Movie 173: Jackie Brown

Jackie Brown (1997) by Quentin Tarantino
starring Pam Grier, Robert Forster, Samuel L. Jackson and Robert DeNiro



In a nutshell: Possibly the least seen of Tarantino's movies is undeserving of that distinction...although all of his movies are undeserving of that distinction because they are all good

Quick synopsis: An airline stewardess trying to earn a few extra bucks on the side winds up in the middle of an ATF investigation into arms dealing and befriends a local bail bondsman who helps her navigate her ordeal.

Content: Of all of Quentin Tarantino's films, Jackie Brown is perhaps the least recognizable as his work. There is fantastic dialog, but none of the self-conscious pop culture chatter that is omnipresent in Reservoir Dogs. There is a scene that is replayed 3 times from 3 different POV's but the film is generally presented in order, unlike Pulp Fiction. Jackie Brown is alarmingly straightforward for QT movie and proves that if all the frills and fancy filmmaking techniques are stripped away, the man is still a talented writer and storyteller.

In Jackie Brown, he takes an Elmore Leonard novel called Rum Punch and turns it into a homage to the "blaxploitation" films of the 70's. As if there was any doubt that this is what he was up to, he even casts one of the biggest blaxploitation stars, Pam Grier, as the titular character. Although she gets mixed up in a semi-complicated crime caper featuring Sam Jackson and Robert DeNiro, the heart of the film revolves around her relationship with a man who is otherwise very ordinary. Max Cherry is a simple man - a bail bondsman who goes about his somewhat dangerous job with a quiet power. He has been doing it for decades and isn't an intimidating or physically imposing person, yet he clearly isn't intimidated by the scumbags and criminals who march into his office with wads of cash needing a bail bond. In one of the films most memorable moments, he matter-of-factly describes to Jackie how he broke into the house of a man he needed to bring in and waited there with a gun in the darkness. He is played expertly by Robert Forster who deserved the Oscar nom that he received and in many ways reminds me of Margie Gunderson from the Coen Brothers' award-winner, Fargo.

Max's relationship with Jackie is subtle. I wouldn't say he lights up when meets her, but he lights up as much as Max Cherry can. He remains deadpan, but he can't help but offer her a drink. He is taken by the beauty of an older woman, and QT does a fantastic job of portraying her as such. Although I have to give as much credit to Pam Grier as well. Jackie Brown is another deep character who is cold and harsh when she needs to be, but thoughtful, insecure and introspective at other times, especially when with Max. Even though she hasn't been a complete innocent, we still sympathize with her because she is so human.

In the other half of the movie, characters have less depth but are still not cookie-cutter stereotypes. Samuel L. Jackson plays Ordell Robbie in one of his better jobs. He is a cold-hearted SOB who looks out for himself and no one else. He isn't stupid, but he also isn't as smart as he thinks he is either. He fancies himself a big-time player when he really isn't. And for all his talk, all he has managed to accomplish is to put himself on the ATF's radar. He is, for the most part, just a criminal who's mouth is writing checks that his ass can't cash. Nevertheless he is dangerous and a guy who will kill you if you give him a reason. But, like Max, he has a soft spot for Jackie. This is never more obvious then when he gets extremely defensive when describing Jackie's plight to Max.

Robert DeNiro's character is strangely useless. He is barely even used to move the plot forward. His performance is also the weakest among the major roles, but it's not enough to harm the movie. Michael Keaton is one of the ATF agents and he is spot on as someone who is way too into "being a cop" as one of the characters describes him.

Jackie Brown is all about the characters. The caper is interesting, but is secondary. The ending, which I won't reveal, is fantastic and leaves the door open for a little story extrapolation even though I am guessing that things kind of return to the way they were when all is said and done.

So...watch Jackie Brown, even if you are not normally a QT fan. It is easily his most accessible movie to the type of moviegoers who don't get off on Sam Jackson and John Travolta talking about a Royale with cheese or Kill Bill's theatrical spurting blood.

Rolling rankings:
1. Inglourious Basterds (#168)
2. Where The Wild Things Are (#169)
3. Jackie Brown (#173)
4. Adventureland (#170)
5. Anvil! The Story of Anvil (#172)
6. Duplicity (#167)
7. Battle Royale (#165)
8. Into the Wild (#166)
9. I Love You, Man (#164)
10. The American Nightmare (#171)