Better then I expected

Rating: 7/10 (10 January 2020)

Jackie Brown is better then I expected, however, I have to question all the praise that it's gotten even after all these years. Granted, its well crafted, its pretty solid, I liked how the stories inter weaved into sort of a slick, mystery paced thriller, but there's just a few things that brought down the rating for me. Let's start with the length of the movie. Did they really need to drag this out to a two and half hour movie? The answer, quite simply, is NO. This could have been wrapped up an hour and 45 minutes tops, and still have been a great movie. Jackie Brown is pretty much set in 70's style, and the setting for the time line is spot on excellent. The story sort of bops from one thing to the other, but its cleverly interlaced, almost feels like a tailor flawlessly sewing the film together, into an intricate, crime spree plot that keeps the viewer watching. Again! Some of the things that brought down the rating. Did they have to use the word over 30 times. Nope! Maybe they could have uttered it 3, 5 times tops. Still would have been a great movie. I understand this is the way people talked in the 70's, however, I strongly suspect that Tarantino abused the priviledge, given his history I would call a rap sheet, now if I'm wrong, I'm wrong, but I really don't believe I am. He purposely goes for the over the top feel of it all, and Jackie Brown is no exception to almost all of his movies. Some scenes are prolonged, stretched out....for example, a scene finds a man singing the same song over and over in his car, for no reason at all. There's a scene where a woman wipes her dirty feet on a wine glass.....now, I have to question why all these scenes are there, for no reason at all, and yet the reason is all too clear: It's just an excuse to beef up the time. Period. Why, I may ask, when your film would have been fine if you removed all the fat and just left the meat. Many viewers may overlook or justify all these scenes, but I myself have to question it. Altogether, this is a film that examines the "make you or break you" for one person in general, and the outcome that affects the many people around her. It kept my attention, it kept my watching.....but I just have to question that it got this much praise. It was good, but it wasn't that good. I'm going to give Jackie Brown 7 out of 10 stars. Worth a look? Absolutely. Many will disagree with my review, and I'm perfectly okay with that. There's other reviews that can deter your attention from what I'm pointing out. Use them freely.