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| {{Infobox character | |||
| #REDIRECT ]{{r from merge}}{{r to list entry}} | |||
| | colour = #DEDEE2 | |||
| | name = Vincent Vega | |||
| | image = ] | |||
| | caption = John Travolta as Vincent Vega. | |||
| | first = '']'' | |||
| | last = '']'' | |||
| | cause = Killed by ] | |||
| | nickname = | |||
| | alias = | |||
| | species = | |||
| | gender = Male | |||
| | age = | |||
| | born = | |||
| | death = | |||
| | occupation = ] | |||
| | title = | |||
| | family = ] (Brother) | |||
| | spouse = | |||
| | children = | |||
| | relatives = | |||
| | episode = | |||
| | portrayer = ] | |||
| | creator = ] | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Vincent Vega''' is a character in ]'s '']'', portrayed by ] in an ]-nominated performance. He and Marsellus Wallace are the only characters who appear in all the film's storylines. Vince is the brother of ], a character in '']''.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/trivia</ref> | |||
| ==Character== | |||
| Vincent is a ] who has apparently been working for mob boss Marsellus Wallace (]) in ] for over three years and recently returned to Los Angeles, where he has been partnered with ] (]). Vincent lives in ] and drives a red 1960s era ] convertible which was in storage while he was in the Netherlands. Mia calls Vincent an ''] man''. He wears a ] with his suit, has long hair pulled back into a ponytail, rolls his own cigarettes, uses ] and orders his ] Steak "bloody as hell." Although Vincent says he does not watch TV he often knowledgeably refers to television shows in conversations. At the time of the story he is now and then seen reading a copy of '']''. He expresses scrupulous loyalty towards his boss Marsellus. Whenever he goes to the bathroom something unfortunate occurs; Mia accidentally overdoses when she finds his heroin in a baggie rather than a balloon and mistakes it for cocaine, the coffee shop is robbed and later, Vincent is killed by Butch. | |||
| ==Plot== | |||
| The film deals with time in a non-linear way. Chronologically, Vincent has returned to LA after living in ] where he worked for Marsellus. Riding in a car on the way to a hit, he and his partner Jules chat about sundry things, including the little differences between Europe and North America, such as what can be ordered at a ] in Paris. Vincent asks about Marsellus' wife Mia (]) and Jules tells him she is a former actress who starred in a failed television pilot. Vincent says Marsellus has asked him to "take care of her," which is to say, take Mia out to dinner while he is away. While riding up the elevator of a run-down apartment building, Jules tells Vincent that Marsellus threw a gangster named Tony Rockyhorror out of a window and through a glass roof for giving Mia a foot massage and they discuss whether this was reasonable. They kill two yuppie college students and recover a mysterious briefcase belonging to Marsellus but are nearly killed themselves when a third student emerges from the bathroom and fires six shots, all of which narrowly miss. Back in the car, Vincent gets into a disagreement with Jules who is convinced they have been saved by a miracle. Brandishing his pistol while talking, Vincent accidentally shoots and kills Marvin (]) the informant who led them to the college students. Blood and brain matter are sprayed all over them and the inside of the car. | |||
| <!-- Commented out: ]'' in the coffee shop men's room, unaware of the hold up taking place outside.]] --> | |||
| They take refuge with Jules' friend Jimmy Dimmick (]) and call Marsellus, who sends his personal problem solver Winston Wolf (]). Wolf helps them quickly get rid of the car and the body. The two hitmen, now dressed in colourful t-shirts and athletic shorts borrowed from Jimmy, then have breakfast in a Hawthorne coffee shop where Jules tells Vincent he is going to quit working for Marsellus and leave "the life" of being a hired killer. When Vincent goes to the men's room, a young couple (] and ]) randomly try to rob the coffee shop (the film's non-linear beginning) and demand the briefcase from Jules, who winds up holding one of the robbers at gunpoint in a ]. When Vincent gets back, Jules tells him to hold off, then tells the robber that to skirt killing him and his girlfriend, he is buying his life for $1500. | |||
| Vincent and Jules leave the coffee shop ahead of the police (the film's non-linear ending) and go to Marsellus' Inglewood strip club to give him the briefcase. At the bar, Vincent meets ] (]) and openly baits him, but Marsellus calls Vincent to his table, where they hug. | |||
| ==="Taking care of" Mia=== | |||
| <!-- Commented out: ] (]) and Mia Wallace (]) do the twist at ''Jack Rabbit Slim's''.]] --> | |||
