Pam is STILL the Queen!

Rating: 8/10 (21 May 2015)

One of Quentin Tarantino's more mature outings, this is an engaging adaptation of the novel "Rum Punch" by Elmore Leonard. The filmmaker shows a typically masterful way of telling a story, except that, because he's working from someone else's source material, there's less self-indulgence on his part. He assembled one hell of an impressive cast here, and as usual his choice of music is pretty damn eclectic. "Jackie Brown" is an awfully long, seemingly unwieldy film at approximately two hours and 35 minutes, but it's always hip, and funny, and entertaining.
Blaxploitation goddess Pam Grier got a long overdue comeback vehicle here, playing the title role. Jackie is an ageing flight attendant who also couriers money for gun running lowlife Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson). Soon, she's caught in the act, and does an amazing job of manipulating both the detectives (Michael Bowen, Michael Keaton) on her case and Robbie himself, all in the name of keeping herself out of jail and on the job.
Pam is a treat to watch, playing this very smart and very savvy person whom you just can't help but like. Also getting one of his best roles in ages is Robert Forster, as the lovestruck bail bondsman Max Cherry who's intrigued by her situation. The scenes with Pam and Forster are among the best in the film. Jackson is a lot of fun as the flamboyant criminal. The excellent ensemble extends to Robert De Niro, as Ordell's not too bright associate Louis, and Bridget Fonda, as the conniving surfer girl Melanie. Chris Tucker, LisaGay Hamilton, Tommy 'Tiny' Lister, Hattie Winston, and Aimee Graham co-star; it's especially delicious seeing Sid Haig, Pam's long ago co-star in exploitation features of the 1970s, cast as a judge.
You know you're in for some good times when the opening credits are accompanied by Bobby Womack's "Across 110th Street". The cinematography by Guillermo Navarro and editing by Sally Menke are first rate. Although the pace is rather deliberate, things get more interesting towards the end as Tarantino shows climactic events occurring from a few different perspectives.
Although Tarantino films often tend to get quite violent in an operatic sort of way, the violence here is more restrained, which may make "Jackie Brown" more accessible to people who ordinarily might find the directors' work somewhat off putting.
This is a rock solid picture, one that's well worth seeing.
Eight out of 10.