Tarantino's original cast wish list for Pulp Fiction is wild. Who would you have cast from the list? (1 Viewer)

[KarmaPolice]

whoa, that is a hot take because Harvey absolutely killed the role to the point I would call it a perfect performance

The reason why Tarantino became who he is now is because of Keitel. Harvey got the script for Reservoir Dogs and decided to take the role IF he was the producer and partial financier. Keitel was also the biggest star of the movie at the time so it would never have gotten green lit if it wasn't for his cachet. Basically, Tarantino owed Harvey BIGTIME and bent over backwards to shoehorn in his character into Pulp to pay homage.
It is a superfluous character that adds NOTHING to the story. I mean, if you shoot someone and have a bloody car do you REALLY NEED someone to tell you to clean up the car? How many cleaners are sitting around pools at 8:00 AM in full tuxedos? It is just baaaaaad writing but IMHO Keitel's line delivery isn't very good. His 'best line' is him nodding while sipping coffee with approval, but the rest of his lines fall flat IMHO.
The Wolf wasn't needed. If that character was cut the movie still works. It was a ham-fisted way to work Keitel into the script, and it simply is bad writing.

Hey, we agree on something! That is my least favorite scene for those reasons and QT "acting" in it. Two bad dudes like Vince and Jules need to have their hands held like that to clean up Marvin?

He did more than tell them to clean the car. He paid Jimmy for his trouble and, I assume, to keep him quiet. He arranged the disposal of the car with the body in the trunk.

I'm not sure Vincent was a bad dude.

Doesnt make the scene any less dumb, imo. There's funny, quotable lines, but it is one of many scenes in his movies that bug me.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

He did more than tell them to clean the car. He paid Jimmy for his trouble and, I assume, to keep him quiet. He arranged the disposal of the car with the body in the trunk

Also, in a deleted scene, he made a Bed Bath&Beyond run to replace Jimmy's sheets

I happen to like this type of thing in the middle of a gangster movie. The real life situation would have repercussions in terms of the wife returning from work not knowing about a bloody body as well as why one of her sheets is missing.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Doesnt make the scene any less dumb, imo.

What's dumb about it? The "fixer" concept is part of mob culture.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Doesnt make the scene any less dumb, imo.

What's dumb about it? The "fixer" concept is part of mob culture.

Mike in Breaking Bad acted in this mode when Jesse woke up with a dead girlfriend.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Doesnt make the scene any less dumb, imo.

What's dumb about it? The "fixer" concept is part of mob culture.

I get maybe needing to contact somebody to dispose of the car, but i always thought it was silly that the wolf had to show up to tell them to wash the car and themselves. To be fair, i am already annoyed by QT's presense, but it has always been a scene i didn't like.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Doesnt make the scene any less dumb, imo.

What's dumb about it? The "fixer" concept is part of mob culture.

I get maybe needing to contact somebody to dispose of the car, but i always thought it was silly that the wolf had to show up to tell them to wash the car and themselves. To be fair, i am already annoyed by QT's presense, but it has always been a scene i didn't like.

Well once he was there he was in charge - but obviously stuff like washing themselves and the car is something Jules and Vincent would have done on their own - but the Wolf is paid to keep a level head and see things get done. Keitel kills it and there’s great humor all around in that scene.

Obviously it’s all subjective- and we like what we do or don’t.

 

[Jaysus]

Danny Devotio as the wolf would have been $Ted.Danson

 

[KarmaPolice]

Doesnt make the scene any less dumb, imo.

What's dumb about it? The "fixer" concept is part of mob culture.

I get maybe needing to contact somebody to dispose of the car, but i always thought it was silly that the wolf had to show up to tell them to wash the car and themselves. To be fair, i am already annoyed by QT's presense, but it has always been a scene i didn't like.

Well once he was there he was in charge - but obviously stuff like washing themselves and the car is something Jules and Vincent would have done on their own - but the Wolf is paid to keep a level head and see things get done. Keitel kills it and there’s great humor all around in that scene.

Obviously it’s all subjective- and we like what we do or don’t.

