Jackie Brown (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Date undefined

Quinton Tarantino is one of those directors you either love or hate, but there is no denying that he has talent, and what makes his talent even more obvious is his rich sense of style. Tarantino has a very unique charm that he layers his films with, giving them such warm originality.

Much like with directors Baz Luhrmann and David Fincher, a Quinton Tarantino film is undeniably a film by Quinton Tarantino.

With that said; the fact that some have criticized `Jackie Brown' for being a change of pace or unlike Tarantino's more successful films (`Pulp Fiction' and `Reservoir Dogs') is rather preposterous, for if you truly look at the film in all it's technical aspects you can't help but see Tarantino shining through in every frame.

It bares his name, thus it bares his soul.

The film tells the story of Ordell Robbie; arms dealer. Ordell is a ruthless man who takes nothing from no one, so when stewardess Jackie Brown is arrested smuggling Ordell's money he immediately takes the defensive. He contacts bail bondsman Max Cherry in order to bail Jackie out, but his plans to kill her are thwarted when she proposes a deal. Ordell is trying to smuggle in a half-million dollars into the states, and he was planning on using Jackie to do so; yet the feds have already offered Jackie a deal of her own, if she can give them Ordell. Working both sides she concocts a plan where she can `get out of jail free', keep her life and (if all goes right) keep the money.

The film is littered with great performances by a slew of talented actors. Pam Grier steps into the lead role of Jackie Brown, and she manages to create a masterfully layered woman. She is smart, witty and strong, yet she gives her layers of fragility which help establish this woman's true nature. Samuel L. Jackson, who also worked with Tarantino (and managed an Oscar nomination) in `Pulp Fiction', plays Ordell Brown with the same quick witted sense of humor with which he played Jules Winnfield. He is engaging and hilarious and somewhat scary. The combination works just as well the second go around. Robert Forster (who received an Oscar nomination for his performance) gives Max Cherry a marvelous sense of honesty that comes of rather pure in this film filled with double crossing liars and manipulators. His character is the richest of the bunch, in the subtlest of ways.

The supporting cast, including Robert De Niro, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton and Chris Tucker, are all on the top of their game, especially De Niro who almost feels like a simpleton yet he builds (gradually) layers of intelligence into his character.

`Jackie Brown' is not as abrasive as `Pulp Fiction' or `Reservoir Dogs', but to say that it is Tarantino-lite is a false statement. This film may be a little slower, but that is only to build on the strong characters. The thing is, the scope of Jackie Brown is a lot simpler than that of `Pulp Fiction', which threw a large amount of characters into a twisting plot, whereas `Jackie Brown' focuses on a few characters in one plot and thus allows more time for us to engage in these particular characters and get to know them. Tarantino has a knack for dialog, and this film is no exception for the mere interactions between characters is what makes this film so much fun.

It's a slightly different approach, but the construction and delivery is all Tarantino.

Guest

Jackie Brown (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Date undefined

4 and 1/2 Stars.

The story of a 44 yr old black woman struggling to get over a criminal past and a mid-life crisis serves as an unlikely follow-up to Quentin Tarantino's enormously successful 'Pulp Fiction'. This film, a much more character driven piece, is probably his most realistic and linear of the five he's completed.

The plot revolves around a gun-runner's attempt to traffic his money while being pressured by the ATF. But the clever part of the movie has to do with it's shift from the initial plot to the lives and relationships of it's characters (all of which come off very naturally). And because the pleasure of the movie lies in the relationships and dialogue of the characters (all of which is dynamic and plot-driven), the film is ripe for repeated viewings.

There's not much else to say here. The movie is very entertaining. The heist plot is terrific but the 'hang-out' scenes really make the film great, utilizing incredible dialogue and acting prowess (otherwise unseen from this group of actors and actresses, sans DeNiro) to tell a typical genre story in a much more subtle and personal way.

Funny, sly, clever, the movie is thoroughly enjoyable. Recommended.

Guest

Jackie Brown (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Date undefined

I have attempted on two separate occasions to purchase this item through Amazon.com... In each instance I was told that the order had been cancelled and my money refunded to me... Hence I have never received this purchase...

React and review

The Dark Knight (+ Digital Copy and BD Live) [Blu-ray]

The Dark Knight (Widescreen Single-Disc Edition)

Last added products:

More items

From Russia with Love (James Bond) [Blu-ray]

Iron Man (Ultimate Two-Disc Edition + BD Live) [Blu-ray]

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [Blu-ray]

Last comments:

More items

No Country for Old Men

The Dark Knight (Two-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy)

Top ranks:

More items

No Country for Old Men