Pulp Fiction

Quentin Tarantino's second film was still cast in the underworld but this time, presented three linked stories, with John Travolta as a mobster hired to look after his boss's wife Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis as a fading boxer trying to pull a fast one on the mob and then Travolta again with Samuel L Jackson out on a hit who have an accident in the car that requires specialist valeting. The characters and stories slightly co-incide but Tarantino's assurance carries the film, with the script, action and black humour absolutely spot on. While some block-busters court product placement, Tarantino prefers his own mythical brands, including Red Apple cigarettes, smoked by Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction and Tim Roth in Four Rooms (also showing on FilmFour this month).