Rating: Summary: The Del Fonics are only the beginning of the coolness here.. Review: In typical Tarrantino fashion, another multi-leveled, many charactered, in-your-face display of people doing what they need to do when extreme situation call for action, Jackie Brown is another masterpiece. Sadly, it did not receive all the hype and promotion as did the his previous work, Pulp Fiction, but like many things, that has little bearing on the greatness of the film. In a smart, savvy, sexy performance, Pam Grier smolders with brains and wit as the title character trying to get her life back on track. With great support from Robert DeNiro (looking very disgustingly dirty and dirtbag-ish), and absolutely amazing Robert Forster (a bail bondsman with a heart), Samuel L. Jackson (love his attitude!), and a very annoying (but in that "good" sense) Bridget Fonda. I hesitate to give away anything about the plot as much of the pleasure you will get from this film is watching the plot unfold, point by point. Just trust me on this one, you will see things you wouldn't expect, and things you do expect will be done in ways which will blow your mind. Sure, expect lots of violence, sure, expect lots of foul language, sure, expect some sex...this is Quentin Tarrantino...what do you expect? If you object to that content, then don't see this film. If you realize these are standards in Tarrantino's work, then you'll see far past this, and see the great work for what it is: good writing, and superb acting. Robert Forster was nominated for supporting actor for this work in 1997. His bondsman is pure heart. See this film!!! See it now!
Rating: Summary: Gets better and better every time I watch it. Review: Pulp Fiction is surely one of the top ten most significant and influential movies ever made, but Jackie Brown is my favorite. It has great writing, great directing, and great characters. It goes without saying that the acting is first rate, look who's in the movie. Unlike Pulp Fiction, which loses its edge the more I see it, this movie gets better. It's the interaction between the characters I love the most, and which never loses its flavor. I finally read the book (about the fifth Leonard book I've read, and in my opinion his worse, but I admit I could be biased.) But reading the book and watching the movie is like a case study on great story telling. Tarantino is more than just a flashy director and clever writer, mixing dark humor with violence and vulgar langauge, he truly understands *story.* Which most his imitators and peers do not. He cuts out all the BS from the book (of which there is plenty, such as pointless subplots, bogus sounding street talk, etc.), and keeps all the best parts. But even so if that's all he'd done, it still would have been a weak movie. He totally upgrades the dialogue to a new level, keeping only the few decently written dialogue scenes from the book (such as Max and Jackie's conversation the morning after she's freed from jail) and expands the characters and their interaction with each other and tightens the plot considerably. (Not to mention, heightening the suspense and tension.) the critics said the movie was too long and there wasn't enough action. But let's face it, critics in general are jaded and lazy moviegoers. If any other director had done the movie, they would have been either blasted or resoundingly praised for so blatantly imitating Tarantino, but knowing Tarantino directed the movie, they say it's nothing at all like his other movies and none of his fans are going to like this one. How could he have won? Was he suppose to do a remake of pulp Fiction? I thought it was the perfect follow up. (And of course we all know had the movies been released in the opposite order, how the critics would have been rating each movie ...) Anyway, to those critics who say the movie's too long and boring, then let every movie be this long and boring, and please spare us a world where Titanic is regarded as a better movie, with its thin story and inept dialogue and bloated budget. (You say it's not fair comparing the two movies, I say it is. A story is a story, and Jackie Brown is as much a story of doomed romance as Titanic is, but the simple fact is, Jackie Brown is a way better movie, and what honors did it win besides Robert Forster's nomination, who was only one of many great performances in the movie, and personally I think the least deserving of a nomination? Meanwhile the Titantic got virtually unanimous praise and won that year's Best Picture. What gives?) This is a movie for those who want to be slowly and surely swallowed whole by the story, the characters, and a great filmmaker. And to those who say Tarantino is some kind of wannabe Elmore Leonard of cinema, then read the book and watch the movie, and honestly tell me the book has more to offer. It doesn't. Tarantino truly knows how to bring the characters and story to life. Leonard could only dream of being so talented.