| The next evening Vincent and Mia have dinner at a 1950s retro-themed restaurant called ''Jackrabbit Slim's'' and are swiftly drawn to each other. Vincent asks Mia about Tony Rockyhorror and the foot massage. She says the only time Tony ever touched her was when she shook hands with him at her wedding and that only Marsellus and Tony know why Marsellus threw him out the window. Mia and Vincent then win a dance contest and a trophy(Note: While it may seem as they have won the contest and trophy this can be contradicted, when Bruce Willis is on his way to his apartment a radio or TV can be heard, in one of the houses he passes, saying the trophy had been stolen the night before at Jackrabbit Slims). Back at Marsellus' house Vincent goes to the bathroom and deals with his feelings of loyalty towards Mia's husband, his boss. Meanwhile Mia finds a small plastic baggie of white powder in his coat and thinking she has stumbled upon cocaine, snorts it and falls into a heroin ]. Vincent desperately takes her to his dealer Lance (]) and they revive her with a shot of ] to the heart. Vincent takes her home and they promise each other not to tell Marellus what has happened. As Vincent leaves Mia tells him a joke, a ] the ] for which is ''catch up'' and he blows her a goodnight kiss. | |||
| ===Death=== | |||
| He briefly sees Mia one more time but they are within earshot of Marsellus and she is rather cold and aloof with Vincent. Meanwhile Butch has since betrayed Marsellus, who vows to kill him. While Marsellus and Vincent are staking out Butch's apartment, Marsellus leaves to get them some coffee and Vincent goes into the bathroom. Butch warily walks in to retrieve a forgotten watch and finds a Silenced ] on the kitchen counter. As he picks it up, Butch hears the toilet flush in the bathroom. Vincent walks out and freezes, recognizing Butch and staring into the barrel of his boss' gun. Seconds go by, a pair of ] jump out of the toaster and Butch shoots Vincent in the chest. Vega is thrown back into the bathroom and lands in the bathtub, dead.<ref>{{citation |chapter=In the Men's Room: Death and Derision in Cinematic Toilets | title=Ladies and Gents |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VN5kFuQQ7lsC |author=Frances Kelly}}</ref> | |||
| ==Production and background== | |||
| The role was written for ], who turned it down: Madsen had played Vincent's brother ] in ]. Mia calls Vincent "cowboy," a reference to Travolta's earlier role in '']''. Vincent then calls Mia "cowgirl," a reference to Thurman's film '']''. Travolta has said some of his dance moves with Uma Thurman during the Jack Rabbit Slim's scene were based on ]'s ] from the 1960s '']''. The scene which depicts Vincent plunging a syringe into Mia's chest was filmed with Travolta pulling the needle out: The film was then run backwards. In one of the movie's deleted scenes a reference is made to Vincent Vega's cousin, whose name is ]. Mia asks whether this is the folk singer and Vincent says he does not know if his cousin became a folk singer. | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Vega, Vincent}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 07:39, 17 March 2010
Fictional character| Vincent Vega | |
|---|---|
 John Travolta as Vincent Vega. | |
| First appearance | Pulp Fiction |
| Last appearance | Pulp Fiction |
| Created by | Quentin Tarantino |
| Portrayed by | John Travolta |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Hitman |
| Family | Vic Vega (Brother) |
Vincent Vega is a character in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, portrayed by John Travolta in an Academy Award-nominated performance. He and Marsellus Wallace are the only characters who appear in all the film's storylines. Vince is the brother of Vic Vega, a character in Reservoir Dogs.
Character
Vincent is a hitman who has apparently been working for mob boss Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames) in Amsterdam for over three years and recently returned to Los Angeles, where he has been partnered with Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson). Vincent lives in Redondo Beach and drives a red 1960s era Chevrolet Malibu convertible which was in storage while he was in the Netherlands. Mia calls Vincent an Elvis man. He wears a bolo tie with his suit, has long hair pulled back into a ponytail, rolls his own cigarettes, uses heroin and orders his Douglas Sirk Steak "bloody as hell." Although Vincent says he does not watch TV he often knowledgeably refers to television shows in conversations. At the time of the story he is now and then seen reading a copy of Modesty Blaise. He expresses scrupulous loyalty towards his boss Marsellus. Whenever he goes to the bathroom something unfortunate occurs; Mia accidentally overdoses when she finds his heroin in a baggie rather than a balloon and mistakes it for cocaine, the coffee shop is robbed and later, Vincent is killed by Butch.
