Jackie Brown Movie Review 1997

Tarantino finally climbs back into the director's chair with his leisurely but satisfying adaptation of Elmore Leonard's "Rum Punch." No, it's not "Pulp Fiction," but it could do for Pam Grier what "Pulp" did for John Travolta. Grier stars as out-of-luck-and-options stewardess Jackie Brown, who runs money to Mexico for ruthless arms dealer Ordell (Jackson). Busted on one of her errands, she comes up with an intricate plan to get out from under, hopefully with the money and without getting caught or killed. Slower and less bloody than Quentin fans are used to, but as usual, he gets killer performances from everybody. Cool dialogue and chronological shifts are again key ingredients, along with a hightened sense of character development. Fonda and De Niro make the most of small (but crucial) roles, but it's Forster (another '70s whatever-happened-to refugee) who provides the standout performance. The look and feel of the movie reflects the dingy world it inhabits, as well as Tarantino's love of '70s blaxploitation flicks.

Distribution

Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521-1120, Toll-free: 800-723-4763, URL: http://www.bvhe.com

Available on VHS
Running time 155 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Crime Drama, Stewardesses, Scams, Stings & Cons, Cops, Books to Film: Elmore Leonard, L.A.

Screenplay

Quentin Tarantino

Cast

Pam Grier, Robert Forster, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton, Michael Bowen, Chris Tucker, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Tommy (Tiny) Lister, Hattie Winston, Aimee Graham, Sid Haig

Cinematography

Guillermo Navarro

Director

Quentin Tarantino

Music

Mary Ramos, Michelle Kuznetsky

Producer

Lawrence Bender, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Richard N. Gladstein, Elmore Leonard, A Band Apart, Miramax Films