Pulp Fiction

Quentin Tarantino's 90's classic doesn't really have any substance as far as a plot goes. There is no mistake behind that though. The film is built on dialogue and dialogue alone. Yes, there is a fair share of Tarantino violence involved, but if you are looking for an action packed thriller this is not the film for you.

When viewing Pulp Fiction for the first time, the first scene will leave you scratching your head. You see Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta in suits talking about how a quarter pounder from McDonald's is called a "Royale with cheese" in France. They get guns out of their trunk and then you realize that they are hit men. When I saw this movie for the first time, I thought it was the most bizarre thing I had ever seen. We follow two hit men having casual humorous conversations right before they go kill a few guys. It makes no sense. But that's what makes Pulp Fiction--its dialogue.

Pulp Fiction is quite possibly the most quotable movie of all time. Samuel L. Jackson's character (Jules) is one of my favorite movie characters because of his quotes. I quote Jules on a daily basis. My favorite scene comes at the beginning of the film when Jules is pulling off the first hit. While interrogating his nervous victim, he says things like, "Say what again! Say what one more goddamn time. I dare you. I double dare you motherfucker!" and, "Do I look like a bitch? Then why you tryin' to fuck me like a bitch?" I could go on and on with around 25 quotes from this movie, but I digress.

If someone were to ask me what Tarantino movie most defines his film style, I would tell them Pulp Fiction. For someone to make a film with virtually no plot and get so much critical acclaim speaks volumes. Famous film critic Roger Ebert said that he thought Pulp Fiction was, "the most influential movie of the 90's." Pretty much the only thing this movie has going for it is its dialogue, but that is not an insult. The writing is so good it can carry 2 and a half hours of screen time.

Pulp Fiction has an all star cast as well. Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames, and Harvey Keitel all have major roles so there is never a dull moment. My friends and I watch this movie every year after the Tennessee/Alabama football game to lighten the mood following a tough loss. It's the perfect antidote.

I will warn first time viewers though. I wasn't a huge fan after the first time I watched it. I felt this way because I didn't really grasp what the movie was. I didn't know what happened in the 2 and a half hours of watching. So naturally, I decided to watch it again. There had to be some reason why so many people obsess over this movie. I watched it again and everything clicked. Every scene is memorable. So if you watch this movie for the first time and do not like it, please don't give up on it. Watch it again.

Into the Wild

You just graduated from college, abandoned all of your belongings, and donated your entire life savings to charity. Now you're going to Alaska to live in the wilderness. This is what Christopher McCandless decided to do following his graduation.

Based on a true story, Into the Wild follows Christopher on his journey to Alaska without any money or possessions. He gets rid of his real name and decides to rename himself Alexander Supertramp. He does this because he wants to get away from all civilization. He became frustrated with the people in his life. So he decided to submerge himself in wildlife. However, before he arrives in Alaska, he has to find a way to get there.

On his way to Alaska, Supertramp encounters a number of different people who all have different perspectives on life. All of these people play a part in changing Supertramp's life. Throughout most of the movie, I found it hard to like Supertramp. He is arrogant and somewhat of a know it all. He tries to lecture everyone on how everyone should live their lives--without boundaries.

Supertramp thought that everyone should live life to the fullest. Do whatever you want without worrying about how you are affecting other people. He thought that the way to find true happiness is to live independently without relying on any material items and losing yourself with nature.

Sure, we've all wanted to get away. There is something that sounds pleasant about getting away from everyone and everything in life. No stress and no expectations. Into the Wild is a life lesson on why depending on only yourself is not the best idea.

I watched this movie when I was living alone in my room last year. All three of my roommates had transferred by the end of the year and it was just me. I wasn't in the Alaskan wild like Alexander Supertramp, but I was living a life of solitude at the time. I wasn't talking to my family very much because, being a naive college student, I thought I had broken away. 

I finished this movie in my dorm room bed and cried a little. I'm going to make this clear--I am not a softie. I haven't cried in 10 months. This movie moved me more than any other movie I have seen. Maybe it's because it is based on a true story. Maybe it's because of the way I was treating my own life at the time. When people say there are movies that everyone must see, this should be included on that list. Not because it is extremely well done, but because of its message.

"The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."
--Alexander Supertramp

Louis C.K. Live At The Beacon Theater

(2011; 62 minutes)

I know, I know... a stand up comedy act. I was once just as skeptical as most people. Whenever I saw stand-up on shows like America's Got Talent or Last Comic Standing, I cringed when someone made a joke that wasn't funny. 

My brother once showed me a clip of Louis C.K. comparing zoos to slavery. I loved it. So I hit up Netflix and found one of his acts. I've seen Live at the Beacon Theater 3 or 4 times now, and it doesn't get old. Louis C.K. says whatever he wants. He goes on a fifteen minute rant about how much he hates a 6-year-old in his daughter's class. At one point he says, "I want to water-board that motherfucker."

Louis has no limits when it comes to his comedy. He knows what makes people uncomfortable, and then exploits those weaknesses. Yet, I can't help but to love him. He makes it clear that he is a family man. His daughters are the light of his life. However, he still loves to poke fun at them. He talks about how boring it can be to be a dad by mentioning the frustration of kids learning how to read.

The best parts of Louis C.K.'s comedy come when he goes on tangents that have little to do with his overall story. For example, he starts a story with his daughter struggling to learn how to read, then talks about how stupid Clifford books are. Before you know it, he is talking about Clifford sitting on the electric chair with all of his fur shaved off. It's like when a teacher gets off topic during class. You want it to just keep going.

His range is fantastic. This show features topics such as: raising children, playing Monopoly, admitting his hatred towards a young child and the child's mother, and smoking weed. 

Watching Louis C.K. is a little disturbing. Not only because what he says is so horribly wrong, and pushes the limits of "going too far."But also because you occasionally realize that you can relate to his jokes. I found myself thinking, "I totally understand where he is coming from. I'm a terrible person."

There isn't a moment in his show that I would want him to leave out. There aren't any jokes that flop like the comics on reality shows. He provides so many details that you can picture yourself standing in the situations he is describing. He is a true artist--the Leonardo da Vinci of comedians. He is a comic god.