Rating: Summary: Loved It!!! Review: I am a bit late in writing this, but here goes. I saw this movie once it came out on video, and I wasn't disappointed. If you are looking for adventure, violence, and mayhem, this is definitely it. Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Tucker,Robert DeNiro, et al, gives powerful performances. But Pam Grier just wows them. My favorite scene will always be when the bail bondsman go to pick up Pam Grier, and is attracted to her, all the while, "Natural High" is playing in the background. All I can say is I wish someone would look at me that way.
Rating: Summary: There Is a lot of PUNCH in this RUM Movie From Quentin T! Review: Watch this film and then watch it again. Why I say this is, is because at times it can be a little hard to follow, as the plot is very intricate (I won't say anymore). Tarantino, once again has assembled a cast that has more than delivered the goods in terms of their performances-notably Samuel L. Jackson (Ordell), Pam Grier (title role) and superb Robert Forster (Max Cherry). Film fans expecting a Pulp Fiction Pt. 2, will be in for a disapointment, this is a slow burning, character driven vehicle, which I think will stand the test of time over the years, however, the more you watch this movie, the more you will grow to love it. The story is good, direction- flawless and mature, cast-outstanding and the overall pace of the movie is pitched just right. Watch it and decide. Come on Quentin, make another movie! It has been four years!
Rating: Summary: Elmore Leonard plus Quentin Tarantino equals Cool. Review: "Get Shorty" and "Out of Sight" may have been Better All-Round Films, (and more successful, Critically and Commercially) but the mere fact that Quentin Tarantino is on the directors chair for "Jackie Brown" should be reason enough for any Self Respecting Movie Fan to give it a go. Blaxpoitation Icon Pam Grier and the Modern King of Cool Samuel L Jackson star in this Crime Caper about Trust and Betrayal in the Criminal World. Grier plays Jackie Brown, a Stewardess for a Little Mexican Airline is her day job, but her real cash comes from Smuggling money for Ordell Robbie (Samuel L Jackson), Amateur Gun Runner. When she is Busted with over 10 Grand in her bag, that she didn't take through Customs, ATF agent Ray Nicolette try's to convince her to Testify against Robbie, but she has a Better plan. The Cast is Truly to die for. Pam Grier, Samuel L Jackson, Robert De Niro, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton, Chris Tucker and Robert Forster are all Exceptional. De Niro and Forster Underplay their roles Wonderfully, letting Jackson and Grier share the Spotlight. Keaton and Tucker make the most of their small but Affective roles. Fonda is also Great, but she can tend to annoy, and try to Snatch the Spotlight. Tarantino's Directing is as Sure as Ever, every scene is Acted and Filmed to it's Full Potential. The film may seem Long and Slow in parts, but fans of Leonard's Novel, the Actors or the Director will Never be Bored.
Rating: Summary: Another disturbing flick from Tarantino that keeps you glued Review: It's hard to match the genius of Pulp Fiction, but Tarantino does another excellent job and continues his reputation of violent cinema with a unique touch. From the start, Jackie Brown has a "70's cop flick" style and furthers Tarantino's objectives of not sticking with main stream cinema. Another excellent casting job. Pam Grier proves that her sex appeal hasn't gone anywhere. Robert DeNiro is cast in a role that seems to be written for him. (Watch for the "Lil'Bit" remark.) One of the best actors in show business today, Samuel L. Jackson returns in a Tarantino project. Interesting and effective casting with Michael Keaton and Bridget Fonda. Almost impressive as Grier's role was Robert Forster's acting job as the bail bondsman. Once again, Tarantino makes a movie that disturbs as much as it entertains you. The dialogue between Jackson and DeNiro about movies that made low-level hustlers desire certain weapons is disturbing but true in a world that places Hollywood glamour above common sense. An ending that will keep you on the edge of your seat and a great conclusion with Jackie Brown singing "110th Street" after the debacle she went through. Unrealistic, filled with violence but another creative Tarantino screenplay that doesn't disappoint.
