by Anthony O'Connor
Worth: Discs: 2, The Film: 4.5/5, The Extras: 3.5/5, Overall: 8/10
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Pam Grier, Robert Forster, Samuel L. Jackson, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton, Robert De Niro
Intro:
… easily the best way to appreciate one of Quentin Tarantino’s lowkey but best films.
The Film:
The passage of time is a funny old thing, particularly how it can alter your perception of certain films. Case in point, 1997’s Jackie Brown, an adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s novel Rum Punch and the third film from then young and dangerous auteur Quentin Tarantino. Ol’ mate Quentin was on a bit of a hot streak at the time and after the one-two punch of Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994), the world was gagging for whatever his twisted little mind could dream up next. But instead of a blood-spattered epic with staggering levels of gore or antisocial shenanigans, we got a surprisingly mature and sensitive film about getting older, taking one last chance and – appropriately enough – how time changes us all.
In 1997, your humble scribe was a cocky young man full of piss and vinegar (and whatever else he was imbibing at the time). Said youngster did not rate Jackie Brown and was a bit miffed by the whole experience. Real talk: that fellow was an idiot.
With the benefit of many (many!) years of experience since, and a significant reduction in both a) piss and b) vinegar, Jackie Brown reveals itself to be an incredibly accomplished film and quite honestly one of Tarantino’s best.
Jackie Brown tells the tale of Jackie Brown (Pam Grier), a middle-aged flight attendant who smuggles money into the States from Mexico for gun runner and loquacious, vicious criminal Ordell Robbie (Samuel L Jackson). ATF agent Ray Nicolette (Michael Keaton), acting on info from one of Ordell’s employees, pings Jackie for the dosh and some coke as well, which puts Ms. Brown in a very awkward situation. Jackie needs to get out of trouble without being sent down by Ray or killed by Ordell. So, she begins to formulate a plan where she’ll walk away free, and maybe with a little bit of cash in her pocket. Still, it’s a dangerous game she’s playing and Ordell is no fool, despite his absurd facial hair.
Jackie Brown is chock full of wonderful characters like good hearted bail bondsman Max Cherry (Robert Forster), past-his-prime criminal Louis Gara (Robert De Niro) and Ordell’s duplicitous surfer girlfriend, Melanie Ralston (Bridget Fonda). The various ways that these characters’ lives interact with one another is vintage Leonard, but Tarantino’s script adds some tension and edge to the proceedings, which really ramps up in the film’s understated but gripping third act. There are no samurai sword duels or bullet riddled bloodbaths here (in fact the movie features significantly less action than the book! Eschewing a subplot that pits Ray against a bunch of neo Nazis), but the nuanced character work is so strong that all but the most attention deficient cinephiles won’t mind.
And underpinning everything is a slightly winsome, bittersweet subtext about the passage of time and the rarity of second chances. People often talk about Quentin Tarantino’s glib attitude towards violence, and there’s perhaps a case to be made in some of his films, but Jackie Brown showed a new side to the outspoken director, and a rare sensitivity and respect that he bestows upon his characters. And what a fabulous starring vehicle for the iconic Pam Grier.
The Extras:
A decent offering in terms of extras here, although not spectacular. There’s the Breaking Down Jackie Brown critics roundtable, Jackie Brown: How it Went Down making-of featurette that’s pretty exhaustive and contains lovely stuff from the much-missed Elmore Leonard, A Look Back at Jackie Brown interview with Quentin Tarantino and the hilarious Chicks with Guns which features briefly in the movie.
There are a handful of deleted scenes, a bunch of trailers and stills and other legacy special features but nothing contemporary to really nail the lasting impact of this flick, which is a pity.
There is, however, an absolutely gorgeous hardcover booklet with loads of stills from the film and behind-the-scenes gear which is a treat, and the whole thing comes in a very attractive hardbox.
Verdict:
It’s fair to say that time has been very kind to Jackie Brown. It has aged like its star Pam Grier: shockingly well. Presented in a gorgeous new 4K print and boasting a decent if not exactly revolutionary slate of extras, this is easily the best way to appreciate one of Quentin Tarantino’s lowkey but best films.
