Jackie Brown (1997)

Director:

Quentin Tarantino

Writers:

Elmore Leonard (novel)
Quentin Tarantino (written by)

Release Date:

25 December 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

This Christmas, Santa's Got A Brand New Bag

Plot:

A female flight attendant becomes a key figure in a plot between the police and an arms dealer.

Plot Keywords:

Pretty Girl | Quirky | Bikini | Gritty | Nudity

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Pam Grier	...	Jackie Brown
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Ordell Robbie
Robert Forster	...	Max Cherry
Bridget Fonda	...	Melanie Ralston
Michael Keaton	...	Ray Nicolette
Robert De Niro	...	Louis Gara
Michael Bowen	...	Mark Dargus
Chris Tucker	...	Beaumont Livingston
Lisa Gay Hamilton	...	Sheronda
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	Winston (as Tommy 'Tiny' Lister Jr.)
Hattie Winston	...	Simone
Sid Haig	...	Judge
Aimee Graham	...	Amy - Billingsley Sales Girl
Ellis Williams	...	Cockatoo Bartender (as Ellis E. Williams)
Tangie Ambrose	...	Billingsley Sales Girl #2

Also Known As:

Rum Punch (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, some violence, drug use and sexuality.

Runtime:

154 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Brazil:18 (DVD rating) | Iceland:14 | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Netherlands:12 | USA:R (certificate #35732) | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KNT | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Japan:PG-12 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Carson, California, USA

Company:

A Band Apart

Trivia:

Sylvester Stallone originally wanted to play Louis, while John Travolta was the first choice to play Ray Nicollete.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jackie leaves the bag of cash in the fitting room she leaves it on the edge of the middle cushion, but when Max Cherry picks it up, its on the left cushion instead.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Girl at Security Gate: Flight 710 to Cabo San Lucas, now boarding Gate 103, first class only. Flight 710, Cabo San Lucas, now boarding Gate 103. First class only.
Jackie Brown: [greeting passengers] Buenos dias. Welcome aboard. Welcome aboard.

Movie Connections:

References Vampiros lesbos (1971)

Soundtrack:

Escape

Tarantino grows up

Quentin Tarantino follow up to the hysterical response generated by his suitably hysterical first two movies was 'Jackie Brown', an altogether more restrained film that garnered a somewhat more restrained set of reviews. Perhaps the relative lack of impact made by this film explains his subsequent return to extremes with 'Kill Bill'. But in some ways this is a shame, as there's a lot to enjoy in 'Jackie Brown', particularly in the universally first rate performances the director manages to get out of his distinguished cast. Robert Forster is wise and weary as a middle-aged bail bondsman, Samuel L. Jackson plays a criminal with all of the menace and none of the charm of his character in 'Pulp Fiction', while Bridget Fonda and a (cast against type) Robert de Niro are entertaining as a pair of useless crack-heads. Best of all is former blaxploitation star Pam Grier in the title role, combining human warmth and coolness under fire with considerable charm. The generic Ellmore Leanard plot is ultimately not quite as clever as it promises to be, and as as ever with Tarantino, both tone and taste are sometimes questionable: the early sequence 'Women Who Love Guns' is very funny, but it's quite unclear whether it's intended as satire or celebration. Nonetheless, once one adds in a typically splendid soundtrack, everything adds up to a movie far above the average crime thriller, and for all the breathtaking invention of his other movies, it's enough to make one wish that Tarantino didn't usually feel the need to try so very hard.