“I had to crash that Honda.” I saw “Pulp Fiction” in a movie theater for the first time in 30 years.

Seen: "Pulp Fiction" on Nov. 16, 2023 at The Beacon Movie Theater in Beacon, NY

WATCH! » 👀 » I saw the Quentin Tarantino film Pulp Fiction (for the 356th time!)

I walked into a revival screening of “Pulp Fiction” to the sounds of the soundtrack album, which includes dialog from the film. Hearing dialog felt like a spoiler, even for me, having seen this film 356 times (*approximately.)

It doesn’t take much for me to become critical, and I suspected I would either be the most knowledgeable person about this film in the room or dislike anyone who knew more. Such is the plight of a man with a borderline (?) narcissistic personality disorder.

I have love in my heart, so I let the soundtrack spoiler situation go. Frankly, Dusty Springfield’s “Son of A Preacher Man” sounded fantastic on The Beacon Movie Theater’s sound system.

The host for the evening, Shane Bly Killoran, captured my attention as deeply knowledgeable about the film and Quentin Tarantino, instantly making her someone with whom I would want to debate about the topic. I made a mental note when she invited opposing arguments about “Pulp Fiction” being Quentin’s best film.

I am not a Quentin fanboy – I have never even seen “True Romance” – I am a fan of visionary artists who cannot help but express this vision at the peril of their sanity. One time, I alienated one of my fellow Upright Citizens Brigade students when I flipped out after hearing, “I didn’t like ‘Jackie Brown.’”

I have mellowed since then and now acknowledge that others have opinions I cannot control or change. Still, “I didn’t like Jackie Brown” is one of the most disturbing things I have ever heard.

The host discussed non-linear narratives by giving Robert Altman an effusive plug and Roman Polanski less of one (followed by a quick acknowledgment that he is “problematic.”)

She asked who in the audience had never seen “Pulp Fiction” before to a single response, a good indicator that I was about to be annoyed by “fan behavior,” which came in the form of one overenthusiastic bro proceeding to recite, at a nine-out-of-ten volume, most of Sam Jackson’s famous Ezekiel 25:17 speech. I said, “Refund!” just a little too loud, but not loud enough to get beaten up.

After that, I joined in on the fun as much of the crowd booed, and hissed the MIRAMAX logo, and got even more vocal when Harvey Weistein’s name came on the screen. If you didn’t know that Danny DeVito was also a producer of “Pulp Fiction”, you would after the boos for Harvey turned to cheers for Danny. We all love Danny DeVito, and we always will.

There isn’t anything about “Pulp Fiction” that seems dated as far as its narrative is concerned. The conversations and way of talking that we may not experience in media anymore are still happening at home and in art.

This fact is one of the enduring joys of this film. It is Quentin’s brain explosion. His refusal to edit the essence of his thoughts and stories makes him revered and reviled. Box office shakes out with the former, but with “Pulp Fiction”, when he was making it, there was buzz but not boffo box office.

The near-constant racial epithets weren’t unexpected – how could they be? I have seen this film 356 times – but hearing those words is still jarring. Quentin isn’t going to change the natural way his characters talk, which makes for visceral art, and yet still reminds us that the use of these words is not alright, then or now, and that if they sound jarring, it is because outside of this movie theater, they are used to fuel hate.

After watching Amanda Plummer’s intense and maniacal performance as Honey Bunny, I got my first goosebumps. That choice to freeze-frame on her when “Misralou” by Dick Dale kicks in is jaw-dropping. I am getting chills right now just writing about it. If you don’t become a fan of Quentin Tarantino and this film at that moment, it’s not going to happen for you.

Any questions about John Travolta’s “comeback” are a non-issue as soon as we hear from Vincent Vega. One of the most successful screen stars of all time isn’t going out like that, and Travolta’s Best Actor nomination was so deserved.

Here is a bit of script that no longer applies when Vincent talks about the theaters in Amsterdam where you can buy a glass of beer, which is now an American industry. That reminds me of another of the world’s biggest grifts on its citizens that is on full display. EVERYONE SMOKES EVERYWHERE! It’s something we don’t see anymore, and it stands out.

