Jackie Brown (1997)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Quentin Tarantino

Writers:

Quentin Tarantino (written for the screen by)
Elmore Leonard (novel)

Release Date:

25 December 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

This Christmas, Santa's Got A Brand New Bag

Plot:

A female flight attendant becomes a key figure in a plot between the police and an arms dealer.

Plot Keywords:

Money | Arms Dealer | ATF | Bail | Flight Attendant

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Pam Grier	...	Jackie Brown
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Ordell Robbie
Robert Forster	...	Max Cherry
Bridget Fonda	...	Melanie Ralston
Michael Keaton	...	Ray Nicolette
Robert De Niro	...	Louis Gara
Michael Bowen	...	Mark Dargus
Chris Tucker	...	Beaumont Livingston
Lisa Gay Hamilton	...	Sheronda
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	Winston (as Tommy 'Tiny' Lister Jr.)
Hattie Winston	...	Simone
Sid Haig	...	Judge
Aimee Graham	...	Amy - Billingsley Sales Girl
Ellis Williams	...	Cockatoo Bartender (as Ellis E. Williams)
Tangie Ambrose	...	Billingsley Sales Girl #2

Also Known As:

Rum Punch (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, some violence, drug use and sexuality.

Runtime:

154 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | USA:R (certificate #35732) | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 | Netherlands:12 | Brazil:14 | Philippines:R-18 | South Africa:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KNT | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Japan:PG-12 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Carson, California, USA

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

One name on the tenant list for Melanie's apartment building is "S. Haig", a reference to Sid Haig, who plays the judge that sentences Jackie to prison.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the first scene when Ordell and Louis are watching the "Chicks Who Love Guns" video, Ordell hits the "rewind" button on the remote to move the tape FORWARD to the next scene.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Girl at Security Gate: Flight 710 to Cabo San Lucas, now boarding Gate 103, first class only. Flight 710, Cabo San Lucas, now boarding Gate 103. First class only.
Jackie Brown: [greeting passengers] Buenos dias. Welcome aboard. Welcome aboard.

Movie Connections:

References Stick (1985)

Soundtrack:

Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time

Tarantino grows up

Quentin Tarantino follow up to the hysterical response generated by his suitably hysterical first two movies was 'Jackie Brown', an altogether more restrained film that garnered a somewhat more restrained set of reviews. Perhaps the relative lack of impact made by this film explains his subsequent return to extremes with 'Kill Bill'. But in some ways this is a shame, as there's a lot to enjoy in 'Jackie Brown', particularly in the universally first rate performances the director manages to get out of his distinguished cast. Robert Forster is wise and weary as a middle-aged bail bondsman, Samuel L. Jackson plays a criminal with all of the menace and none of the charm of his character in 'Pulp Fiction', while Bridget Fonda and a (cast against type) Robert de Niro are entertaining as a pair of useless crack-heads. Best of all is former blaxploitation star Pam Grier in the title role, combining human warmth and coolness under fire with considerable charm. The generic Ellmore Leanard plot is ultimately not quite as clever as it promises to be, and as as ever with Tarantino, both tone and taste are sometimes questionable: the early sequence 'Women Who Love Guns' is very funny, but it's quite unclear whether it's intended as satire or celebration. Nonetheless, once one adds in a typically splendid soundtrack, everything adds up to a movie far above the average crime thriller, and for all the breathtaking invention of his other movies, it's enough to make one wish that Tarantino didn't usually feel the need to try so very hard.