Quentin Tarantino & Elmore Leonard, a Great Combination

Rating: 8/10 (30 April 2008)

I personally think Quentin Tarantino's third feature film was under-rated. Most people seem to think of it as his weakest film to date but I disagree. I definitely wouldn't go so far as to say it's his best; it's got nothing on 'Pulp Fiction' but it's still a great movie in it's own ways. I found myself somewhat let down after watching it the first time because I originally expected another 'Pulp Fiction', which it wasn't intended to be. It's an adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel 'Rum Punch' (a pretty faithful adaptation) and a bit of an homage to the blaxploitation movies of the 70's. The movie follows the title character, Jackie Brown (played by 70's blaxploitation icon Pam Grier), a middle-aged flight attendant who runs money to/from Mexico for gun runner Ordell Robbie (played by Samuel L. Jackson, super-cool as always). After Jackie's caught bringing $50 grand and a bag of cocaine into the country, she finds herself making a deal with ATF agent Ray Nicolette (a twitchy, entertaining Michael Keaton) and trying to scam both Ordell and the ATF while walking away with a half-million dollar payload.
The film continues to display Tarantino's strengths as a filmmaker. He once again displays a knack for perfect casting. Grier gives a strong performance as the down-on-her-luck Jackie who's ready to risk everything to escape her menial life. Robert Forster (another icon from 70's and 80's B-movies) puts in a great supporting performance as bail bondsman Max Cherry, Jackie's only real accomplice. Oddly enough, one of my favorite performances in the film was Robert De Niro as Ordell's new partner, ex-con Louis Gara. He's only a supporting member and doesn't really even much dialogue or purpose until the final act but he's fun to watch. Louis is such a subdued person, not the type of role I'm used to seeing De Niro in. Louis's character is all in his body language and it's awesome to see De Niro playing such an awkward person. Rounding out the primary cast is Bridget Fonda as Ordell's stoned surfer girl Melanie, providing a small but somewhat vital role.
In addition to his ability to find the perfect actor/actress for each role, Tarantino once again shows he knows how to create a film's atmosphere with a great soundtrack. The music is practically it's own character in the film, using 70's soul and R&B to add to the film's flavor. With tracks by Bobby Womack, the Grass Roots, and the Brothers Johnson, this film has one of my favorite soundtracks in recent years.
The movie runs a bit long (roughly 2.5 hours) but it generally doesn't drag. There are a couple points where you start to feel the long running time wearing on you, but it usually passes as the plot once again grabs you with another interesting turn. The story can be a bit complex as the characters plot, double, and triple-cross each other but it leaves you satisfied by the end (though, I admit, I thought the climax was a bit weak). The movie combines a cool crime story from Elmore Leonard with the cinema stylings of Quentin Tarantino. While it does have a couple weaknesses, it's still a great follow-up to 'Pulp Fiction' and in my opinion shows that Tarantino is one our strongest modern filmmakers.