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Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton ... see more see more... , Robert De Niro , Michael Bowen , Chris Tucker , Lisa Gay Hamilton , Tommy 'Tiny' Lister , Hattie Winston , Aimee Graham , Sid Haig , Denise Crosby , Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed this adaptation of Elmore Leonard's 1995 Rum Punch, switching the action from Miami to LA, and altering the central character from white to black. Ruthless arms de... read more read more...aler Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson), who lives with perpetually stoned beach-babe Melanie (Bridget Fonda), teams with his old buddy Louis Gara (Robert De Niro), just released from prison after serving four years for armed robbery. ATF agent Ray Nicolette (Michael Keaton) and cop Mark Dargus (Michael Bowen) bust stewardess Jackie Brown (Pam Grier), who was smuggling money into the country for Ordell. Ordell springs Jackie, but when middle-aged bail bondsman Max Cherry (Robert Forster) picks her up at the jail, he's attracted to her, and they choose a romantic route with detours. Mistrust and suspicions surface after Jackie pits Ordell and the cops against each other, convincing Ordell that she's going to double-cross the cops. Tarantino commented on the film's budget: "Jackie Brown only cost $12 million. You can't lose. You absolutely, positively can't lose. And you don't have to compromise." ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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73 critics

R, 2 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Release Date: December 25, 1997

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DVD Release Date: August 5, 1998

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Flixster Reviews (7,434)

  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    May 6, 2012
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    Six players on the trail of a half a million in Cash. There's only one question... Who's playing who?

    Although different than some of Tarantino's more violent precursors, such as "Reservoir Dogs", "Pulp Fiction" and "True Romance" this is an excellent film. The editing and direc... read moreting is great.

    Jackie Brown is the name of a flight attendant who gets caught smuggling her boss' gun money on the airline she works for. Luckily for her, the Fed Ray Nicolet and the LA Cop Mark Dargus decide to team up in order to arrest the arms dealer she works for, whose name they don't even know. Here's when she has to choose one way: tell Nicolet and Dargus about Ordell Robbie (the arms dealer) and get her freedom -except that if Ordell suspects you're talking about him, you're dead- or keep her mouth shut and do some time. That's when she meets Max Cherry -her bail bondsman-, a late fifties, recently separated, burnt-out man, who falls in love with her. Then Jackie comes up with a plan to play the Feds off against Ordell and the guys he works with -Louis Gara and Melanie Ralston, among others- and walk off with their money. But she needs Max's help. No one is going to stand in the way of his million dollar payoff...
  • fb791220692
    April 30, 2012
    fb791220692
    It's Tarantino's least violent, least tongue-and-cheek, and least creative movie ever. But despite this, "Jackie Brown" contains Quentin's killer dialogue (an excess of it in fact - the movie could have been much shorter), and the acting is amazing - Robert Forster is unbelievabl... read morey good.
  • fb100000212943704
    April 28, 2012
    fb100000212943704
    The contemporary master of cinema, Quentin Tarantino, has so many excellent pieces of work, so many diverse, fascinating and exciting tour de forces, that some of his lesser known pieces, such as "Jackie Brown" are often lost in the history books. And alongside being forgotten th... read moreey are also often dismissed as lesser films, or bad films. Despite this, Jackie Brown, which was Tarantino's work between "Pulp Fiction" and "Kill Bill", is an excellent film.

    As Tarantino's usual suspects re-assemble, we are told a tale of drug smuggling, guns and lots of cash as we mix with both criminals and the cops. The synopsis itself is not important, as the story unfolds beautifully with a little bit of romance sprinkled on top of a lot of suspense,

    The problem with Tarantino's lesser known films is the fact that they are immediately compared to one of his always known masterpieces, rather than being compared to the average film. Reviewing "Jackie Brown" on an average film basis, you get the product of excellent direction, almost all good acting, an intriguing storyline, and an all over enjoyable film.

    Samuel L Jackson heads up the team of actors, creating a typical Jackson Tarantino performance, but as always entertaining, and also creating a very believable and scary character, who scares his audience but also creates the character of Ordell into someone the audience like and enjoy being with on the screen, despite the fact they hate the fact they do.

    Pam Grier serves up an excellent performance as the title character, who plays an excellent strong female character, who lead the film beautifully. Alongside her, we have Robert Forster, who serves up the best performance of his career. Although his character is possibly the most moderate, sensible and likeable person of any Tarantino, he makes a nice change to the other criminals who dominate the screen. Forster also empowers the traditional good of the screen where the police officers, played by Michael Keaton and others, fail.

    But the best performance of the film comes from Robert De Niro. De Niro, leading the audience on throughout 90% of the film as one type of person, shocks and pleasantly surprises everyone with his small, but excellent performance.

    The cinematography is nothing special, but what really dominates the film, is the ability of Tarantino to tell a fascinating story, and un-wide it, inciting the audience with every new move. "Jackie Brown" is an excellent film. The reason it is passed over as something less than it is, is because of the historical achievements of Tarantino, just even after 5 years of filmmaking.

