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Starring Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Bridget Fonda, Robert DeNiro, Michael Keaton, Chris Tucker. Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Pamela Grier is Jackie Brown. Jackie is a stewardess on the crappiest airline in the U. S. of A., making a lousy $16000 per year. It's the only job she could get in the friendly skies since Delta fired her for a little run-in with the law several years back. Ordell (Jackson) is a gun dealer who has made some transactions worth over a half million dollars down in Mexico. But it's too dangerous for him to bring the money back personally. Jackie flies that route, and receives a nice little commission from Ordell by bringing back $50000 each flight. The problem is that an employee of Ordell's named Beaumont (Tucker) has been picked up by the cops, and because of his priors, is looking at 10 years doing hard time. But Beaumont is not the kind of guy who wants to do 10 years. Ordell gets the bail for Beaumont from bondsman Max Cherry (Forster), and terminates Beaumont's employment, with prejudice. Ordell wants his money quickly, and calls on a reliable old buddy from Detroit (DeNiro), and a frisky surfer chick Melanie (Fonda), whose main ambition is "to get high and watch TV". While in custody, Beaumont made a deal with the A.T.F. firearms cops (led by Keaton), and gave up Jackie for a deal. The cops apprehend Jackie after a flight from Mexico with $50000 and 2 grams of cocaine. To get out of the jam, Jackie makes a deal with the cops to give them Ordell, while at the same time trying to convince Ordell that she is playing the cops and is still working with him. She enlists Max to help her get out of the mess in one piece, but then things get a little exciting. The film is a departure from his high energy original films Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, based instead on a Elmore Leonard novel Rum Punch, with Leonard serving as executive producer. Like Pulp Fiction, the film is over 2 1/2 hours long. While it moves at a relaxed pace, certain scenes and shots could have been pared down. Tarantino needs an editor. Could have used one for Pulp Fiction too. The movie Get Shorty was a very funny Leonard adaptation, but Jackie Brown's humour is more understated and natural. The film is stylishly directed, and the L. A. locations authentic, boasting an outstanding 60's and 70's soul soundtrack, with such classics as "Didn't I Blow Your Mind" by the Delfonics and "Strawberry Letter 23" by the Brothers Johnson cleverly woven into the story. The dialogue is hip and streetwise, although it uses a bit too many "n" words and mother... phrases. And there is the inspired Tarantino touches - a TV show called "Chicks With Guns", illustrating the various models of guns that Ordell can get for his customers. The performances are uniformly excellent. In the book, Jackie was a white woman, but Tarantino is quoted as saying he wrote the screenplay with Grier in mind. And Grier is excellent. She is tough, beautiful and completely believeable as a woman caught in a bind, and smart enough to try to finesse her way out. Samuel Jackson is Tarantino's perfect actor, delivering his lines with style and energy. Fonda is as sexy as she's ever been, exuding a carefree confidence. DeNiro starts as calm and laid back, but slowly loses his cool and reveals the inner anger of his character as the heat is turned on. Forster is a character actor who has never been given a very high profile, but is outstanding as the cool, level-headed bondsman who is drawn to Jackie. He is possibly the most interesting character in the film. If you don't go expecting another Pulp Fiction, you'll find instead a stylish, enjoyable crime flick.  |