Rating: Summary: Pam Grier is La Creme de la Cool. Review: Among Tarantino's works, "Jackie Brown" lacks the propulsive speed of "Pulp Fiction"; it takes patience to follow the intricate setup for the final caper and its aftermath. (This is typical of any movie based on a book by Elmore Leonard; Leonard wants you not only to understand exactly what the caper is, but who exactly is trying to pull it off.) The length of the setup, however, pays off beautifully when the caper itself--involving a dropoff of drug money in a suburban mall, under the supposedly watchful eyes of the police--explodes across the screen, shown from the viewpoints of several different characters. And what characters! From the opening credits, when you see Pam Grier--an actress of extreme sexiness and charisma--race across an airport to the tune of "Across 110th Street," you know you are in for a cinematic treat. Grier was absolutely superb in this--why didn't she get an Oscar nomination, and why hasn't she been offered any more lead roles since this? It's also a delight to see Robert Forster, a tough-guy actor of the '70s, give a thoughtful and commanding performance as Grier's partner in crime. And the rogues' gallery of great character actors in supporting roles--Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton--add further to "Jackie Brown's" overall excellence, making this a movie you will never forget.
Rating: Summary: THE WELL WENT DRY... Review: THis is the last movie I watched by Tarantino. It seems to me that his formula of cloning old scenes and ideas from older movies, comic books and TV shows are beginning to seem repetitive. He's a very limited director, who had a brief stardom then went back to the place he belongs. THis movie is boring, although no doubt the actors are great. I'm only sorry for De Niro being in his ridiculous small part as a little bad guy.
Rating: Summary: A another great movie from Tarantino Review: Forget the negative comments critics and other hard-boiled viewers say about Jackie Brown. You shouldn't compare Jackie Brown to Pulp Fiction because they are two totally different concepts. Sure, Tarantino could have made this movie into another Pulp, but that wasn't supposed to be the point of this movie. Jackie Brown proves that Tarantino knows more about filmmaking than only his trademark style. It proves that he can take an Elmore Leonard novel, give it the old 70's funk feel, and at the same time justify the characters. Jackie Brown is a character-driven story, not a plot-driven one, and it is more linear than Tarantino's previous films. It starts out revealing the characters and the worlds they live in: Ordell (Jackson) is a streetwise gun dealer, Louis Gara (De Niro) is a low IQed ex-con, Melanie (Bridget Fonda) is one of Ordell's girlfriends whose ambition is to get high all the time, Max Cherry (Forster) is a tired bail bondsman, Ray Nicolette (Keaton) is a sincere fed, and most of all there is Jackie Brown (Grier), the desperate flight attendant who outsmarts everyone till the end. The story is unpredictable at the start, then the movie goes through a number of events until all characters end up going afer a half million dollars in cash. Everyone is confident of their plans for the money, but Jackie, with the help of Max, gets the best of them and plays out everyone with her plan. Tarantino made sure that scenes played out well, and they did. The opening scenes where Ordell plans Beaumont's death were funny, and the money exchange sequences were filmed great. Many people I know complained about the movie's long length, but the reason why it was long was because it showed the plot from ALL the character's perspectives, not just the heroine Jackie, and you have to respect that. It's a movie of how 6 characters live, breathe, and scam, and if they were to run into something as important as a half million dollars, who will be the smartest to get the big score? Jackie Brown is a new beginning for QT, and so what if Pulp Fiction will never be duplicated? We can always enjoy great films from Tarantino.
Rating: Summary: The best Tarantino film!! Review: I enjoy Quentin Tarantino's work a great deal. I love all his films and each one gets better every time I watch it. This is the one that I like the best. I was so excited for Quentin's new film in the winter of 1997. I went and saw an advanced screening and although the two friends I went with didn't care for it too much, I loved it. It's well acted, directed and scripted. Good source material-Elmore Leonard(one of the greatest contemporary crime fiction novelists). When it comes down to it, I just love the romance between Pam Grier and Robert Forster. It was just so rewarding to see them act together. Another film that has romantic elements (also a good crime story) that is so much better than the standard romantic comedy/drama fare of today. It is a film that for me, was the perfect direction for Tarantino to move in post -Pulp Fiction. Don't get me wrong-I love both pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, but I guess that ultimately the romantic in me wins out.
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