beautiful love story

Rating: 10/10 (11 January 2003)

There's something beautiful about a character who has grown, experienced life's many letdowns, first hand, and emerged from an angry, vengeful, egotistical, attention-seeking twirp into a reticent, humble, calmer, sadder/happier adult. How do you feel about getting older? This is the question of the movie
I'm getting older. Pam Grier and Robert Forester, in their roles, reminded me of the grace that comes with age. I've read other comments on this board, about how some people feel that this film almost gave us the impression that we have been living with these people for some time, and gotten to know them pretty well. I feel like I definitely got to know them. That sad quality of Robert Forester, the melancholic mood, it's become more and more a part of my character. The unrequited aspect of the plot, it too is something I can identify with. And Pam's character, she's such a wonderful person anyway. She's had her hard knocks, in real life. Haven't we all? But she wears it well. To me this is a triumph of character. Jackie triumphs over the people she must overcome, while staying true to the one person who is true to her: Max Cherry. Max is true to just about everyone, and he is the most sympathetic character in the film
I saw Reservoir Dogs when it came out, and loved it. I laughed when a friend described it as the 'feel good movie of the year'. I thought Pulp Fiction was, to a certain extent, a sell out, in that it took the basic ideas of Reservoir Dogs, and made them more saleable by virtue of the big names: Bruce Willis and John Travolta. So, when the bad reviews came in for Jackie Brown, I figured his goose was cooked. Here we are in January 2003, and I only just saw Jackie Brown for the first time one month ago. It has become my new favorite film. It has replaced the Sorrow and the Pity as the 'regular' flick in my VCR. I think I have seen it eight times, or more
I'd say this is his best film yet. Granted, we needed the other two films to get to the point where we are now, but his story of redemption, and tender, unrequited love, the acting, the soundtrack, the casting (except De Niro, who was underplaying to a fault) - it's a combination that I can't easily forget.
My favorite scenes are, first, when Max meets Jackie at the gate, as that song is playing. And, second, in their last meeting, the tender kiss and the even more poignant look on Max's face as he excuses himself from his phone conversation to look out the window, with that 8 year old look on his face, I can feel his stomach getting socked
It's a bittersweet film. It's a calmer film.
For those who say it isn't 'Pulp Fiction', or at that level, all I can say is that I actually prefer Jackie Brown. These characters are loveable. Even Samuel Jackson's dispicable character is otherwise loveable, or at least valuable
I love the people who put this movie together