a refreshing change of pace

Rating: 8/10 (22 April 2005)

The people who were disappointed with this film were probably thinking, "How dare Quentin Tarantino make something other than 'Pulp Fiction 2' after making it big?" Which is a very narrow-minded way to look at things.
This is Tarantino's Elmore Leonard adaptation / blaxploitation homage / Pam Grier worship movie. It doesn't grab your attention like his previous two films, and that's because here he slows down so as to draw more detailed characters. He's abetted by the actors, who turn in rich, flavourful performances, including Robert De Niro, who makes his character goofy and very funny.
There are only two things holding this movie back. This is the first time Tarantino isn't doing his own thing - it's an adaptation, and this seems to have led him to be a little too self-conscious in terms of style. Also, the film could afford to be ten-fifteen minutes shorter.