    But "Brown" is an excellent film, and one which should have a place in every film enthusiast's collection. Although it is perhaps too full of story lines, twist, sub-twists, and more, "Jackie Brown" is a great film by Tarantino standards, and a fantastic one by others.
  • fb1463751009
    March 10, 2012
    fb1463751009
    Like most of Quentin Tarantino's movies, "Jackie Brown" is strung together with sharp dialogue, intriguing characters, intricate camerawork, and engaging plot devices. It's unique but not as colorful and suave as many of Tarantino's other entrees. Similarly, it also doesn't have ... read morea particularly "unique" plot -- it's the style, technicalities, and wit Tarantino injects into "Jackie Brown" that creates such riveting entertainment. The pacing, contrary to other Quentin Tarantino outings, is not as crisp. Even more so, "Jackie Brown" has a slight stink of pretentiousness. Yes, movies need to show off their style, but there was a slight arrogance to its storytelling; in the end, the audience sits through "Jackie Brown"'s grandeur and eye-popping pep-rally but is not met of its promising claims in the main event. The movie itself is nowhere near the same caliber as "Pulp Fiction", "Reservoir Dogs", or even "Kill Bill Vol. 1". That is not to say that all the praise "Jackie Brown" received is not deservant of it; it's an intricately woven pop-culture film that satisfies, though not to the limit the film arrogantly claims it will fulfill.
  • blacksheepboy
    February 24, 2012
    blacksheepboy
    Not Tarantino's best work, but still an enjoyable homage to the blaxploitation with a welcome comeback by Pam Grier. A decent crime movie that has charm and style, even if it is overlong and could have had a better cut in the post-production.
  • paulkoh110
    January 3, 2012
    paulkoh110
    It has the feel of a Tarantino film but no real enjoyment from that. The acting is fun not engaging. Overall, the worst of Quentin's good films.
  • CreedsDelight
    October 9, 2011
    CreedsDelight
    An underrated classic. The soundtrack, acting, direction make 'Jackie Brown' one of the best films EVER.
  • fb100002535597619
    September 15, 2011
    fb100002535597619
    A very good film, but it seems to lack Tarantino's usual "Kick" and it also tends to be rather slow.
  • bottcorecords1
    August 31, 2011
    bottcorecords1
    Samuel L. Jackson and Quentin Tarantino team up once again, this time adding 70s "blaxploitaion" star Pam Grier into the mix, in what can be best described as Tarantino's most "understated" film. No really, in comparison to his other works, this is practically an Ingmar Bergman ... read morecharacter study. Tarantino forgoes usual round-about dialogue in favor of a more structured script and the result is something more in common with the Coen brothers' style of filmmaking than Kill Bill or Grindhouse. Jackie Brown is an airline stewardess who acts as a liason between an L.A.-based arms dealer and his South American clientele. When she gets busted by the cops, her arms dealer (Jackson) decides to silence her rather than risk her turning him in. Jackie, however, comes up with her own plan.

    Jackie Brown isn't one of Tarantino's most successful movies and it's hard to say why. Maybe it's a little too ahead of it's time. Perhaps if it had been released in 2007, it would've had more of an impact. Perhaps not. Who's to say? Certainly not me. I know at the time, it was considered to be a throwback to the style of 70s blaxploitation, but watching it now, I find that atmosphere to be only barely present. Robert DeNiro and Bridget Fonda have some nice scenes together, and Samuel L. Jackson is completely over-the-top as the villain, but the whole thing feels like a sedated Pulp Fiction, and maybe that's why people reacted so luke warm to it when it was originally released. Whatever the case, it's an extraordinarily fun film.
  • fb100000257973100
    July 14, 2011
    fb100000257973100
    The first thing that comes to mind whenever someone thinks of this film is that this is one of the most underrated films from the 1990's (possibly second to Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut). Being fresh off of the world wide acclaim for his film PULP FICTION, Tarantino decided t... read moreo start taking films a bit more maturely and what resulted is the film adaptation of Elmore Leonard's Rum Punch, a return to the 1970's Blaxploitation film genre, and the return of one of Cinema's greatest African American actresses. Now, at first I had no idea what this film really was about. Due to the fact that this is something of an underground film and overlooked due to it not being as high as PULP FICTION, I had no expectations for this film other then it is by Quentin Tarantino and the novel of the same name (which is something of a good read). What I ended up getting in the end is two and a half hours of great dialogue, good to great acting from the cast, and one of the best soundtracks I have heard. Plus a rather odd adaption of the book that, while still keeping the spirit of Leonard, embodies the greatness of Tarantino. Okay, first off directing. As I said, Tarantino had already proved to the world that he is a master of film with his previous piece PULP FICTION. Now, while that film is great (near perfect), the only problem really was that he went out of control with the film, but in a good way. Once the film was released, he was everywhere and that beyond over hyped the film. For this one, he took the advice of two film critics (Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert) and he slowed down. And, what resulted was him maturely directing a film that could have been terrible if in the hands of someone else. The only real problem with the directing would have to be that the pacing is slow as hell. The first thirty to forty five minutes are great and fast. Then it is slow until the end when the speed picks up. So, while not the best directing from Tarantino, it is far from his worst. Next the acting. Oh dear God. The acting. While there are some great actors in this film (Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction), Robert De Niro (The Godfather Part Two), Michael Keaton (Batman)), there is only one person that needs mentioning in this film. And that is the wonderful acting of Pam Grier as the title character: Jackie Brown. Now, Ms. Grier has something of a rocky career in films. Making it huge and iconic in the 60s - 70s as Foxy Brown, Grier returns to that state of mind by playing a character that is complete and total hard headed. She is great in this performance as a flight attendant that gets caught up in an underground guns ring. She just adds a style to this film that I doubt anyone else could create. It is a crying shame that she did not get any awards for this film. Next the script. Out of all the films that Tarantino has written, this is the only one that was not original. But, the question is: is that a bad thing? The answer is no. While it does contain dialogue that is from the original novel, the film is littered with Tarantino's typical dialogue that we all know and love. Being well written, it does suffer from the pacing. But, if you can get by that, then it is all good. Finally the score. Now, I am going to say that I am not a fan of Motown Records or any songs associated with the music they release. But in the case of Jackie Brown, I can and will make an exception. The entire point of the soundtrack is to create a sense around the film and compliment the scenes it is in. In the case of Jackie Brown, it does just that. The two best songs that are on the soundtrack and have the most iconic scenes in this movie would have to be the opening credits (Across 110th Street - Bobby Womack) and a certain scene with Samuel L. Jackson (Strawberry Letter 23 - The Brothers Johnson). Overall, this is a strongly underrated film and one of Tarantino's best films.