Plot
The film deals with time in a non-linear way. Chronologically, Vincent has returned to LA after living in Amsterdam where he worked for Marsellus. Riding in a car on the way to a hit, he and his partner Jules chat about sundry things, including the little differences between Europe and North America, such as what can be ordered at a McDonald's in Paris. Vincent asks about Marsellus' wife Mia (Uma Thurman) and Jules tells him she is a former actress who starred in a failed television pilot. Vincent says Marsellus has asked him to "take care of her," which is to say, take Mia out to dinner while he is away. While riding up the elevator of a run-down apartment building, Jules tells Vincent that Marsellus threw a gangster named Tony Rockyhorror out of a window and through a glass roof for giving Mia a foot massage and they discuss whether this was reasonable. They kill two yuppie college students and recover a mysterious briefcase belonging to Marsellus but are nearly killed themselves when a third student emerges from the bathroom and fires six shots, all of which narrowly miss. Back in the car, Vincent gets into a disagreement with Jules who is convinced they have been saved by a miracle. Brandishing his pistol while talking, Vincent accidentally shoots and kills Marvin (Phil LaMarr) the informant who led them to the college students. Blood and brain matter are sprayed all over them and the inside of the car.
They take refuge with Jules' friend Jimmy Dimmick (Quentin Tarantino) and call Marsellus, who sends his personal problem solver Winston Wolf (Harvey Keitel). Wolf helps them quickly get rid of the car and the body. The two hitmen, now dressed in colourful t-shirts and athletic shorts borrowed from Jimmy, then have breakfast in a Hawthorne coffee shop where Jules tells Vincent he is going to quit working for Marsellus and leave "the life" of being a hired killer. When Vincent goes to the men's room, a young couple (Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer) randomly try to rob the coffee shop (the film's non-linear beginning) and demand the briefcase from Jules, who winds up holding one of the robbers at gunpoint in a Mexican standoff. When Vincent gets back, Jules tells him to hold off, then tells the robber that to skirt killing him and his girlfriend, he is buying his life for $1500.
Vincent and Jules leave the coffee shop ahead of the police (the film's non-linear ending) and go to Marsellus' Inglewood strip club to give him the briefcase. At the bar, Vincent meets Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) and openly baits him, but Marsellus calls Vincent to his table, where they hug.
"Taking care of" Mia
The next evening Vincent and Mia have dinner at a 1950s retro-themed restaurant called Jackrabbit Slim's and are swiftly drawn to each other. Vincent asks Mia about Tony Rockyhorror and the foot massage. She says the only time Tony ever touched her was when she shook hands with him at her wedding and that only Marsellus and Tony know why Marsellus threw him out the window. Mia and Vincent then win a dance contest and a trophy(Note: While it may seem as they have won the contest and trophy this can be contradicted, when Bruce Willis is on his way to his apartment a radio or TV can be heard, in one of the houses he passes, saying the trophy had been stolen the night before at Jackrabbit Slims). Back at Marsellus' house Vincent goes to the bathroom and deals with his feelings of loyalty towards Mia's husband, his boss. Meanwhile Mia finds a small plastic baggie of white powder in his coat and thinking she has stumbled upon cocaine, snorts it and falls into a heroin overdose. Vincent desperately takes her to his dealer Lance (Eric Stoltz) and they revive her with a shot of adrenaline to the heart. Vincent takes her home and they promise each other not to tell Marellus what has happened. As Vincent leaves Mia tells him a joke, a pun the punch line for which is catch up and he blows her a goodnight kiss.
Death
He briefly sees Mia one more time but they are within earshot of Marsellus and she is rather cold and aloof with Vincent. Meanwhile Butch has since betrayed Marsellus, who vows to kill him. While Marsellus and Vincent are staking out Butch's apartment, Marsellus leaves to get them some coffee and Vincent goes into the bathroom. Butch warily walks in to retrieve a forgotten watch and finds a Silenced MAC-11 on the kitchen counter. As he picks it up, Butch hears the toilet flush in the bathroom. Vincent walks out and freezes, recognizing Butch and staring into the barrel of his boss' gun. Seconds go by, a pair of Pop-Tarts jump out of the toaster and Butch shoots Vincent in the chest. Vega is thrown back into the bathroom and lands in the bathtub, dead.
Production and background
The role was written for Michael Madsen, who turned it down: Madsen had played Vincent's brother Vic Vega in Reservoir Dogs. Mia calls Vincent "cowboy," a reference to Travolta's earlier role in Urban Cowboy. Vincent then calls Mia "cowgirl," a reference to Thurman's film Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. Travolta has said some of his dance moves with Uma Thurman during the Jack Rabbit Slim's scene were based on Adam West's Batusi from the 1960s Batman television series. The scene which depicts Vincent plunging a syringe into Mia's chest was filmed with Travolta pulling the needle out: The film was then run backwards. In one of the movie's deleted scenes a reference is made to Vincent Vega's cousin, whose name is Suzanne Vega. Mia asks whether this is the folk singer and Vincent says he does not know if his cousin became a folk singer.
See also
References
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/trivia
- Frances Kelly, "In the Men's Room: Death and Derision in Cinematic Toilets", Ladies and Gents