Very fair, dumb was probably the wrong word. I am also not a screenwriter or editor, so I am not sure what would improve it for me either and I understand I am nitpicking. Maybe they call the wolf to tow/dispose of the car, and by they time he gets their they F up Jimmy's linens and towels and he has to calm Jimmy down and pay him off? Maybe it's just the idea of a fixer that I find odd.

Again, not like I hate the movie - it was my #6 on the countdown. More on rewatches I get the itch to FF through that scene and whenever Butch's girlfriend is on screen.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

I still think that the last 10 minutes are lousy, especially compared to the rest.
It drags on too long. And then there's the "I'm a ruthless killer but I'll give you tons of my $$$ because someone missed shooting me" nonsense.

 

[Major]

Doesnt make the scene any less dumb, imo.

What's dumb about it? The "fixer" concept is part of mob culture.

I get maybe needing to contact somebody to dispose of the car, but i always thought it was silly that the wolf had to show up to tell them to wash the car and themselves. To be fair, i am already annoyed by QT's presense, but it has always been a scene i didn't like.

Well once he was there he was in charge - but obviously stuff like washing themselves and the car is something Jules and Vincent would have done on their own - but the Wolf is paid to keep a level head and see things get done. Keitel kills it and there’s great humor all around in that scene.

Obviously it’s all subjective- and we like what we do or don’t.

Very fair, dumb was probably the wrong word. I am also not a screenwriter or editor, so I am not sure what would improve it for me either and I understand I am nitpicking. Maybe they call the wolf to tow/dispose of the car, and by they time he gets their they F up Jimmy's linens and towels and he has to calm Jimmy down and pay him off? Maybe it's just the idea of a fixer that I find odd.

Again, not like I hate the movie - it was my #6 on the countdown. More on rewatches I get the itch to FF through that scene and whenever Butch's girlfriend is on screen.

I can at least agree with you on that. She is terrible and easily the weakest link of Pulp.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Doesnt make the scene any less dumb, imo.

What's dumb about it? The "fixer" concept is part of mob culture.

I get maybe needing to contact somebody to dispose of the car, but i always thought it was silly that the wolf had to show up to tell them to wash the car and themselves. To be fair, i am already annoyed by QT's presense, but it has always been a scene i didn't like.

Well once he was there he was in charge - but obviously stuff like washing themselves and the car is something Jules and Vincent would have done on their own - but the Wolf is paid to keep a level head and see things get done. Keitel kills it and there’s great humor all around in that scene.

Obviously it’s all subjective- and we like what we do or don’t.

Very fair, dumb was probably the wrong word. I am also not a screenwriter or editor, so I am not sure what would improve it for me either and I understand I am nitpicking. Maybe they call the wolf to tow/dispose of the car, and by they time he gets their they F up Jimmy's linens and towels and he has to calm Jimmy down and pay him off? Maybe it's just the idea of a fixer that I find odd.

Again, not like I hate the movie - it was my #6 on the countdown. More on rewatches I get the itch to FF through that scene and whenever Butch's girlfriend is on screen.

I can at least agree with you on that. She is terrible and easily the weakest link of Pulp.

I listen to the Rewatchables podcast a bit. In general I don't like their categories, but the one that does crack me up is "Butch's Girlfriend - the weak link of the movie award".

 

[Major]

Doesnt make the scene any less dumb, imo.

What's dumb about it? The "fixer" concept is part of mob culture.

I get maybe needing to contact somebody to dispose of the car, but i always thought it was silly that the wolf had to show up to tell them to wash the car and themselves. To be fair, i am already annoyed by QT's presense, but it has always been a scene i didn't like.

Well once he was there he was in charge - but obviously stuff like washing themselves and the car is something Jules and Vincent would have done on their own - but the Wolf is paid to keep a level head and see things get done. Keitel kills it and there’s great humor all around in that scene.

Obviously it’s all subjective- and we like what we do or don’t.

Very fair, dumb was probably the wrong word. I am also not a screenwriter or editor, so I am not sure what would improve it for me either and I understand I am nitpicking. Maybe they call the wolf to tow/dispose of the car, and by they time he gets their they F up Jimmy's linens and towels and he has to calm Jimmy down and pay him off? Maybe it's just the idea of a fixer that I find odd.

