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‘Pulp Fiction’ (Part 2) With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey

July 29, 2024 · Pulp Fiction (1994) · Crime · Drama · 2:47:58

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 3:30Multiple scenes including the opening diner robbery into credits, and especially the Vincent and Jules car conversation about Quarter Pounders in Paris and foot massages - calls it 'the most ripped off four and a half minutes of screenwriting in the past 30 years'
Chris Ryan▶ 8:48Agrees with the Vincent and Jules scene, particularly noting the Europe-America cultural conversation theme throughout the movie and the 'let's get into character' moment
Sean Fennessey▶ 8:34Supports the Vincent and Jules walk-and-talk sequence, noting how it draws viewers in with random conversation while building tension as they approach their mysterious mission

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 11:07Big Kahuna Burger scene - Samuel L. Jackson's performance eating the burger and delivering lines
Chris Ryan▶ 11:53Agrees with the Big Kahuna Burger scene, particularly praising Samuel Jackson's interactions and Frank Whaley's performance
Sean Fennessey▶ 12:50Supports the Big Kahuna Burger scene, emphasizing how memorable and quotable Samuel Jackson's lines are

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 50:16Multiple questions about the GIMP: What did he do all day? Was it full-time or part-time? Did he get benefits/W-2? Was he actually disabled? What happened to Russell? Did the GIMP survive?
Chris Ryan▶ 50:23Believes GIMP enjoyed the work as pastime rather than being imprisoned, provided backstory that GIMP was hitchhiker turned into sex slave, thinks GIMP died
Sean Fennessey▶ 50:19Discussed whether GIMP work was side hustle vs full-time, explained GIMP term relates to outfit/work nature not disability, suggested treating surviving GIMP like rescue dog

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:24The Tarantino Mexican standoff, stealth joke about Butch's watches causing his dad to die of dysentery, Willis and Travolta staring each other down, Al Green, and Tarantino himself as a filmmaker
Chris Ryan▶ 1:07:44Sam Jackson's performance transcending its memeification (compared to Rolling Stones' 'Satisfaction'), and Quentin's shared universe concept predating Marvel/DC
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:08:33Time shifting storytelling technique, pop cultural references as character building crutch, and Tarantino's shared universe with interconnected characters across films

Great Shot Gordo Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:28Multiple shots including: looking up from the trunk of Vincent/Jules, land through the mirror selling heroin, the Jaws shot from Mia getting stoned, Marcellus with the donuts
Chris Ryan▶ 1:10:43Bruce Willis walking through North Hollywood, deep focus shot of Butch coming in as Marcellus is getting raped with Maynard's face, and shot of Fabian standing in the TV screen
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:11:07Mia walking away from Vincent into the bathroom at Jackrabbit Slims and her head coming up in the bathroom mirror, plus Butch leaning against the wall as wounded Marcellus walks down the alleyway with a gun

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:11:51Jackrabbit Slims

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:18:24Zed - agreed with Sean's reasoning that he failed as a professional at his core job
Chris Ryan▶ 1:16:09The Wolf - questioned his reputation, arguing he just suggested basic cleanup and knew a junkyard guy, while driving recklessly
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:15:25Zed - failed at his one job of capturing and raping the guys, took his eye off the ball and got killed

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:21:1012 straight minutes of Butch's Girlfriend - criticizes the character as poorly acted, unintelligent, and problematic
Chris Ryan▶ 1:23:19This is the worst part of the movie - the part he skipped when rewatching, though he defends Tarantino's intent
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:23:25Agrees it's the weakest part but blames the acting, not the writing - suggests recasting with Juliette Binoche, Salma Hayek, or Jennifer Beals would have fixed it

Overacting Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:37Will Patton — Discussed Will Patton as Scott Pritchard and the diner manager, seems to favor the diner manager
Chris Ryan▶ 1:34:10Amanda Plummer — Advocated for Amanda Plummer, emphasizing she was incredible 'in the best way'
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:34:17Amanda Plummer — Supported Amanda Plummer discussion, noting her multiple over-the-top lines like 'Why don't you execute him?' and 'Shoot him in the face'

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:35:06No way. No.

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:49:28Christopher Walken — Christopher Walken (initially preferred The Wolf but agreed with others on Walken)
Chris Ryan▶ 1:49:03Christopher Walken — Christopher Walken (because it adheres to the constitution of the award)
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:49:05Christopher Walken

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:52:54Extensive trivia including: Stephen Hibbert (married to Julia Sweeney) played the gimp, Tarantino bought the cherry red Malibu with Natural Born Killers money, the Jerry Curl wig mix-up story, 50 ASA filmstock for 50s Technicolor look, filming locations throughout LA, dance scene written before Travolta was cast, Jules' wallet was Tarantino's, 265 uses of 'fuck', Tarantino's car was stolen and recovered 19 years later
Chris Ryan▶ 1:53:01Added details about John Lovitz recognizing the gimp in credits, Foster Freeze location where Marcellus gets hit, PTA scouting Jimmy and Bonnie's house in Studio City, and confirming various LA filming locations
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:54:01Brief commentary on the PA's wig mistake being a 'you had one job situation' and correcting the Jackrabbit Slims budget figure

