[Before we begin writing about how great and inspirational this film is, we want to acknowledge that the director is Bryan Singer and one of the stars is Kevin Spacey. For some, this is reason enough to erase the film from cinema history and we respect anyone’s right to do so.]
The cultural success of Pulp Fiction in 1994 cannot be overstated. In its wake, every studio was looking for the next low-budget crime film with an ensemble of quirky characters that actors would cut their fee to play, that emphasized dialogue over more expensive action. A lot of films tried and failed to copy Tarantino. Christopher McQuarrie was smart enough to make his own complex crime mystery – Who is Keizer Sozé? – and if it snuck in as part of Tarantino’s wave, that’s okay. He would win an Academy Award for this script.
The film was a major box office hit against its $6 million dollar investment, and the filmmakers loved to share stories about how it came together. This is one of the best DVD Commentary tracks for learning how to be economical with limited funds while also keeping it loose enough for the actors to contribute to the project. The commentary goes into Benicio del Toro’s process for creating an unusual and memorable character and the amount of improvisation on set, not just verbally but visually. A number of shots were added to create alternate realities effectively used by Editor (and Composer) John Ottman. It’s a lesson in how even an airtight script can be improved by a clever visual strategy.
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