Jackie Brown (1997)

One of my all time favorites.

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Blistering performances.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

'Jackie Brown (1997)' is plot-heavy but occasionally meandering, one of the only Tarantino flicks to be based on pre-existing material - which is probably why it contains more of a story than most of his other work. At times, it is too complex for its own good and long stretches of the piece are marred by seeming unimportance, but there is decent character work here and several stand-out scenes that make it worthwhile viewing. 7/10

It seems that this gem becomes overshadowed sometimes by Tarantino's other films. But it's easily one of his best. It's got all his classic elements: smart and witty dialogue, unique characters, a constantly weaving plot and his trademark violence. Plus it has that classic "Tarantino" soundtrack filled with some truly wonderful tunes.

In my opinion this is Tarantinos weakest movie and to be honest for maybe 45 minutes in the middle, this movie is kind of boring. I know it was to capture the Elmore Leonard talking feeling, but it just did not work out for me. It's also Tarantinos least re-watchable movie in my opinion.I know it's many people out there who say that Death Proof is Tarantinos weakest movie and for you, I recommend you to check out my Death Proof review.With that said I still think Jackie Brown is a solid movie. The characters are good and the story have to be Tarantinos most realistic. The soundtrack works perfectly even if it's one song I dislike, I can still see that it is important to set up the tone. The opening and the ending works very well and especially the 3 perspective shopping montage that feels both clever and original (If it's not stolen from another movie). And the camera work just screams Tarantino, so you still know who is behind the movie. And my final line is this: This guy will never made a bad movie. Death proof was a dead project from the beginning because the Grind house genre is not a very serious one and I would still think most people would agree that it's one of the better movies in it's genre. And this one is still a solid film that works and doesn't lose hes reputation after making Pulp Fiction (One of the greatest movies of all time) that would have give most directors goosebumps. Just the idea of after making two adrenaline pumped movies going back and making this one, just say so much about how skilled and controlled Tarantino is as a director and that's why he will never do a bad movie.This is a solid film that I would have cut a bit in the middle.It's my least favorite movie in Tarantinos filmography and I don't even think it's in my top 100-150.

Tarantino is able to make great movies no matter what, and this movie is another testament to why I love this guys movies. Sure, he isn't entirely original, but his movies are entertaining, and you don't need to understand such hopelessly trivial "deep" themes to understand. The reason you should watch movies is the entertainment value, that's what matters so much. Themes are there in real life, so you really don't need them in movies. Sure, themes and social commentary make good movies, but liking movies even though they have a lack of meaning doesn't (of course, it helps to know, however, many mindless movies are actually more boring than movies with subtle meaning). Just to be sure, Jackie Brown is a bit restrained but still has the Tarantino trademarks that we all know and love.Bridget Fonda is so absolutely perfect as gun-runner Samuel L. Jackson's sassy "surfer chick" that you are convinced that this is who Bridget Fonda really is. Robert De Niro was given a long leash in his portrayal of a dim-witted, recently-paroled bank robber (not exactly a typecast for him... and he nails it. And the other characters that spice up the plot are all well-formed and well-acted. But it's the improbable relationship between Jackie and Max that grabs you and won't let you go. Like a swirling, cool, evening fog by the waterfront on a steamy, summer evening, it is hard to define and even harder to grasp, but you know you like it. Music and dialogue carry this movie and are the two ingredients that make it such a pleasure to take in. The film's been described as "slow-moving," but people who say that don't realize that the pace is purposefully done slow so one can enjoy each characters' interactions. Sam Jackson's character, for as messed up as he is, is a piece of art. Charismatic dialogue. Jackie Brown is the Tarantino film that mostly goes over lot's of people's heads, but it is no less entertaining in many ways (although it's not as good as Pulp Fiction, obviously). Don't be fooled by Jackie Brown's different approach and black sheep persona of the Tarantino canon, it's just one of his charms that his movies seem to be black sheeps when compared to certain others. In any case, ignoring this fine work would be kind of futile.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.