Jackie Brown

Updated June 26, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

Jackie Brown ain't no Pulp Fiction. In other words, it's a disappointing effort from hipper-than-thou director Tarantino. After two-plus years away from the helm, expectations were high for the Q-man. Jackie Brown isn't all that bad, though. Undoubtedly slow and talky at times, the film certainly does have its high points, especially Jackson's outrageous sleaze Ordell, and Tarantino's obvious affection for Grier plays out well for the queen of 1970s blaxploitation films. But it is doubtful that Jackie Brown will do for Grier what Pulp Fiction did for John Travolta's career. Grier plays the title character, a flight attendant who gets busted for smuggling money and crack for gunrunner Ordell Robbie (Jackson). She agrees to turn in Ordell and his $500,000, but devises a plan to pocket the cash. Ordell also wants the cash and his freedom, so he dispatches a bail bondsman, Max (Forster), to Jackie's aid, with the plan of killing Jackie before she can rat on him. Plenty of backstabbing and double-crossing follow before it's clear who'll remain standing, $500,000 richer. Fonda shines as Ordell's menacing surfer-chick girlfriend who likes to toy with his associate in crime, Louis (DeNiro).