Thursday, 7 April 2011

Pulp Fiction - movie opening study

Pulp Fiction

Pulp fiction opens in café, a normal non-threatening situation from a 180’ degree shot. This is a common trick of the thriller trade, open in a supposedly normal, safe place and then make it non threatening. Two people, a man and a women are sitting at a table and talking about supposedly normal things. A couple on a date we suspect in the beginning, but from the way the man is lounging with his leg put up and a cigarette in his mouth, it’s obvious that this man is disrespectful and a bit of a rough, tough guy while the woman has an innocent, country girl feel.

The man order coffee, using a word for another language as if he’s smart before the waitress informs him that it means man nor female. They begin talking about matters not appropriate for discussion. Murder and robbing a bank with only a phone. This sudden change in pace is common in thrillers.

They then talk about robbing the café, using lots of exaggerated gestures and the man slams the gun on the table which is then zoomed in on, emphasising the gun. We get a bit of tension building now, suspense. How is it going to turn out?

The man then jumps up on the sofa like chair and yells that he’s robbing the café. This was anti-climatic and seemed somewhat cliché for modern day, as it was published in 1994.

The film then cuts to the credits moments after the initial holdup.

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