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:59:24Samuel L. Jackson — Yes for Sam Jackson, yes for Tarantino, Saturday Night Fever for Travolta, yes for diners, yes for 1964 Chevelle Malibus, no for Bruce Willis, yes for Ving Rhames
Chris Ryan▶ 2:00:01Quentin Tarantino — Discussed Tarantino having multiple peaks including Inglourious Basterds, uncertain about Amsterdam's greatest movie appearance
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:59:35Samuel L. Jackson — Yes for Sam Jackson, yes for Tarantino, Kill Bill for Uma Thurman

Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake

Bill Simmons▶ 2:17:04Supports Vincent Vega in Amsterdam sequel idea and exploring merging Pulp Fiction with Heat
Chris Ryan▶ 2:17:01Vincent in Europe/Amsterdam, Jules walking the earth, and Tony Rocky Horror as defensive coordinator at Long Beach Poly coaching Merriman (crossover with Den of Thieves)

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 2:18:26Danny Trejo — Lists multiple utility players including Wayne Jenkins, Danny Trejo, Sam Jackson, JT Walsh, Byron Mayo, Harley Mays, Evil Laughing, Raymond Hudson from Aliens, Philip Baker Hall, and 'No God Damn Jimmy'
Chris Ryan▶ 2:18:43Performs extended Jules Winnfield impression/quotes but doesn't clearly pick a specific utility player
Sean Fennessey▶ 2:19:14Suggests Byron Mayo could 'get down with Jody and Trudy' but doesn't make a definitive selection

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 2:38:11Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood — Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - because it represents the beginning and later career of Tarantino, both set in LA
Chris Ryan▶ 2:38:03Inglourious Basterds — Inglourious Basterds - because of the structural similarity and short story aspect
Sean Fennessey▶ 2:37:49Black Sabbath — Mentioned Black Sabbath (Mario Bava horror movie) as an anthology pairing, and suggested Saturday Night Fever or Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 2:41:16Just because you're a character doesn't mean you have character
Sean Fennessey▶ 2:41:04Don't snort heroin

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 2:41:23Quentin Tarantino — Quentin Tarantino, with Sam Jackson as runner-up
Chris Ryan▶ 2:41:34Quentin Tarantino — Agrees with Tarantino choice and praises his authenticity, never selling out, and willingness to take years between projects
Sean Fennessey▶ 2:41:37Quentin Tarantino — Quentin Tarantino - references the iconic 'written and directed by Quentin Tarantino' title card

Movies Referenced (55)

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

9 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 4:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jackie Brown (1997)

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:10:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Forrest Gump (1994)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:22:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Titanic (1997)

4 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 2:44:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Killing Zoe (1993)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 23:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Casablanca (1942)

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 2:44:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Charlie's Angels (2000)

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 26:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Den of Thieves (2018)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 1:11:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Die Hard (1988)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 1:59:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gone with the Wind (1939)

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 2:45:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Heat (1995)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:48:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Psycho (1960)

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 40:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (7)

Quentin Tarantino

48 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, From Dusk Till Dawn▶ 6:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joe Dante

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for Gremlins▶ 1:09:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

James Wiseman

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Martin Scorsese

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Taxi Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Streets▶ 27:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lil Pump

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Good Boys▶ 4:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kevin Costner

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves▶ 1:42:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sofia Coppola

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation▶ 1:23:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (96)

Eric Stoltz

20 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Pulp Fiction, The Butterfly Effect▶ 20:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Travolta

20 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty, Saturday Night Fever▶ 9:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bruce Willis

17 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Die Hard, Pulp Fiction▶ 17:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Zed

17 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 47:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sean Young

12 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Blade Runner 2049, Dune, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective▶ 4:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jim Ross

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Man on the Moon▶ 25:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tim Roth

11 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Rob Roy, The Hateful Eight, Pulp Fiction▶ 6:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Matt Dillon

10 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for There's Something About Mary, Crash, Drugstore Cowboy▶ 1:39:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Uma Thurman

9 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Pulp Fiction▶ 21:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Edith Atwater

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Sweet Smell of Success, Family Plot▶ 35:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael J. Fox

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Back to the Future, Back to the Future Part II▶ 2:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Virginia Madsen

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Sideways▶ 1:38:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (4)

Buddy Holly

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Big Fish, Almost Famous▶ 26:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Harvey Weinstein

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Shakespeare in Love, The Hateful Eight▶ 1:26:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Scott M. Gimple

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 49:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Stephen Hibbert

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Pulp Fiction, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, The Cat in the Hat▶ 1:52:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Bet Rourich

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:21:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