Not Bad At All But Not As Magical As Quentin Tarantino's Finest Works Either

Rating: Null/10 (21 December 2015)

The third feature film by Quentin Tarantino is also his first to be adapted from a pre-existing material instead of his self-written screenplay, and while it manages to work as his homage to the blaxploitation films of the 1970s, Jackie Brown unfortunately lacks the flamboyance & kinetic wit of Reservoir Dogs & Pulp Fiction and is one of Tarantino's less impressive works.
The story of Jackie Brown is set in Los Angeles & follows its titular character, a middle-aged woman who works as a flight attendant for a small Mexican airline and earns a little extra by smuggling money for an arms dealer. Caught in the act by federal agents, she refuses to cut any deal with them and instead concocts a devious plan to get away from the mess she put herself in.
Written & directed by Quentin Tarantino, Jackie Brown carries an entirely different feel when compared to his earlier works and isn't as stylish & fancy as one expects a Tarantino film to be. The story is character driven but the scripted characters themselves lack an interesting dimension. Nevertheless, the plot is consistently moving, the twists are expertly executed & it is entertaining for the most part.
Coming to the performances, Jackie Brown features a wonderful cast in Pam Grier, Robert Forster, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Keaton, Bridget Fonda & Robert De Niro, with Grier & Forster impressing the most in what turned out to be a career-resurrecting work for both of them plus their chemistry is pretty much on the spot as well. Jackson dominates the screen with another terrific performance while De Niro is a natural in the role of a bum.
On an overall scale, Jackie Brown takes a slightly conventional route with its storytelling, is crafted in a restrained manner, and although it packs in usual Tarantino's trademarks, much of its presence is low-key in comparison to his past works. Lacking the charisma, vibrance plus his patented blend of violence & humour yet offering a solid thriller that works far better when accepted as a separate entity from Tarantino's then-established forte, Jackie Brown isn't disappointing but it isn't as magical as his best works either.