Pulp Fiction is a film by Quentin Tarantino that uses extraordinary techniques of editing, These editing techniques not only ignore basic film conventions but allow the film to have a feel that is very unique to it, The film was released in 1994 and was met with critical acclaim and is considered one of the greatest films of all time by many. Some scenes demonstrate unconventional editing more than others demonstrate this unique editing style more than others. Three scenes in particular are the scene were Butch approaches the apartment, Jules and Vincent shoot the man in the chair, and lastly walking into the room with the 3 men breaking the 180 degree rule In the scene were Butch approaches his old apartment the entire scene uses a single shot. While trying to recover his fathers watch Butch crosses over a fence and a yard while the camera follows closely allowing tension to build throughout the scene.
After having crossed over and now at the apartment building an edit occurs that is for the most part unnoticeablet Butch begins to head upstairs to the second floor and in order to save time the film cuts once he goes into the staircase and continues once he comes out of the staircase This allows for the scene to have more flow to it. Adding to the feeling of flow are the transitions being wipes and dissolves rather than straight cuts. Not only does it provide flow but it allows it to feel far more real. Instead of cuts making it more cinematic it instead allows the scene to feel real and improves the experience. The next scene that uses some unconventional edits is the scene were Vincent and Jules shoot the man sitting in the chair after interrogating himt Before the two begin shooting Vincent uncovers a briefcase with a three digit lock on it and the code being 666.
Once Vincent opens the briefcase it begins to glow gold. When the two open fire on the man in the chair a golden glow is overlaid on the screen possibly to show the glow of the briefcase. Another notable piece of the scene is that the glow acts as a transition between Vincent and Jules as the shoot the man in the chair. Possibly signifying that the two are doing this for the golden prize. Before shooting the man in the chair Jules and Vincent have a conversation with him but while doing so break the 180 degree rule, At one point in the scene Jules is in front of the man at the table but when the 180 degree break occurs Vincent’s character who was supposed to be in clear sight from the perspective is not present due to his lack of contribution to the dialogue and instead of being in front of the man in the chair Jules is instead in front of the man on the couch who was to his right moments ago.
While not subtracting from the scene this break allows it to look better and not confuse the audience simultaneously. To conclude the three scenes mentioned prior being the single shot with Butch, Jules and Vincent killing the man in the chair, and breaking the 180 degree rule when they walk in are all fantastic examples of unconventional editing. This editing allows for an interesting film, all these scenes convey something to the viewer weather it is tension, story, or unease and power. It also means something to film as a whole seeing as how it is one of the most acclaimed films of all time it shows that trying something new and breaking conventions can lead to great things, making for a fantastic experience that will stay with the viewer.
