Year of Release: 1997Country of Origin: USA
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton, Robert De Niro
Plot outline: A female flight attendant becomes a key figure in a plot between the police and an arms dealer (IMDb).
Jackie Brown is fast, clever and deliriously hilarious. The mood is deliciously set from the opening sequence, in which a funky, long-haired Samuel L. Jackson, as gun-dealer Ordell, shows buddy crim Louis a video on the best guns that money can buy. Tarantino developed the movie as a homage to 70s black star Pam Grier and she doesn’t disappoint. Grier’s aged to perfection, and playing this tough but vulnerable character seems perfect for her. She is surrounded by major talent. Robert De Niro is at his driest as the somewhat slow ex-con whose face expresses a range of emotions, and is often hilarious. Jackson shines as Ordell, while Bridget Fonda lights up the screen as the drugged-out Melanie. Also impressive, so different from the others, is Robert Forster, quietly touching as the bail bondsman whose feelings for Jackie change his life in unexpected ways. Unlike his earlier work, Tarantino’s direction is less self-conscious, and there are some original touches, such as a memorable sequence in which we see three different perspectives during the climactic conclusion. The dialogue is sharp and intelligently written, if filled with the usual profanity. Despite its length, Tarantino keeps things moving at a brisk pace. Jackie Brown is an inventive, exhilarating piece of snappy entertainment, and while not as ground-breaking as its predecessors, it’s still a compelling movie to watch. (PF)
My judgement: ***1/2 out of 4 stars
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