Writers: Quentin Tarantino (written for the screen by), Elmore Leonard (novel)
Release Date: 20 March 1998 (UK)
Genre: Crime/ Thriller
Production Companies: Miramax Films (presents), A Band Apart, Lawrence Bender Productions (uncredited)
Disrtibutors: Miramax Films, Bac Films, Columbia TriStar Egmont Film Distributors, TriStar Films AB, ECT, Egmont Film, Filmes Castello Lopes, Frenetic Films, Kidmark a Division of Trimark Entertainment, Laurenfilm, Líder Films, RCV Film Distribution, Scotia International Filmverleih, Svenska Filminstitutet, Alliance Video, BMG Video, Imagem Filmes, Impuls Home Entertainment, KANAALTWEE, Miramax Home Entertainment, New Star Home Entertainment, Nordisk Film, RCV Home Entertainment, Starz! Network, TF1 Vidéo, Universum Film
Special Effects: Bellissimo/Belardinelli Effects
User Comment:
******** - Mattias Petersson
"Tarantino sets a different mood here compared to the more frantic and violent Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. This is more of a slow crime story that focuses more on being cool than being shocking."
"Tarantino seems to handle the whole story more gently than in Pulp Fiction. He doesn't stress it, he doesn't run the risk of over-doing the "cool" parts. The end result is enjoyable but a lot more somber than what you're used to from Tarantino."
User Ratings:
Males- 7.6
Females- 7.4
Under 18- 7.9
Males Under 18- 8.1
Females Under 18- 5.3
Aged 18-29 - 7.7
Males 18-29 - 7.7
Females 18-29 - 7.6
Awards:
Won: Silver Berlin Bear, Golden Slate, KCFCC Award
Nominated: Oscar, Saturn Award, Golden Berlin Bear, DVD Premiere Award, Image Award, MTV Movie Award, Golden Satellite Award, Screen Actors Guild Award
Tarantino breaks the conventions of the Thriller genre by using a middle aged black woman at the front of the film. It begins with a tracking shot of her (Jackie Brown) and continues with a low-angle and and close-up tracking shot. This shows the importance of the character, as she is the only character that you see for the first minute or two.
Samuel L. Jackson plays the part of Ordell: a drug dealer and gun runner. The film gives an unglamorous representation of L.A, by the use of location etc. Quentin Tarantino utilises Thriller conventions in the murder sequence of Beaumont Livingston. Ordell is his benefactor; you can tell the characters' importance by their costumes. Beaumont looks more vulnerbale in an old baggy basketball vest whereas Ordell is in much smarter clothing; Ordell is clearly superior, this is shown by the fact that Beaumont walks behind him.
Approaching the murder sequence, Ordell puts Beaumont in the boot of his car- Beaumont thinking that he is going to pop out of the boot and pull a gun out on someone when they reach the said location. He only agrees to this because Ordell bailed him out of jail; he owes him. The use of a boot is a Thriller signifier as it is a claustrophobic space. There is then a close up of Ordell after he gets into the car- he has a gun and is putting gloves on. There is also the use of noir lighting; all of these features lead the audience to believe that Ordell is a suspicious character and creates bad predictions. This is reinforced by the deserted, wet street that they drive from- another generic convention of a Thriller film.
A panning shot shot is used as Ordell drives round the corner to an isolated area; it's an unglamorous urban waste ground. The murder shot of Beaumont is captured through a long distance shot, connoting an emotionless, detached attitude. Ordell drives off swiftly afterwards, with his music still playing, suggesting that he is relaxed about the situation and pretty cold blooded.
Jackie Brown: You've interpreted some basic aspects of mise-en-scene here, but generally your analysis lacks confidence. You need to be scrupulous about taking notes in class. To strengthen you could watch the whole film whilst reading critical reviews.
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