Again, not like I hate the movie - it was my #6 on the countdown. More on rewatches I get the itch to FF through that scene and whenever Butch's girlfriend is on screen.

I can at least agree with you on that. She is terrible and easily the weakest link of Pulp.

I listen to the Rewatchables podcast a bit. In general I don't like their categories, but the one that does crack me up is "Butch's Girlfriend - the weak link of the movie award".

I need to watch more of those. Looks like Bill and I have similar taste.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Doesnt make the scene any less dumb, imo.

What's dumb about it? The "fixer" concept is part of mob culture.

I get maybe needing to contact somebody to dispose of the car, but i always thought it was silly that the wolf had to show up to tell them to wash the car and themselves. To be fair, i am already annoyed by QT's presense, but it has always been a scene i didn't like.

Well once he was there he was in charge - but obviously stuff like washing themselves and the car is something Jules and Vincent would have done on their own - but the Wolf is paid to keep a level head and see things get done. Keitel kills it and there’s great humor all around in that scene.

Obviously it’s all subjective- and we like what we do or don’t.

Very fair, dumb was probably the wrong word. I am also not a screenwriter or editor, so I am not sure what would improve it for me either and I understand I am nitpicking. Maybe they call the wolf to tow/dispose of the car, and by they time he gets their they F up Jimmy's linens and towels and he has to calm Jimmy down and pay him off? Maybe it's just the idea of a fixer that I find odd.

Again, not like I hate the movie - it was my #6 on the countdown. More on rewatches I get the itch to FF through that scene and whenever Butch's girlfriend is on screen.

I can at least agree with you on that. She is terrible and easily the weakest link of Pulp.

I listen to the Rewatchables podcast a bit. In general I don't like their categories, but the one that does crack me up is "Butch's Girlfriend - the weak link of the movie award".

I need to watch more of those. Looks like Bill and I have similar taste.

In general the guys have good banter and bring some good insight, they just get a bit in the weeds with sports talk I have 0 context for (mostly NBA). They do a lot of fun movies and sometimes it gets me to watch something I haven't in a long time. Their Heat episodes are a great place to start for anybody who hasn't tried the podcast.

 

[Major]

Doesnt make the scene any less dumb, imo.

What's dumb about it? The "fixer" concept is part of mob culture.

I get maybe needing to contact somebody to dispose of the car, but i always thought it was silly that the wolf had to show up to tell them to wash the car and themselves. To be fair, i am already annoyed by QT's presense, but it has always been a scene i didn't like.

Well once he was there he was in charge - but obviously stuff like washing themselves and the car is something Jules and Vincent would have done on their own - but the Wolf is paid to keep a level head and see things get done. Keitel kills it and there’s great humor all around in that scene.

Obviously it’s all subjective- and we like what we do or don’t.

Very fair, dumb was probably the wrong word. I am also not a screenwriter or editor, so I am not sure what would improve it for me either and I understand I am nitpicking. Maybe they call the wolf to tow/dispose of the car, and by they time he gets their they F up Jimmy's linens and towels and he has to calm Jimmy down and pay him off? Maybe it's just the idea of a fixer that I find odd.

Again, not like I hate the movie - it was my #6 on the countdown. More on rewatches I get the itch to FF through that scene and whenever Butch's girlfriend is on screen.

I can at least agree with you on that. She is terrible and easily the weakest link of Pulp.

I listen to the Rewatchables podcast a bit. In general I don't like their categories, but the one that does crack me up is "Butch's Girlfriend - the weak link of the movie award".

I need to watch more of those. Looks like Bill and I have similar taste.

In general the guys have good banter and bring some good insight, they just get a bit in the weeds with sports talk I have 0 context for (mostly NBA). They do a lot of fun movies and sometimes it gets me to watch something I haven't in a long time. Their Heat episodes are a great place to start for anybody who hasn't tried the podcast.

