questions and thoughts

Rating: 10/10 (16 January 2003)

This will undoubtedly contain some spoilers
Jackie Brown is, in some ways, a rejuvenation of the Carmen opera. In Carmen, the exotic, beautiful, willful outlaw of a woman seduces a straight arrow soldier of the barracks
About Max Cherry, the film in many ways centers around him. All the other characters are acting almost entirely out of selfish motivations. Max takes considerable personal risk to help a woman he adores, and yet he doesn't impose himself sexually on her, and asks only his 10% professional rate
When Jackie tells Max that she never used him, he replies "I never said you did". That doesn't necessarily exclude the possibility that he did think that. In my opinion, Jackie did use Max, and Max did what he did for her knowing that she was using him. Max is in true love. Jackie was smart enough to use Max in a way that didn't hurt him, to be honest with him about her true intentions via the plan, and thereby establish an intellectual intimacy. Jackie may be an enticing woman, but Max's feelings for her actually enhance our perception of her beauty. Max's ability to appreciate people for who they are rather than what they can bring him is what makes this movie unique. Without Max, this movie would only be a story about greed and money. Jackie never does anything for anyone but herself. Her only redeeming quality is that she is able to realize Max's love for her and use him in a way that doesn't belittle him, i.e. she's honest with him
I am confused about several parts of the plot. I don't understand the switch in the Trial Run. I don't see Sheronda handing any bag to Simone. Simone isn't facing Jackie, but Ordell said he wanted her there so that she could see how it went down. If they've exchanged the bag already, why does Simone bother to ask Sheronda for the time? What gives Simone the knowledge/sense of when is the right time to ask? If Jackie doesn't know that Simone is going to be there, how does Max know to stay, waiting to follow Simone after Sheronda has left? Clearly Simone got the money, because she vacated her premises immediately after. Jackie approaches Ordell in anger because she claims not to have anticipated Simone being part of the plan. Again, if that's so, how does Max know to watch her? And if it's not so, then why does Jackie put on the charade of being surprised
I am confused about the scene where Ordell gets shot. Ordell calls Jackie, who is at Max's office, and then Jackie quickly dials other people: probably Winston and the police. They all arrive pretty quickly. I wonder what Jackie would have told them to induce them to go there and wait in the back room. It just seems like a lot to have happen without an explanation. Furthermore, I think it is out of character for Ordell to walk into a trap like that. He already knows he can't trust Jackie
I am confused about the scene where Max comes out of the movie and passes Ordell. Max goes to meet Jackie in what looks like a pre-arranged meeting. Ordell thinks something is suspicious when he seems them together. Well, duh?! Why doesn't he at least tail her and quiz her later about this?
I have noticed that the bag of money shifts in the dressing room seat between the time Jackie and Max are in the fitting room