Quentin Tarantino's greatest film is also his most ingenious; a series of interconnected stories, each one based on a "classic" tale from early pulp magazines, rendered in non-linear fashion and packed out with brilliantly memorable characters, endless pop cultural references and what is arguably the best movie soundtrack of the '90s (you could also argue for either Reservoir Dogs and Jackie Brown, but Tarantino takes the prize no matter what). So whilst the idea of crime is played with a keen sense of self-awareness here (parody, even), there's no denying that Pulp Fiction is crime cinema at its most entertaining and entirely riveting - not to mention it has amassed an incalculable legacy across the years, and has perhaps influenced more young filmmakers than any other. Still, more than 20 after its release, Pulp Fiction feels as bold and brilliant as it ever was - a true original.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
