MOVIES YOU GOTTA CATCH-JACKIE BROWN
Jackie Brown
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Year: 1997
Genre: Crime/Drama
Starring: Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton, and Robert DeNiro.
Plot:
Jackie Brown is the story of a middle-aged flight attendant, Jackie Brown(Pam Grier), who is down on her luck. Things go from bad to worse when she is caught by A.T.F. agents smuggling money for a small time gun-runner, Ordell Robbie(Samuel L. Jackson). Jackie is faced with the tough choice of spending her last “good” years in jail and being too old to make anything of her life when she gets out or tuning state’s evidence and possibly ending up a dead woman at the hands of Ordell. Befreinding her bail bondsman, Max Cherry(Robert Forster), Jackie comes up with a third option that not only takes care of her future, but can get the Feds and Ordell off her back for good.
What’s so good about it?
One of Quentin Tarantino’s earlier works, Jackie Brown is the overlooked gem in his Directorial accomplishments. Devoid of his usual form of branding this is Tarantino’s straight-faced crime drama. There’s no witty banter or long monologues, it’s Tarantino storytelling without the glitter of dialogue we have come to associate with Tarantino but that’s not a bad thing. You still get a strong dash of Tarantino style with non-linear storytelling, plot twists, and “follow the package” plot lines. This is also one of the films where the Director remains completely behind the camera. Without Quentin’s mug, Jackie Brown is still packed with big Hollywood names and the performances delivered by the cast are solid and believable. The soundtrack is outstanding with Mo-Town hits by the Delfonics, Bill Withers, Bobby Womack, and Johnny Cash to name a few. There are also a few cool on screen minor roles by Tommy “Tiny” Lister (No Holds Barred, Friday) and Chris Tucker (Rush Hour, Friday).
Quotable Lines:
Oredell Robbie: AK-47. The very best there is. When you absolutely, positively got to kill every motherfucker in the room, accept no substitutes.
Ordell Robbie: My ass may be dumb, but I ain’t no dumbass.
Ordell Robbie: Goddamn girl, you gettin’ high already? It’s just 2 o’clock!
Melanie: [chuckling] It’s that late?
Ordell Robbie: You know you smoke too much of that shit, that shit gonna rob you of your own ambition.
Melanie: Not if your ambition is to get high and watch TV…
Ordell Robbie: Oh, ya’ll a couple Cheech and Chongs, huh?
