking, is what makesPulp Fictionsuch a great movie and a prime example of whyQuentin Tarantino is such a skilled writer.
Pulp Fiction
