Relatively new to the Forum and wanted to start integrating myself into the community early on with topics I appreciate, the most significant of which being film, because that’s been my niche for a long time.
There are a few film threads in the archives but no recent ones concerning general movie preference as opposed to opinions on a genre or a specific title. I’d like to get an idea of films that encompass all genres and time periods, that jive with people personally and for whatever reason that may be, whether the message enlightened you, it seemed fluid and classy, or of an important past experience in your life that it might somehow tie in with.
For me that film is Pulp Fiction, for a number of reasons. I’ll start with the reasons that make this film unique to me and my draw to it as a work of art and the content I appreciate most, then expand into my personal connection with it and how it helped me as a human being.
Pulp Fiction’s charm for me comes in it’s screenplay and character dynamic, a lot of time is spent on dialogue and conversation pieces that aren’t necessarily pivotal or for the most part even partly relevant to the overall premise. I enjoy how the characters always retain their realism even when the situations they face tend to spiral out of control, that Vincent and Jules can resort to talks that make light of their friendship and show their ability to share their thoughts with a loyal friend and crack jokes with each other with no work-related inhibitions.
That Butch can be an arsehole and a ego-centric jerk, but still be in a sympathetic position and have a respectable sense of pride even when he has to face the consequences of being stubborn in his intentions. And I like how The Wolf is calm and collected with a sense of class and eloquent in his speech, keeps to his logic in the event of stress, and is ruthless in his ability to urgently bring solutions to a wild and chaotic situation.
Even for the short time he spends on screen, The Wolf makes a lasting impression with me as one of the most outstanding and enviable characters in film history. All in all, I like the way each character has his own sense and definition of morality and how this moulds the way they respond to what they’re faced with in each passing situation.
I also love the pop-culture references and trivia behind the main dialogue, that I can view the film an indefinite number of times and still realise or remind myself of a quirk or popular throwback hidden within the framework. Like the reference to U.S. Presidents on the sign advertising Butch’s bout, or that ‘Operation’ is sitting on the table in Jimmie’s apartment when Vincent is administering an adrenaline shot to an overdosing Mia.
They keep the charm of the film fresh for me and ensure I will never just go through the motions watching it, but instead be enthralled and have my attention focused constantly on some intelligent pun or something I may have missed or not understood in the past.
But the most important thing I took from Pulp Fiction was how each situation and character, having their own separate reactions and coping mechanisms could be a direct influence to me and the way I live. That I could shape my depressed, easily manipulated personality of my early childhood and learn to accommodate for what I admire most about the characters. That sometimes I could take Jules’ aggressive nature and assert my own intentions and desires to counter-act the oppression of a controlling and manipulative associate or enemy.
That I could be like The Wolf, think logically about a task and complete it quickly and efficiently when the need arose, and speak passionately and respectfully about my thoughts and interests. I like that I could be more sociable and understanding of someone as a person and not categorise them on their social standing or background, like Vincent is with Mia, to some respect.
I didn’t intend this post to be as long and drawn out as it turned out to be, but I would be doing a disservice to cut any aspect of my appreciation for my personal favourite film of all time, everything I’ve written here has further solidified my adoration for what I consider to be one of the greatest and most enlightening embodiments of art in my lifetime.
I’d like anyone here who shares a passion for cinema to divulge their favourite films and their reasons, whether it be as detailed as mine, or short, sweet and to the point, all responses are equally welcomed.