Could have been better

Rating: Null/10 (22 December 1999)

This surprising adaptation of Elmore Leonard's novel Rum Punch marked a new phase in Quentin Tarantino's career. Without the agile rhythm, the nervous and accelerated edition nor the comic and brutal characters that consecrated his previous works, Tarantino delivers a contained film, centered in the excellent cast's performance (led by two veteran actors who, although famous during the seventies, were in frank decadence, Pam Grier and Robert Forster).Robert De Niro is excellent as a cruel and merciless murderer, and in spite of having few lines and time on the screen, he should have been reminded by the Academy for this performance (the scene in which he kills Bridget Fonda is memorable) . The same can be said about Samuel L. Jackson, who plays with generous doses of humor and meanness the dangerous trafficker. Over all, Jackie Brown is a modest and curious entertainment, but that could have been better.