Jackie Brown

Jackie Brown is one of Quentin Tarantino's least-discussed feature film. Although arguably not his best work, it has certain rare quality to it that may have went under many people's radar.

Our protagonist is Jackie Brown played by the talented gorgeous Pam Grier. She's in her mid-age working in the country's shittiest airlines as an air hostess. And the main reason for that is her past involvement in shady activities. She's loosely connected to Samuel L. Jackson's character Ordell who is a criminal himself trying to retire with the half-a-million he's made over the years. How the two work together for the money exchange process aided by a few other colorful characters form the crux.

First of all, the casting is stellar. I mean, would you believe your eyes if you'd have seen Samuel L. Jackson and Robert De Niro in a single frame talking to each other? That in itself is worth the price of admission! Anyways, every other actor present here be it Michael Keaton as Agent Ray, Bridget Fonda as Melanie or Robert Forster as Max does a terrific job along with the main characters. But the highlight is unbeatably Samuel L. Jackson! The way he utters Tarantino's lines is simply perfection, not to mention his golden reactions in every shot he's canned!

The initial half of Jackie Brown isn't engaging as the writer-director may have expected to be, and the primary reason for that is the scenes can drag on for far too long than required to convey its point. The ideas are good sure, but the length isn't warranted at all due to being limited by either the dialogues or the topic of conversation not being a dime. Some of the sequences deserve mentioning here is of course Ordell convincing Beaumont (Chris Tucker) to hop inside his car trunk only to murder him later, the casual chat between Jackie and Max (Robert Forster) about getting old, Ordell derailing Melanie (Bridget Fonda) to get the ringing telephone, Louis and Melanie 'hanging out' before catching up and Ordell's assassination attempt on Jackie that flips entirely on him! Despite the interesting plot, the feeling of it all especially regarding these random characters being forcefully put together can't be denied at times. On the technical side, the colors are thick and saturated plus the soundtrack and score choices are beyond apt!

With all the above said, the last hour of the film compensates for all the shortcomings. The actual money exchange activity is gripping from start to finish, with the showcase of that event from the perspective of all the different characters involved adding genuine excitement to the narrative! Deception using two women demo when the plan is put on motion, the constant rough and ruffle between Louis and Melanie at the shopping mall as the latter constantly teasing the former before shot dead at the parking lot plus the heated argument about the earlier event between Ordell and Louis that leads to a feared conclusion are the superb highlights! Even the climactic shootout with Jackie practicing her gun whip is amazing! Max watching Jackie leave as he's on the phone is a sad and well thought-out resolution.