Endearing

Rating: 9/10 (1 July 2016)

There a great deal in Jackie Brown (JB) that has the potential to warm the cockles of a movie-lover's heart.
First, it's simply a well, well constructed flick. If you love solid filmic storytelling, you'll marvel at the conception and execution.
There's a kind of built-in wonderment at the release of JB relative to Tarantino's earlier work. It doesn't pack the same kind of punch as Dogs or Pulp. But the punch it *does* pack is no less significant... and the contrast is appreciated.
The characters are fantastic studies in character. In a nutshell, JB is (among other things) a kaleidoscopic bestiary of sociopathy. I don't think it's a spoiler to advise that, as you take stock of these various nuances and degrees of criminal mind, you should cast your net very widely: Perhaps only the cops come anywhere near to being truly morally clean--remember that as you're watching the concluding action.
Tarantino's penchant for dusting off and deploying yesteryear's faces is very well served in JB. Forster is an absolute delight.
Speaking of cutting edge casting, Tarantino's against-type and subtle direction of heavy-hitters like DeNiro and Tucker (especially the former) is a joy to see. DeNiro takes direction humbly and very well to create a truly DUMB persona. Louis is loyal, dutiful, not-without some moments of rugged sagacity... but slathered over it all is a translucent sauce of unfortunate, dogged dimness. And it's all nicely integrated in a superb character and narrative mix.
And there's more! I could go on! But I won't. Watch it.
I give it a '9' because the profound mythic dimensions of Pulp Fiction sort of set a high bar.
But don't judge JB too harshly on those terms.