Tangent 21 - Film Knockout - The Grand Final

Posted by
Incandenza

Posted on
10:53
Jul 04 2003

Film Knockout - The Grand Final

Drum roll please maestro...

It's here, the final showdown, good versus evil, mano et mano, Spassky v Fischer, Itchy v Scratchy... it all comes down to this, the third act climax ...

In the red corner... PULP FICTION. Quentin Tarantino's 1994 epic traces three interlocking tales of redemption, rejuvenating the careers of Willis and Travolta en route and making a bona fide star of Samuel L Jackson.

Great support from Eric Stolz, Uma Thurman, Ving Rhames, Harvery Keitel, Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer and a cracking soundtrack including Dusty Springfield's Son of a Preacher Man and Miserlou and Kool and the Gang.

A masterclass in dialogue, the only real flaw is a jarring cameo from Quentin (what I really want to do is act) Tarantino.

7 Oscar nominations including Tarantino as director but he had to make do with sharing the Best Original Screenplay gong.

In the even redder corner, THE USUAL SUSPECTS. Bryan Singer's second collaboration with Christopher McQuarrie came out of left field in 1995 but quickly earned plaudits and positive word of mouth as audiences were wowed by the audacious twist ending (for those of you who don't know, it turns out Bruce Willis was dead all along).

The ensemble cast includes Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, Pete Postlethwaite, Kevin Pollack and Chazz Palminteri. Del Toro went on to win an Oscar for Traffic, but 1995 was the year of Kevin Spacey (Se7en was also released this year) whose performance here starts slowly but ultimately steals the show from under the nose of Gabriel Byrne (who was reputedly told that his character was indeed Keyzer Soze).

Lacking the pop culture references of Tarantino, The Usual Suspects makes up for it with hard boiled cool and a fast paced narrative.

The joker in the pack... might a Baldwin be The Usual Supects undoing?

Only 2 oscar nominations picking up the Best Original Screenplay award as Pulp Fiction had the year before but adding to that a Supporting Actor award for the bravura Spacey.

Gentlemen, start your engines...

PULP FICTION v THE USUAL SUSPECTS

(Edited by Incandenza 04/07/2003 13:09)

26 Replies and 6665 Views in Total. [ 1 2 ]

Jayjay "I may be scattered / A little shattered / What does it matter / No one has a fit like I do / I'm the only one that fits you"

Unsurprisingly, the toughest one yet.

So, I've cogitated, decided, deleted, huffed and puffed, yanked hair, and smashed things. Then I went with my gut reaction:

Pulp Fiction

Posted: 12:06 Jul 04 2003

maisie19 Order is the Chaos we make familiar

It has to be :month:

Pulp Fiction! :month:

No problems deciding that! It made such an impression on me.

Posted: 12:15 Jul 04 2003

In a State of Dan That's just, like, your opinion, man

Very tough choice. I'm gonna go with The Usual Suspects.

Posted: 12:23 Jul 04 2003

Whistler "I wonder wonder why the wonder falls. I wonder why the wonder falls on me. I wonder wonder why the wonder falls, with everything I touch and hear and see."

Pulp Fiction

Posted: 12:33 Jul 04 2003

Lori You wear guilt like shackles on your feet, like a halo in reverse.

Erk! The Usual Suspects was a really great film, but I'm not sure how it would stand up to repeat viewings (hey, I have the DVD and have only watched it once). Pulp Fiction, however, is a film I could watch over and over again.

So... I'll go for Pulp Fiction.

(Edited by Lori 04/07/2003 22:22)

Posted: 12:49 Jul 04 2003

Teresa "So I can come inside of your kiss and just leave you on your knees"

Pulp Fiction

Posted: 12:51 Jul 04 2003

The Prophet "We bonded over a shared love of barbiturates and obsessive-compulsive behaviour."

Don't get me wrong here; I like Pulp Fiction, but I don't have any hesitation.

The Usual Suspects.