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Critic Reviews

David Ansen
March 13, 2007
David Ansen, Newsweek

The tale is filled with funny, gritty Tarantino lowlife gab and a respectable body count, but what is most striking is the film's gallantry and sweetness. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
March 13, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Quentin Tarantino puts together a fairly intricate and relatively uninvolving money-smuggling plot, but his cast is so good that you probably won't feel cheated. Full Review

David Edelstein
March 13, 2007
David Edelstein, Slate

The film is more Jarmusch than Peckinpah -- its soul is in the minutiae. Full Review

Todd McCarthy
March 13, 2007
Todd McCarthy, Variety

Offers an abundance of pleasures, especially in the realm of characterization and atmosphere. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
February 27, 2007
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

It's like a scuzz-bucket film noir directed by Stanley Kubrick at his most static-mesmeric. Full Review

David Denby
August 7, 2004
David Denby, New York Magazine

Working from an Elmore Leonard novel, Tarantino has created a gangster fiction that is never larger than life and sometimes smaller. Full Review

Rick Groen
April 12, 2002
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Beyond the grasp of most directors, this is tour de force stuff -- definitely meriting the price of admission and almost worth the three-year wait. Full Review

Kenneth Turan
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

A leisurely and easygoing diversion that goes down easy enough but is far from compelling. Full Review

Jeff Millar
January 1, 2000
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle

Turns out that author Elmore Leonard and director Quentin Tarantino are not the odd couple after all.

Stanley Kauffmann
January 1, 2000
Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic

The flat, self-exposing dud that fate often keeps in store for the initially overpraised.

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Facts

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    • Max Cherry: How about the Hilton by the airport?
    • Jackie Brown: Is it dark?
    • Max Cherry: Kind of a sports bar.
    • Jackie Brown: It doesn't sound dark.
    • Max Cherry: Why does it have to be dark?
    • Jackie Brown: Because it looks like I just got out of jail, that's why.
    • Ordell Robbie: Let me give you the reason, motherfucker! The reason is your ass ain't worth a shit no more!
    • Louis Gara: Hey, you better fucking back off, man! [Louis gets shot by Ordell]
    • Ordell Robbie: What the fuck happened to you, man? Her ass used to be beautiful. [Ordell shoots Louis again, killing him, and leaves the van]
    • Ordell Robbie: I didn't know you liked the Delfonics.
    • Max Cherry: Yeah, they're pretty good.
    • Max Cherry: I'll bet, besides maybe an afro, you look exactly how you did at 29.
    • Jackie Brown: Well, my ass ain't the same.
    • Max Cherry: Bigger?
    • Jackie Brown: Yeah.
    • Max Cherry: Ain't nothin' wrong with that!
    • Jackie Brown: Shut your raggedy-ass up, and sit the fuck down!
    • Beaumont Livingston: Man, you must be out of your fuckin' mind if you think I'm gonna get in this dirty-ass trunk.
    • Ordell Robbie: We ain't going nowhere but to Koreatown, man. You ain't gonna be locked in here no more than ten minutes.
    • Beaumont Livingston: I ain't ridin' in no trunk for no minute, man.
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  • Which actor has been in Pulp Fiction, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Jackie Brown and S.W.A.T  Answer »
  • What actor had roles in all of the following movies?... Jungle Fever The Long Kiss Goodnight The 51st State True Romance Goodfellas Jackie Brown Pulp Fiction xXx   Answer »
  • In the movie Jackie Brown... who played the surfer girl?  Answer »
  • Which Tarantino film was made in 1997  Answer »
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