Jackie Brown – Review

So, most all movie buffs already know Tarantino’s entire catalog, but I feel personally like Jackie Brown is most always overlooked by plenty of movie watchers, and for me it is still a fantastic film, and I am covering it here. And truth be told, I will hit all of Tarantino’s work eventually since most of it is from a while ago at this point.

Kicking off in Hermosa Beach, California, Ordell Robbie (Jackson) shows a “Chicks Who Love Guns” video to freshly released felon Louis Gara (De Niro), who listens attentively about the most popular gun in crime, a Tec-9, and AK-47s, the very best there is. Ordell makes his girl Melanie (Fonda) keep their drinks fresh and iced up, as well as answer his phone calls, which she does so grudgingly.

Louis has his eye on her, considering his time inside had no women handy, and takes a few tokes with her. Melanie is impressed by his stints for bank robbery, and Ordell makes gun deals over the phone. Then… Beaumont Livingston (Tucker) calls. He’s in jail over a pistol charge!

This means Ordell needs a bail bond, so he hits up Cherry Bail Bonds, and meets with owner Max Cherry (Forster). A quick cash transaction, and Ordell can spring his boy Beaumont, who is looking at a lot of time due to this new charge that broke his parole. This could lead to complications.

Meanwhile, as Cabo Air flight attendant Jackie Brown (Grier) arrives at LAX, she is pulled into a room by ATF agent Ray Nicolette (Keaton) and LAPD Detective Mark Dargus (Bowen). It appears she has some serious money and a touch of coke in her bag, which is not usually searched as airline workers skip the scanners. She is in trouble. Thing is, she’s just a small fish and the agents have their eyes on her boss… gun running Ordell. They have a plan to set a trap.

Now we have our main players of the game, and a whirlwind of a story is headed their way. As criminals vie for large sums of money, and law enforcement looks to lock them up, multiple plots and ploys are in play.

Based on a book, Jackie Brown is a tale of crime and drama, laced with comedy and quirkiness. The cast is phenomenal and bring the crazy story to new heights. Great music laces the background and Tarantino’s trademarks are ever present in his direction and dialogue. While at heart it is a crime story, it slips into themes of aging, relationships and thoughtful life observations. It has plenty to say, both literally and via nuanced subtext.

It runs a tad long, but there is not much fat to trim and the smart story keeps it interesting. The flick remains a total classic and still plays very well today. Fully enthralling and entertaining, give Jackie Brown a shot if you have not had the privilege.

Ray Nicolette next appears in Out of Sight, and is also played by Michael Keaton in that film. That movie is based on a book by the same author which penned the book that Jackie Brown was based on, so it is a nice continuation for the character.