#19: Pulp Fiction/Guarding Tess (with Jason Bailey)

This week, poor Travolta finally catches a break, as we finally reach the point in the podcast where we get to discuss the movie that brought him back from direct-to-video flop hell — Quentin Tarantino’s new-cool opus Pulp Fiction! We’ve got the perfect guest for it, too: film critic at large Jason Bailey, author of Pulp Fiction: The Complete Story of Quentin Tarantino's Masterpiece. Together, we chat about the film’s impact on popular culture, its influence on the indie film renaissance of the ‘90s, and the slew of pale imitators that followed. And, of course, just how damn cool Travolta’s Vincent Vega is. But of course, this podcast is about Cage, too — as out-there as Travolta gets to go, in ‘94’s Guarding Tess Cage is reined in as a by-the-book Secret Service agent who bristles against his milk-run assignment protecting a demanding, widowed First Lady (Shirley Maclaine). It’s Cage at his most momcore, a sweet young man who gradually earns the respect and admiration of his cantankerous charge. That is, before a loathsome third-act twist knocks Maclaine out of commission and it turns into a bizarre prelude to Cage’s erstwhile action movie career. So come on, podcasters, let’s get podcasting! Pledge to our Patreon at patreon.com/travoltacage Follow us on Twitter @travoltacage Email us questions at [email protected] Podcast theme by Jon Biegen Podcast logo by Felipe Sobreiro