I'm an NBA guy so I appreciate it. The Heat episode is one of the few I've watched (I'm partial to ad free Youtube)

 

[massraider]

Every fixer i know personally would have just shot Jimmy.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Doesnt make the scene any less dumb, imo. There's funny, quotable lines

Hysterical, as in drop-dead funny like a Nancy or Bazooka Joe comic funny. That's gold, Jerry! Gold!

 

[Ghost Rider]

whoa, that is a hot take because Harvey absolutely killed the role to the point I would call it a perfect performance

The reason why Tarantino became who he is now is because of Keitel. Harvey got the script for Reservoir Dogs and decided to take the role IF he was the producer and partial financier. Keitel was also the biggest star of the movie at the time so it would never have gotten green lit if it wasn't for his cachet. Basically, Tarantino owed Harvey BIGTIME and bent over backwards to shoehorn in his character into Pulp to pay homage.
It is a superfluous character that adds NOTHING to the story. I mean, if you shoot someone and have a bloody car do you REALLY NEED someone to tell you to clean up the car? How many cleaners are sitting around pools at 8:00 AM in full tuxedos? It is just baaaaaad writing but IMHO Keitel's line delivery isn't very good. His 'best line' is him nodding while sipping coffee with approval, but the rest of his lines fall flat IMHO.
The Wolf wasn't needed. If that character was cut the movie still works. It was a ham-fisted way to work Keitel into the script, and it simply is bad writing.

Hey, we agree on something! That is my least favorite scene for those reasons and QT "acting" in it. Two bad dudes like Vince and Jules need to have their hands held like that to clean up Marvin?

He did more than tell them to clean the car. He paid Jimmy for his trouble and, I assume, to keep him quiet. He arranged the disposal of the car with the body in the trunk.

I can't believe this needs to be explained, but the Wolf was sent by Marcellus, who obviously is the head of a big crime organization. Sending the Wolf to make sure the cleanup and disposal of the car goes perfectly is not only protecting his employees, but himself and his organization, since who is to say Jules or Vincent don't flip and roll on Marcellus if they get arrested? And given the nature of his work, it makes total sense that the Wolf would have been in full gear and ready to go at 8 am in the morning; you have to be ready to roll at a moment's notice when you do what he does.

 

[KarmaPolice]

whoa, that is a hot take because Harvey absolutely killed the role to the point I would call it a perfect performance

The reason why Tarantino became who he is now is because of Keitel. Harvey got the script for Reservoir Dogs and decided to take the role IF he was the producer and partial financier. Keitel was also the biggest star of the movie at the time so it would never have gotten green lit if it wasn't for his cachet. Basically, Tarantino owed Harvey BIGTIME and bent over backwards to shoehorn in his character into Pulp to pay homage.
It is a superfluous character that adds NOTHING to the story. I mean, if you shoot someone and have a bloody car do you REALLY NEED someone to tell you to clean up the car? How many cleaners are sitting around pools at 8:00 AM in full tuxedos? It is just baaaaaad writing but IMHO Keitel's line delivery isn't very good. His 'best line' is him nodding while sipping coffee with approval, but the rest of his lines fall flat IMHO.
The Wolf wasn't needed. If that character was cut the movie still works. It was a ham-fisted way to work Keitel into the script, and it simply is bad writing.

Hey, we agree on something! That is my least favorite scene for those reasons and QT "acting" in it. Two bad dudes like Vince and Jules need to have their hands held like that to clean up Marvin?

He did more than tell them to clean the car. He paid Jimmy for his trouble and, I assume, to keep him quiet. He arranged the disposal of the car with the body in the trunk.

I can't believe this needs to be explained, but the Wolf was sent by Marcellus, who obviously is the head of a big crime organization. Sending the Wolf to make sure the cleanup and disposal of the car goes perfectly is not only protecting his employees, but himself and his organization, since who is to say Jules or Vincent don't flip and roll on Marcellus if they get arrested? And given the nature of his work, it makes total sense that the Wolf would have been in full gear and ready to go at 8 am in the morning; you have to be ready to roll at a moment's notice when you do what he does.

You are right, that didn't need to be explained. Me understanding what a fixer is doesn't change my opinion of the scenes or the general idea he comes over and tells them to wash themselves and a bloodied car in the process of what you posted above.