A flight attendant named Jackie Brown (Pam Grier) has a criminal past, before getting picked up swiftly by American law enforcement. While under pressure to become an informant against the drug dealer she works for, she must ultimately find a way to protect her own future without being locked up or killed. A somewhat underrated film that is now over twenty-five years old. It’s worth noting that Jackie Brown is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writers: Quentin Tarantino, Elmore Leonard
Starring: Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro, Robert Forster

Written and directed for the big screen by Quentin Tarantino, Jackie Brown is based on the novel Rum Punch, written and released by Elmore Leonard in 1992. Introduced to viewers in 1997, the film was nominated for a multitude of filmmaking awards, as well as one Oscar in the ‘Best Actor in a Supporting Role’.

A couple of the standout features of Jackie Brown were the Los Angeles based filming locations utilised for the entire one-hundred and fifty-four minute runtime, along with the smooth and effective soundtrack that was showcased. The soundtrack offered somewhat of a contrast to the seriousness of the story that the filmmakers were opting to develop. Performers such as Johnny Cash, Roy Ayers, Elvin Bishop and the Delfonics were occasionally leaned on.

Another strong aspect of the film was the quick witted and overall sharp dialogue displayed by the key characters, alongside the black humour that is ever-present in the majority of Quentin Tarantino’s releases. The language comes across as well crafted, thus allowing the viewer to become engaged with each of the personalities on display.

In terms of the cast, Pam Grier adopted the role of Jackie Brown, while support reigned in heavily from the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro and Robert Forster, who starred as Ordell, Louis and Max, respectively. Elsewhere, Michael Keaton appeared as Ray Nicolette, who interestingly made an appearance as the same character in the film Out of Sight (1998), which has also been reviewed on the website. Other noteworthy cast members came in the form of Bridget Fonda and Chris Tucker, albeit in less prominent roles.

Ultimately, Jackie Brown may not have included the typical Quentin Tarantino trademarks that his other films are typically littered with, but the intriguing story, coupled with engaging dialogue and fascinating characters make this one of his finest achievements. As previously noted, Jackie Brown is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.  

“You can’t trust Melanie. But, you can always trust Melanie to be Melanie.“

Ordell – Jackie Brown