Crime/Drama/Thriller
2 hours and 34 minutes
Rated: R
Written by: Quentin Tarantino
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Produced by: Lawrence Bender & Paul Hellerman
Cast:
Pam Grier
Samuel L. Jackson
Robert Forster
Bridget Fonda
Michael Keaton
Chris Tucker
Robert De Niro
Six players on the trail of a half a million dollars in cash. There's only one question... Who's playing who?
The combination of Quentin Tarantino and Elmore Leonard is simply a match made in heaven. With wordy, well thought out dialogue, Tarantino's early crime films (even the ones he simply wrote and did not direct himself) had the feel of an Elmore Leonard storyline without actually utilizing an Elmore Leonard storyline. It's no surprise to learn that the author was one of Tarantino's favorites, and that he had planned a Leonard adaptation as far back as the early 1990s.
Several of Leonard's books were optioned, and at first Tarantino wanted to make Killshot into a major motion-picture (something that filmmaker John Madden did eleven years later with actor Mickey Rourke), but eventually Tarantino turned his sights on Rum Punch instead. With a plot line that follows the illegal exchange of money, and contains very little violence, Rum Punch may appear to have been an odd story for Tarantino to fall in love with. On the contrary, it was filled with rough, criminal characters, and blue collar people in tough situations, and Leonard's use of everyday but humorous dialogue is already enough for anyone who reads the novel to understand why Tarantino loved it so much.
Jackie Brown is one of those rare occurrences where the movie is actually just as good, if not better, than the book. Out of respect to Leonard, Tarantino keeps his story intact, but changes quite a great deal within. Many of the scenes are jumbled around, the Miami setting has been transposed to Los Angeles, the main character's name and ethnicity have been altered, and the ending is completely different. All of this being said, this is why Jackie Brown triumphs over its novel companion Rum Punch. It showcases Tarantino's own creativity without disrespecting Leonard's. It's no wonder Elmore Leonard referred to it as being his favorite film adaptation of one of his own works.
The characters within Jackie Brown are more clearly painted, and go much deeper than anything Tarantino had come up with before. Sure, films like Reservoir Dogs, True Romance, and Pulp Fiction had likable, and memorable characters - but the characters in Jackie Brown seem to be the filmmaker's most thought through. Perhaps having Leonard's characterization of them as a jumping off point helped him tremendously when portraying them in the script.
Like most Tarantino films, the cast is perfectly hand selected to tackle these incredible roles, and none of them lets down the filmmaker's vision. Pam Grier is truly amazing, and makes this rundown, criminal flight attendant truly relatable. In fact, it's almost impossible to cheer against her in the end when she steals money that isn't hers. Grier showcases her tremendous talent and proves that she's more than just something to gawk at or idolize for her cult performances in blaxploitation classics. Robert Forster is charming, and like Grier, shows that he is a truly gifted actor who perhaps is better than his body of work (Alligator) would suggest. Samuel Jackson is pure gold, and at this point it just seems that Tarantino writes dialogue simply so that Jackson can perfectly deliver it. Michael Keaton and Bridget Fonda are both good, but unfortunately neither have enough screen time. The characters are well showcased, and perhaps that's why viewers may feel cheated that they don't spend enough time with either of them. Robert De Niro expertly portrays an ex-con just out of prison. His mannerisms and lack of dialogue give him a truly believable performance. Despite very few lines, and his lack of an essential part in the story until the film's climax, De Niro delivers one of the best performances of his career in Jackie Brown.
The film's soundtrack is terrific. Tarantino's films always showcase wonderful and well-placed music. But Jackie Brown may showcase this best of all. With scores from Jack Hill blaxploitation staples such as Coffy and Foxy Brown, it is quite clear that this film is Tarantino's love letter to not just the films of Pam Grier, but the films of the 1970s in general. Soul classics from The Delfonics, Bobby Womack, and The Supremes certainly are appreciated as well.
There is one major issue with the film, which is rather unfortunate. By its third act, Jackie Brown begins to run out of some serious steam and drag to the point that it becomes a test of will for a viewer to finish it. After the film's exciting climax, its conclusion is rather ... well, frankly its dull. Most of Tarantino's films finish in a grandiose moment, but Jackie Brown ends on a sour note. It's unfortunate seeing as how maybe had Tarantino left the original Elmore Leonard ending in his film it could've been a lot better.
With some of the best characters that the filmmaker has ever written, all portrayed by an incredible cast of extremely talented actors, Jackie Brown is a damn near perfect film that is fun, hilarious, and entertaining for anyone who watches it. And despite a slow and somewhat dissatisfying ending, it may very well be Quentin Tarantino's greatest movie.
9.5/10
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