Pulp Fiction (1994)

Genre

Crime | Drama

Director

Quentin Tarantino

Country

USA

Cast

John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer, Maria de Medeiros, Ving Rhames, Eric Stoltz, Rosanna Arquette, Christopher Walken, Quentin Tarantino, Steve Buscemi

Storyline

Pumpkin (Tim Roth) and Honey Bunny (Amanda Plummer) are two thieves who decide to rob a coffee shop. Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) are two hitmen on the hunt for a briefcase from their employer, mob boss Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames). Wallace also asks Vincent to take his wife Mia (Uma Thurman) out. Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) is an aging boxer who is paid by Wallace to lose this next fight.

Opinion

Comparing the nominations for the 1995 Oscar's Best Picture - Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption and the winner Forrest Gump - is more than obvious that Oscar winners are not necessarily the best movies in the cinema history. 

Perhaps the best film of all time, and directed by one of the most creative geniuses ever born, Pulp Fiction is mixture of violence, black humour, crime, and action as never seen before, and kinda deals with redemption and spirituality.

The film is perfect from the beginning definition of 'pulp' to the end credits, going through some memorable scenes - The 'Royal with Cheese' discussion, Jules's speech, the twist contest, Butch saving Marsellus, Mia's overdose, Butch choosing a weapon. 

Also, it is impossible to not appreciate the many connections with Reservoir Dogs, like Vincent being Mr. Blonde's brother, Bonnie the nurse - referred in both films as The Bonnie Situation -, and some parts of the story taking place on the same day of RD's events. 

Quentin Tarantino not only proves to be a master in filmmaking, but also to be the master of witty, complex, and clever dialogue, and fast plot that doesn't allow the audience to get bored. There is no wasted line in the whole film, and every single story is told with irony. The cinematography is outstanding and the soundtrack  is one of the best ever.

The acting is top notch. Samuel L. Jackson delivers one hell of a performance as Jules, part specifically wrote for him. The fact that he was denied an Oscar is shameful. John Travolta is obviously the star of the film, and does a great job as Vincent. The supporting cast is outstanding. Bruce Willis, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel, Christopher Walken. All of them. 

The film gets better with each viewing - I didn't think it was possible to love it even more than I did before -, so if you didn't like much the first time, watch it again. If you still don't like it, go watch some commercial success. 

Quotes

Butch: You okay?

Marsellus: Naw man. I'm pretty fuckin' far from okay.

Butch: What now?

Marsellus: What now? Let me tell you what now. I'ma call a coupla hard, pipe-hittin' niggers, who'll go to work on the homes here with a pair of pliers and a blow torch. You hear me talkin', hillbilly boy? I ain't through with you by a damn sight. I'ma get medieval on your ass.

Butch: I meant what now between me and you?

Marsellus: Oh, that what now. I tell you what now between me and you. There is no me and you. Not no more.

Jules: Mmmm! Goddamn, Jimmie! This is some serious gourmet shit! Usually, me and Vince would be happy with some freeze-dried Taster's Choice right, but he springs this serious GOURMET shit on us! What flavor is this?

Jimmie: Knock it off, Julie.

Jules: What?

Jimmie: I don't need you to tell me how fucking good my coffee is, okay? I'm the one who buys it. I know how good it is. When Bonnie goes shopping she buys SHIT. I buy the gourmet expensive stuff because when I drink it I want to taste it. But you know what's on my mind right now? It AIN'T the coffee in my kitchen, it's the dead nigger in my garage.

Jules: Oh, Jimmie, don't even worry about that...

Jimmie: No, No, No, No, let me ask you a question. When you came pulling in here, did you notice a sign out in front of my house that said "Dead Nigger Storage"?

Jules: Jimmie, you know I ain't seen no...

Jimmie: Did you notice a sign out in front of my house that said "Dead Nigger Storage"?

Jules: No. I didn't.

Jimmie: You know WHY you didn't see that sign?

Jules: Why?

Jimmie: 'Cause it ain't there, 'cause storing dead niggers ain't my fucking business, that's why!

