Jackie Brown

Jackie Brown is based on Elmore Leonard’s novel Rum Punch.

While it’s plotted with Leonard’s typical off-hand intricacy, the set-up is simple enough. Take half a dozen characters who know they’re in a fix, and give them half a million dollars to fight over. On the wrong side of the law, we have a ruthless gun dealer, Ordell (Samuel L Jackson), his prison-happy buddy Louis (Robert DeNiro), and the reliably duplicitous Melanie (Bridget Fonda). “I don’t have to trust Melanie, I know her,” Ordell tells a blankly incomprehending Louis. On the other side, there’s a slick, eager cop, Ray Nicolet (Michael Keaton) and the worldweary bailbondsman, Max Cherry (Robert Forster). Meanwhile air stewardess Jackie Brown (Pam Grier) is stuck in the middle with the money, wondering if she can’t play both ends against each other and get away scott free.

Tarantino’s first movie after Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown met with very mixed reviews on release but like Jackie and Max, it only gets better with age. It has a surprising grace and gravitas, it’s a “lived-in” film, and maybe for the only time in QT’s work we truly care about the characters. For once the soul isn’t relegated to the soundtrack.

Noticeably better with each viewing.

Jason Bailey, Vice

Media Partner