“Say what again!” Fans ofPulp Fictionwill certainly recognize Samuel L. Jackson’s quote as the killer who grows a conscience, Jules, from filmmakerQuentin Tarantino’ssecond movie. And at the 15th TCM Classic Film Festival, four members of the 1994 cast (Jackson, John Travolta,Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel) appeared on the TCL Chinese Theatre stage with host Ben Mankiewicz prior to a special 30th anniversary screening ofPulp Fictionin Hollywood. During the Q&A, Thurman told the audience that the Tarantino film “changed cinema.” The actress also said (viaTurner Classic Movies):
It’s almost hard to like have it sink in. I feel like I’ve had an evolving and beautifully growing relationship with ‘Pulp Fiction’ throughout my life. So, it changed cinema, and it changed every filmmaker I met since.
Pulp Fiction
Travolta referred to the 30-year-old crime thriller as “next level,” because of what playing Jules’ partner in crime, Vincent, meant to the actor’s career. Travolta made a name for himself in Tinseltown with hits on television and in movies with 1970s titles likeWelcome Back, Kotter, Saturday Night FeverandGrease. But 1994’sPulp Fictionshot Travolta back to stardom for a whole new generation of fans.
John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson’s Appreciation for Pulp Fiction
For many cinephiles,Pulp Fictionalways tops the list ofQuentin Tarantino’s best films.But for John Travolta, though,Pulp Fictionwas the starting point to the second chapter of his illustrious career. One could also call Tarantino and Travolta’s first meeting serendipitous. When the actor met the filmmaker at his home, Travolta realized that Tarantino was living in his old apartment! And thePulp Fictioncollaborators hit it off from there, and they were “off and running,” as Travolta revealed to the audience at the TCM Film Festival. Travolta said of how the movie affected his career during the same Q&A:
“I mean, I had a great first chapter, and I was desperately looking for a second one. And he [Tarantino] took me to the moon and back. After that, it was mind-boggling the opportunities that came my way. I mean, it’s only something an actor can only fantasize about: What happened after that for me. It was next level, you know? And I could go on for hours […] Just know, it was quite something for me."
Pulp Fiction Cast and Character Guide
Meet the cast and characters of Quentin Tarantino’s magnum opus.
Years before he portrayed Jedi Master Mace Windu in theStar Warsprequels, Jackson had been working steadily. And the actor was coming off recent appearances insome of his best films,includingDo the Right Thing, Jungle Fever,Steven Spielberg’sJurassic ParkandTrue Romance. Jackson said ofPulp Fiction’seffect on himself and his career in the same sit-down:
“I was floating along and doing well. And this film was a great boost to me, just working and doing it through the work […] It changed my life drastically in that I think this was the particular role where all of a sudden people started thinking I was the coolest motherf—er on the planet. So… I’m happy with that.”
Travolta, Thurman and Jackson were all nominated for Oscars thanks to their wonderful performances in the film. However, none of them walked away with Academy Awards at the ceremony in 1995. At the time of this writing,Pulp Fictionis available to stream onMax.
Fans can check out the30th anniversary reunion of thePulp Fictioncastat the TCM Classic Film Festival in its entirety right now.
