Movies regarded as “classics” inspire generations, and define their spot in motion picture history. A film’s success is most often credited to the actors in front of the camera and directors behind it but in reality, how a film is edited can determine its spot in the rankings of legendary status. A simple tweak in the editing room can change an amateur flick into a Hollywood blockbuster. Classic films stand out by breaking the rules of editing; or following them in some cases.
Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction is one of these films that skews the rules and in turn, it is regarded as a defining classic. Through the awry camera work, and out of the norm editing, Pulp Fiction’s edits are one of the reasons why the movie is so popular. In breaking the rules of editing, Pulp Fiction can attribute its success to its shifty cutting and in the end, tying the whole story together. A nonlinear timeline, corresponding shot relationships, and astounding editing techniques turn this film into simply, a great movie for years to come.
Throughout Hollywood cinema, the basic timeline reins the order of events that occur within almost every imaginable story and big production. Structure of the common story line usually is the basis for building a tale around starting in the beginning, and finishing with the end. Quentin Tarantino’s classic Pulp Fiction is structured around three distinct nonlinear, but interrelated storylines. Through multiple stories and timelines, Tarantino’s wondrous directing and editing takes the story from a generic three part timeline to a multiple “chapter based” narrative. For example, the film introduces its viewers to a hold-up in a restaurant, breaking for the credits and the majority of the rest of the film in the middle, and concluding with the same two characters. This untraditional editing technique of a crooked storyline gives the viewers opportunities to connect what seems as dissimilar events into an enjoyable entertaining movie. Although each sub-plot focuses on a different series of incidents, they connect and intersect in various ways. The two contract mobsters Vincent and Jules are seen in strange odd thrift store style clothes in an early scene in the movie, and in the concluding scenes, the audience is revealed to this occurrence. Pulp Fiction’s deviant timelines are one of the reasons why this film is a continuous crowd-pleaser.
Tarantino’s shot relationships also give this picture another chance to break the “rules” of editing. Continuous and even stealthy camera angles allow Pulp Fiction to sometimes stray from the 180-degree rule when focusing on dialogue between two or more actors. During a dialogue between the mobster Vincent and a drug dealer, the shot is set up in the side of the room with a clear view of Travolta’s face along with the drug dealer with the help of an inconspicuous mirror in the background. This allows for minimal cuts and adds to the style of the film: an uninterrupted shot featuring both characters is one of many subtleties that occur within Pulp Fiction. Continuous scenes also found in the movie add to the realism of the story. Intense action shots feature abrupt camera movements and rare cuts in the madness as in the overdose scene with Uma Thurman. Absence of any breaks, and the audience takes notice, increasing the effectiveness of the film. Temporal relationships in Pulp Fiction are also key tools into tying together the film’s many storylines. The condensing and expanding of time are taken into consideration by Tarantino in whether or not to increase its effectiveness on the viewer. Fading to black is used rarely but is an effective tool that easily conveys the passage of time. As in the car accident between Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames, a brief moment of silence and fade to black illustrates the passage of time between the action: beginning with Willis’ point of view, the fade then switches to Rhames’. Tarantino sparingly uses the passage of time in this film unlike in other productions, where the fade is used frequently. The uncommon shot relationships found in Pulp Fiction are effective in providing this film with another factor that adds to its prime.
Tarantino also can attribute his film’s success to the subtle, yet awesome editing techniques found throughout the feature. The continuity of a film determines its effectiveness on the viewer, whether it grabs their attention or not. Pulp Fiction, despite its two and a half hour length, has tons of mini sub plots that have a rhythmic contrast in variety and length that hook the viewer into the film. For example, clips involving Samuel L. Jackson and Travolta are lengthy, yet they increase the effectiveness of the timing of other character scenes. Using a great flow, Tarantino edits Pulp Fiction that can be watched over again.
In skewing the rules of editing, Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction is a film that is awarded for breaking the norms. In regarding this movie a classic is to say that it defines its genre. Tarantino does so through his nonlinear storyline, parallel shot relationships, and astounding editing techniques to make this movie simply, a classic.
