Reset: Pulp Fiction

What

This stylized crime/comedy/snuff flick is perhaps the defining film of the Nineties and spawn a slew of awful imitations from its polyped loins. While still iconic is every sense of this overused adjective, I caught a bit of it on cable recently and sadly, it’s starting to show its age. Best to hit the reset button now in time for its 20 year anniversary before the liver spots emerge, recast with modern day actors in each of the key roles.

Components

John Travolta as Vincent Vega

Samuel L. Jackson as Jules Winnfield

Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace

Bruce Willis as Butch Coolidge

Maria de Medeiros as Fabienne

Harvey Keitel as Winston 'The Wolf' Wolfe

Ving Rhames as Marsellus Wallace

Tim Roth as Pumpkin / Ringo

Amanda Plummer as Honey Bunny / Yolanda

Eric Stoltz as Lance

Rosanna Arquette as Jody

Peter Greene as Zed

Phil LaMarr as Marvin

Christopher Walken as Captain Koons

Replacement Parts

John Travolta => Nicolas Cage as Vincent Vega

Cage’s career is a bit of a WTF at the moment but remember, Travolta also had blood on his hands when casted in the original, having just come off the Look Who’s Talking trilogy (underrated BTW). It’s a bold move since Cage is nutty at the best of time. But one that makes sense on paper.
Also considered: Vince Vaughn

Samuel L. Jackson => Idris Elba as Jules Winnfield

The biggest challenge to pulling this off is whether the one time Stringer Bell can summon his own personal “fire and brimstone” to deliver a shouty badass performance. Plus will a bad wig be enough to conceal Elba’s undeniable “sexy”?!?

Uma Thurman => Scarlett Johansson as Mia Wallace

This was the hardest role to recast. Needed somebody with acting chops, a uniquely ambiguous sexuality who could deliver lines in deadpan and not seem out-of-place snorting up some coke. Nobody came to mind so went with Johansson, who could at least fill all the criteria in part plus bring some added star power to the project.

Also considered: Lindsay Lohan, Natalie Portman

Bruce Willis => Robert Downey Jr as Butch Coolidge

This is great. Downey could channel his own personal demons and do wonders with that ball gag.

Also considered: Hugh Jackman

Maria de Medeiros => Audrey Tautou as Fabienne

Whatever. Only by virtue of the fact they’re both French.

Harvey Keitel => John Malkovich as Winston 'The Wolf' Wolfe

This is interesting. Malkovich would have to ratchet things down a few notches. But the dude’s got range and I think he’d bring his A Game

Also considered: Chris Cooper

Ving Rhames => Vin Diesel as Marsellus Wallace

I’ve never seen a Vin Diesel movie but I’ve heard his acting… leaves a lot to be desired. That’s OK because if he can deliver a few lines, grunt a lot and look menacing, he could pull this off. The ultimate “friendship” between Diesel and Downey would be compelling, no doubt.

Also considered: The Rock

Tim Roth => Cillian Murphy as Pumpkin / Ringo

Amanda Plummer => Kelly Macdonald as Honey Bunny / Yolanda

Struggling here. I really want Cillian Murphy in this role but I also want… no, I need Tracey Ullman in the role of his girlfriend. I mean, that crazy broad practically WAS Tracey Ullman when she spat out the “… You fuckin’ pigs!!” line.  Considered slotting in a pair of Trainspotting alumni to even out the age thing. I will do this under duress, since Murphy (circa 2011) and Roth (circa 1994) are sorta contemporaries, age-wise, and a modern day Ullman is a bit long in the tooth. Time to sub in Renton’s jailbate in lieu.

Also considered: Robert Carlyle, Tracey Ullman

Eric Stoltz => Dave Foley as Lance

A bit of CanCon.

Also considered: Marc Maron, Andy Dick

Rosanna Arquette => Illeana Douglas as Jody

I kinda thought this was Illeana Douglas (i.e. George Costanza’s really orange “revenge” girlfriend from Seinfeld) in this role. So she’s clearly perfect.

Peter Greene => William Fichtner as Zed

I only remembered Zed by name. So when I looked him up on IMDB, he looked a bit like this character actor whose name I didn’t know. Compelling stuff!

Phil LaMarr => Marlon Wayans as Phil

Considering he primarily is here to get his skull imploded, Marlon Wayans is as good as anybody and did a nice job in Requiem for a Dream.

Also considered: RZA

Christopher Walken => Alec Baldwin as Captain Koons

This is such a Baldwin role. He’d nail it and come off completely smarmy in doing so. Plus he’d be a good bookend for the credits… “…. and Alec Baldwin”.

Reset Rating: 8.5/10

This is a strong reset. You have big name talent (Downey, Johanssen, Baldwin), interesting comeback candidates (Cage, Diesel) and hipster/indie cinema faves (Elba, Douglas). Plus it’d drive Tarantino purists and aging hipsters insane.