Babel (2006)

Genre

Drama

Director

Alejandro González Iñárritu

Country

France | USA | Mexico

Cast

Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Mohamed Akhzam, Peter Wight, Harriet Walter, Michael Maloney, Driss Roukhe, Boubker Ait El Caid, Said Tarchani, Mustapha Rachidi, Abdelkader Bara, Wahiba Sahmi, Robert Fyfe, Adriana Barraza, Gael García Bernal, Elle Fanning, Nathan Gamble, Clifton Collins Jr., Michael Peña, Rinko Kikuchi, Kōji Yakusho, Satoshi Nikaido, Yuko Murata, Shigemitsu Ogi

Plot

In Morocco, a kid (Boubker Ait El Caid) decides to test a rifle and shoots an American woman (Cate Blanchett) in bus, on a vacation with her husband (Brad Pitt). Due to the incident, in San Diego, their Mexican maid (Adriana Barraza) travels to Mexico with their children for the marriage of her son. Meanwhile in Tokyo, the police tries to contact the former owner (Kōji Yakusho) of the rifle, and his daughter (Rinko Kikuchi) that is feeling rejected misunderstand the reason of the investigation.

Opinion

Babel is a beautiful and depressing drama, about loneliness generated by cultural, geographical and psychological boundaries, and miscommunication in the modern world.

Like 21 Grams, this film has a non-linear story, and different pieces of the puzzle transpire at different times and places. It is impossible not to notice the similarities to Paul Haggis's Crash, but Iñárritu places more importance to human emotions.

The use of five different languages (English, Arabic, Spanish, Japanese and Japanese Sign) is more a mean of isolation than a way to help us understand each other.

The performances are excellent. Brad Pitt does a surprisingly excellent job portraying Richard - the scene where he breaks down while talking to his son is heartbreaking. Boubker Ait El Caid and Said Tarchani, which respectively play the younger and the older brother, give Oscar-worthy performances. The performances by Adriana Barraza, who plays the maid, and Rinko Kikuchi, who plays the deaf-mute Japanese girl are outstanding. Cate Blanchett is wasted as the American woman, since she never gets the chance to shine.

Quotes

Yussef: I killed the American, I was the only one who shot at you. They did nothing... nothing. Kill me, but save my brother, he did nothing... nothing. Save my brother... he did nothing.

Rating

8.0/10

21 Grams (2003)

Genre

Drama

Director

Alejandro González Iñárritu

Country

United States

Cast

Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, Benicio del Toro, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Danny Huston, Mike Wallace, John Rubinstein, Clea DuVall, Eddie Marsan, Melissa Leo, Marc Thomas Musso, Paul Calderón, Denis O'Hare, Kevin Chapman, Lew Temple, Carly Nahon, Claire Pakis

Plot

Jack Jordan (Benicio del Toro) is a former convict who is using his new-found religious faith to recover from drugs addiction and alcoholism. 

Cristina Peck (Naomi Watts) is a former cocaine addict who now leads a quiet life with her husband, Michael, and her two daughters.

Paul Rivers (Sean Penn) is a mathematics professor married with a dedicated wife and with a fatal heart condition. 

Key event is the hit and run accident in which Jack Jordan invests Cristina's husband and daughters, who die. Michael's heart is implanted in Paul, who is now obsessed with finding the person to whom he owes his life.

Opinion

For somebody it's the weight of the soul, for me 21 Grams is a great film. At the beginning is a little bit chaotic and it takes a while to figure it out. Death is certainly the most important theme of the movie, and it's discussed masterfully thank to the director. I appreciate Iñárritu choice of making a non-linear film, because it makes the viewer feel in the same way of the three main characters - at least that's what did to me. 

The music, by Gustavo Santaolalla, blends perfectly with the story and adds even more drama to the film. 

The cast is great; Naomi Watts and Benicio del Toro are outstanding. I particularly loved the latest because this has been the very first time I've seen Benicio shining.

Quotes

Paul Rivers: How many lives do we live? How many times do we die? They say we all lost 21 grams... at the exact moment of our death. Everyone. And how much fits into 21 grams? How much is lost? When do we lose 21 grams? How much goes with them? How much is gained? How much is gained? Twenty-one grams. The weight of a stack of five nickels. The weight of a hummingbird. A chocolate bar. How much did 21 grams weigh?

Cristina Peck: Take it easy? My husband and my little girls are dead, and I'm supposed to take it fucking easy? I can't just go on with my life! I am paralyzed here! I am a fucking amputee! Do you see that?

Rating

8.4/10