Posted: 12:52 Jul 04 2003

Maffrew In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight...

Pulp Fiction for me.

Posted: 16:24 Jul 04 2003

Samphirette To you I guess I'm just a clown who picks you up each time you're down

Pulp Fiction

Posted: 16:31 Jul 04 2003

CJL Don't be sad, don't be blue, Scotland can win in '82 (earliest childhood quote)

Pulp Fiction

Posted: 21:37 Jul 04 2003

Incandenza It's not a zero-sum game.

by Lori
Erk! The Usual Suspects was a really great film, but I'm not sure how it would stand up to repeat viewings (hey, I have the DVD and have only watched it once). Pulp Fiction, however, is a film I could watch over and over again.

And from the early running, that seems to be the consensus which surprises me since I've watched The Usual Suspects many times but haven't had any interest in watching Pulp Fiction for years.

I stuck the movie on last night, and was surprised before I quickly remembered why I hadn't watched it in years. At the cinema on a first watch, I thought it was great, but last night, I was struck by how cheap it looked, how uncinematic and dull the majority of the camerawork was and how precious little happened, leaving nothing of interest except listening to hour upon hour of Tarantino dialogue.

Reservoir Dogs doesn't stand up to repeat viewing either IMO and Jackie Brown didn't merit watching once, so I remain unconvinced about Tarantino.

Posted: 08:41 Jul 05 2003

In a State of Dan That's just, like, your opinion, man

by Lori
Erk! The Usual Suspects was a really great film, but I'm not sure how it would stand up to repeat viewings (hey, I have the DVD and have only watched it once).

I've seen it about 5 times, and it just gets better with every viewing.

Posted: 11:24 Jul 05 2003

PictureOfFlowers "When things are at their darkest, it's a brave man that can kick back and party." - Lt. Tuck Pendleton, Innerspace

Pulp Fiction

I'm afraid I'm with the "Usual Suspects doesn't merit repeat viewings" camp. I saw it at the cinema when it first came out and loved it, it is a superb film. I then didn't see it again till it got it's TV premiere and I watched it with my flatmates from Uni, and again I enjoyed it. But that's it, I haven't seen it any more than those 2 times, and have never felt the urge to either. Pulp Fiction however I bought on video on it's day of release, I've seen it countless times and I'll probably get the DVD at some point.

Posted: 20:52 Jul 05 2003

MonSTeR No big eyes! No magic powers! No giant robots!

The Usual Suspects gets my vote. I think that the story is simply a little stronger, the style is a little sharper and not so kitsch, and the twist at the end is superb.

I think Pulp fiction is a good film, but The Usual Suspects whilst not shot so well as some of the others, and despite Fenster's completely unintelligable accent, is simply the better, cooler, more enjoyable film.

Posted: 11:06 Jul 06 2003

JtB If someone gives you freedom it is not freedom, freedom is something you take for yourself.

My Vote: Usual Suspects

I like Pulp fiction but I think Tarantino is overated.

Posted: 22:39 Jul 06 2003

Callum Bianca loves you

It has to be The Usual Suspects.

Posted: 12:29 Jul 07 2003

Taz Extra medication for all - Pilz-e

I thought the Final would be harder...

The Usual Suspects

Posted: 13:13 Jul 07 2003

Stoo There are two major products that come out of Berkeley: LSD and UNIX. We don't believe this to be a coincidence.

The Usual Suspects gets my vote

Posted: 14:58 Jul 07 2003

misskittyfantastic

I'm going with The Usual Suspects on this one

Posted: 21:41 Jul 07 2003

[ 1 2 ]

Post a Reply

Back to the Forum

Poll

What do you think of Matt Smith as The Doctor?

He's fantastic! Instant favourite! (14%)

Good. A decent choice. (57%)

Not sure, need to see more. (29%)

Meh... he'll do I guess. (0%)

Terrible! Might stop watching. (0%)

Site Info

About T21