The smartest ones don't always win out.

Rating: 9/10 (10 December 2010)

After a ground-breaking, eye-opening success like Pulp Fiction, any director would feel pressured to make a film that establishes them as a genuine talent rather than a flash in the pan. I'm not sure that is what Quentin Tarantino attempted to do with Jackie Brown, but he makes it work in every way possible. As his only film not originally written but based on an Elmore Leonard novel, the film has a very novel-like structure. There are also quite a bit of main players, to a degree even more so than Pulp Fiction because here they are part of the intricate and complex plot rather than supporting characters thrown in for some enjoyable banter.
It is interesting to see the evolution of Tarantino's ability to direct a film between Pulp Fiction and this. One feels like a young, up and coming director full of ambition and energy, ready to show the world what he can do. The other is much more restrained, professional and interested in the deeper realms of these characters. Indeed, throughout his career it is obvious that Tarantino's gifts lie with dialogue and characters; for him they go hand-in-hand.
To go along with that is a terrific cast. Pam Grier, an icon of the blaxploitation films of the 1970s, looks tired and weary of the cards life has dealt her as the title character, a flight attendant who gets mixed up with smuggling money and the ATF, putting her in a position she would rather not be in but understands the long-term significance. Samuel L. Jackson gives perhaps the best performance as Odell, a mean, driven criminal willing to go to any lengths to ensure his status. Robert Forster revived his career as Max Cherry, a bail bondsman with a lot in common with Jackie and willing to help her out. However, my personal favorite must be the great Robert De Niro as Louis, a former cell mate of Odell who is more than a little unable to work his way back into society after being released from prison. The way De Niro plays the character so subtly stupid and ignorant is both hilarious and shocking to watch.
Of course, with any Tarantino film, the plot doesn't matter so much as who's in it. The film is long but never boring as he winds up this intricate story of crossing and double-crossing all while sneaking in scenes contemplating heavier themes like age and life's direction. This is certainly a film that will catch people by surprise, especially Tarantino fans who loved Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. The classic Tarantino signs are here, but there's also a lot more under the surface.