Effortlessly entertaining

Rating: 10/10 (31 January 2016)

It's been a while since I first watched this film, back in the days of my adolescent Tarantino obsession which had watching Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs every second day. I saw Jackie Brown around that time, and loved it back then too, although it wasn't as striking as Pulp Fiction I really sank into it. Watching it again recently I remember why - it's one of the most chill films ever; a crime comedy that doesn't go for drama or or spectacular set pieces, set mostly in bars and apartments, with a brilliant seventies funk and soul soundtrack, comprised almost entirely of conversation that's great to listen to in that Tarantino-esque way while also continually feeding the story and character development, which all centres around money exchange with multiple players looking for a slice of the pie, from Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson, brilliantly paranoid), an arms dealer who enjoys his shaky persona as a slick, smooth criminal too much, to titular character Jackie Brown (Pam Grier) who wants to get out of working for him and live life before getting old, to her bail bondsman turned lover Max Cherry (Robert Forster) who also feels himself getting on in years, to ambitious cop Ray (Michael Keaton) who wants to put Ordell away, and finally Louis (Robert De Niro), a broken down loser just out of jail who schemes with Ordell's stoner girlfriend Melanie (Bridget Fonda) to steal the money for themselves.
A simple story but it's the characters that make it, and they're all likable in their own ways, all funny or interesting, all with great scenes. Tarantino's trademark stylisation is at it's most chill, and it works, it all feels very laid back. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments and quietly funny moments that have to be seen, bolstered by the subtle performances. It all adds up to one of the most entertaining crime films ever.