Customer Reviews

Pulp Fiction (BFI Modern Classics)

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There's pulp fiction, then there's worse--namely, thin, obvious, breezy commentary that pretends to be scholarly, or at least "academic." This very slight volume wastes time talking about websites dedicated to the film, then attempts to argue that "Pulp Fiction" is strictly a "postmodern" event to be experienced rather than thought much about (the author's grand conclusion: it represents "style over substance"). I didn't even find the book of much use when I wanted some reminders of plot sequence and characters' names.

Perhaps I expected too much for my money as a result of reading this same series' "The Birds" by Camille Paglia (who obviously immersed herself in an exhaustive research of the filmmaking process as well as the final product). This edition, on the other hand, has the feel of something tossed out in a couple of week-ends.

this book starts off a tad amateurish as Polan tries to tackle the film as a phenomenon first, and then analyze the actual film second. it seems that the author's initial take is that PULP FICTION is more pre-occupied with style over substance but as the film is analyzed in more detail argues that there is actual depth and substance to Tarantino's film!

this comes across as kind of awkward but Polan's writing style does improve the further along you read. i just wish that the author hadn't been so concerned with writing the first academic analysis of PULP FICTION and blasting the slew of sloppily written Tarantino biographies and websites, and focused more on the actual film.

i also question Polan's research notes. out of all the articles used/read there is one glaring omission: Gavin Smith's seminal article/interview with Tarantino about PULP FICTION in Film Comment around the time the film came out. Smith's article still remains, in my mind, THE best analysis of Tarantino's film. it's a shame the BFI didn't get him to write one of these books on PF.

By far the most disappointing of the BFI film classics series that I've read so far. In contrast, check out the excellent Shawshank Redemption book in this series.

Agree with previous reviewer - focuses way too much on the cultural phenomenon (and doesn't do a great job of that) and not enough on deconstructing analyzing the film in and of itself. Because of this focus, the book is already woefully out of date.

Poorly written and really just plain boring.

This film deserves better.

Pulp Fiction really seemed to come almost out of nowhere. Quentin Tarantino only had one movie under his belt, Reservoir Dogs, and even that was just an indie. What happened that made Pulp Fiction such a phenomenon even before it opened? Dana Polan attempts to answer that question and, for the most part, does a pretty good job.

Polan does not simply review Pulp Fiction. Rather, he places the movie within the context of the cultural time and place in which it came out. The movie came along at exactly the time when an undercurrent of fandom was ready for exactly this type of flick. Obsession results, as numerous gushing websites to Pulp Fiction and Tarantino demonstrate.

Polan also examines various features that overlay the film, allowing a reader (especially one who is a fan of the movie to begin with) to appreciate the work even more. Issues of race, childishness and the nature of fictional narrative itself are explored, along with other facets, as well. Steering clear (mostly) of the pretentious language by which film analysts like to show everyone else how smart they are, this book is for the most part accessible without a doctorate in film studies. Worthwhile for the fans.

Dana Polan does an excellent job of breaking down the phenomenon of Pulp Fiction by examining it both textually and culturally, and in doing so, brings the runaway success of Pulp Fiction and the apparent "God-liness" of Tarantino back down to Earth. The book is a quick read, informative, stimulating, and fun. Having been ambivalent about this film since its release, Dana Polan hits the nail on the head about exactly why I both love and hate this film.

At any rate, if you are at all interested about Pulp Fiction (whether positively or negatively), I urge you to give this a read. And, the section on the cyber-world of Pulp Fiction is, at the very least, a humorous added bonus.