It's kua chee time, as we join
Godfrey at the movies...
Jackie Brown
I borrowed the video, eagerly expecting a new
Tarantino joy-ride (hey, it was his follow-up to Pulp Fiction and Reservoir
Dogs). After all, there's Samuel L. Jackson, Pam Grier (the return of a 70's
icon), Robert de Niro and Bridget Fonda (wasn't sure what her role was ?)
But believe it or not, I struggled with the movie. I went through 4 sittings
without managing to complete the movie. Finally did it on the 5th, with
much effort. It was that slow and tiresome. Yeah sure... the movie had its
moments. But imagine the plot... its something a local movie director could have
(probably did) dream up in his sleep and was considering Azean Irdawaty
for the title role.
The plot is really so simple. Here it is... Jackie Brown
(Pam Grier) is a struggling flight attendant who delivers cash for a gun runner
named Ordell Robbie (Sam Jackson, simultaneously hilarious and terrifying).
Once the feds (including Michael Keaton) catch up with her, she pretends to
turn traitor and help them trap Ordell in a sting. What she's really going to do,
though, is try to switch out a bag full of ill-gotten money and skip away to the
good life, leaving the police and her psychotic boss behind. Complicating this
situation is Jackie and Ordell's bail bondsman, Max Cherry (Robert Forster in
a winning comeback performance). It's love at first sight with Jackie and all in
one ridiculous shot/scene (make that frame !!).
Acting wise, the movie comes across great. Jackson's performance is great
(although he doesn't appear to be trying so), de Niro is really quirky and
Bridget Fonda (what a great way to earn a living - sitting around smoking pot,
shagging, saying a few meaningful "life is" lines and getting killed). The
director shows us (tells us) that he seen a lot of movies (there's all these
so called influences from everywhere). It's like "throw in everything and the
kitchen sink", and then mould the story around it. Disappointing to the
extreme! It's violent, it's goofy but not one that stands the "chat test" at the
teh-tarik stalls with the friends.
Roadside Rating
2 teh-tariks
Trivia
Early in the film Ordell tells Louis (Robert De Niro) that "he's
as serious as a heart attack". De Niro used the same line in
The Fan (1996) when he threaten another character.
Goofs
Set in 1995, the calendar in Jackie's kitchen is for 1997.
A computer software store advertises 688
Hunter/Killer, not available until 1997. Traffic suddenly disappears
when Ordell shoots Louis inside the van.
Cameraman's reflection can be seen in glass
window when Jackie and Ordell are shouting on the patio.
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