(Originally written November 22, 2006)

The problem with Quentin Tarantino’s first two films is that they are knowingly “hip.” The monologue about Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” at the beginning of Reservoir Dogs is irrelevant in the context of the film, and cutting off someone’s ear, quite frankly, is not very funny. Rape is a sensitive topic and needs to be dealt with sensitively, and I don’t care if it’s a movie Quentin, but you can’t say “nigger” as many times as you want and feel you are being responsible. These are two films characterized by outstanding artistic achievements, but, in the same way as we look at The Birth of a Nation, there has be a sense of moral distance with what we are watching.

However, Jackie Brown needs less ethical distance, more subtle and tasteful in its content. When the scenes are presented out of order, it does not feel cute or contrived but, rather, serves as a means of presenting us different pieces of a puzzle. Samuel L. Jackson is able to develop a character rather than a mere caricature. There is complexity in the presentation of the themes of the films instead of having Samuel L. Jackson present us with the morals in a nice, neat package at the end of the film with a fake piece of scripture as he does in Pulp Fiction. The film is also carefully paced with more quiet moments that help the story to breathe. Deaths are not taken lightly unlike in his previous two films in which characters are disposed of without a second thought. The music is used not to make the film cultured but to add an appropriate level of emotion. Pam Grier’s performance is something to behold. This is a character who tries to stay tough, but her eyes frequently suggest the deeper aspects of her character, her insecurities and her worries. She’s a strong woman but always human.

This is perhaps Tarantino’s most intense film because of the fact that there is an established linearity to the story, and the audience is given enough time to care about what happens to the characters instead of casually observing for entertainment’s sake. Jackie Brown shows us that there is a side to Tarantino that is not completely self-absorbed and obnoxious. Pulp Fiction can be likened to the most intelligent student in the classroom who makes sure everyone knows he or she is good, a fact that must be acknowledged. Jackie Brown is the student that exercises responsibility and only people who truly look closely can understand his or her greatness. It’s a shame that Jackie Brown is overlooked because it’s Quentin Tarantino’s best film.