Quentin’s Oscar-winning Best Screenplay script is exhilarating. It’s everything I love about how he brings his mind to developing characters and dialog. Everyone seems so real no matter how unreal they could be on paper because when Quentin puts them on paper, it’s as if he is documenting a life lived rather than creating it from scratch.

The “big brain Brett,” “tasty burger,” “Flock of Seagulls,” whatever you call it scene is so perfectly tense, funny, scary, and brutal all at the same time. Most of the meager budget allocated for “Pulp Fiction” went to meager salaries for it’s not meager in the talent department cast, and even Frank Whaley in this small role as Brett makes everything out of it. “Say what again!”

It is a pleasure to see Bruce Willis again in his healthy years. It hit harder now that he is in decline. I connected with the scene at the bar between him and John Travolta more than I ever had before. I had never previously acknowledged this as two stars in a two-shot, and the “palooka” and “punchy” insults are so choice. Apparently, Tarantino has confirmed that it was Butch that keyed Vincent’s car?

We learn about this incident during Vincent’s first meeting with Lance (who can be seen in a mirror as he talks with Vincent, another something I never noticed before.) Lance sells Vincent the “madman” brand of smack that goes down sexy in the following shooting up scene, which is decidedly NOT an advertisement for staying away from H. That comes later.

Why does it bother me so much that Mia draws a retangle in the air when she tells Vicent not to be a square as they arrive at Jack Rabbit Slim’s? A rectangle is a square! I’ll let it go forever now, as this is not the first time I have thought about this.

Along with being able to buy beer in theaters, the “$5 Shake” is another piece of beverage-related dialog that now seems quaint.

We love to see John Travolta dancing! I never paid that much attention to the actual dancing before because it was cool that, “Hey, it’s John Travolta from “Saturday Night Fever” and “Grease” doing more dancing!” I did pay attention on this viewing, and Travolta kills it! He is up on his toes at one point. Again, coming with his A-game, not a “Thanks for giving me a break” game.

Soundtracked iconically, legendarily, and unassailably by Urge Overkill’s cover of Neil Diamond’s “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon,” forever to be one of cinema’s most perfect needle drops, is the unfortunate aftermath of the dance contest for Mia.

I noticed for the first time that the lyrics echo what happens on screen. “What I’m gonna find,” sings Nash Kato when Mia discovers Vincent’s baggie full of powder in his coat pocket.

The scene that ensues contains some of my favorite acting in the film. The comedic relief of Jody, played by Rosanna Arquette, is so much fun. If I am Rosanna Arquette, I am introducing myself to people as, “I am the girl with all the ‘shit in her face’ from “Pulp Fiction”, and also the ‘Rosanna’ that the Toto song is about.” Those are insanely massive credits!

A younger, less generous me never noticed the tenderness of the sex scene between Butch and his girlfriend Fabian (an underrated character who drives the Honda that Willis “had to crash.”) Fabian’s descriptions and delivery of what she will have for breakfast and the mention of “blueberry pie” sound as delicious as what she describes.

For the first time, the “spider caught a couple of flies” Zed/Marcellus rape scene reminded me of Buffalo Bill’s pit in “Silence of The Lambs”. I guess all murderous psychopaths employ similar atmospheric touches in their dungeons.

What the hell is The Wolf doing in a tuxedo at 8 AM when he is called to fix The Bonnie Situation? There seems to be an indication that he is at an all-night illegal gambling parlor? It is one of those details that fan obsessives do their thing over. I wonder more about the mechanics that led Quentin to this hilarious choice.

Does the reference to Fonzie in the final diner scene still play? Does anyone know who Fonzie is anymore? I sure hope so because Fonzie is cool.

I would love to know Ringo Starr’s thoughts about Jules calling Tim Roth’s Pumpkin character “Ringo.” It’s such a flex for Ringo Starr!

From the end credits: Kathy Griffin as Herself.

I chatted briefly with the evening’s host outside the theater after the show and explained that, initially, I wanted to take her up on her offer to argue about the best Tarantino film. It turns out that I agree with her, which I was happy about because it tells me that I have become a person who now acknowledges the opinions of others and is open to changing my mind. I could even possibly see how playing dialog from the soundtrack before the film could actually get me hyped up for the movie.

A lot of change can happen in 30 years!

— Josh Bloom, Nov. 19, 2023