User Score
7.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 79 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 71 out of 79
  2. Negative: 1 out of 79

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  1. Apr 29, 2013
    6
    This quirky film had a solid cast with some great acting, but that was the best thing going for it as storyline wise I was a little lost and even bored at times. I quite like Tarantino's films but this isn't one of them, and even though I can appreciate where he was going with this one and I'm sure others liked it, I simply didn't as it's just not my type of movie I can sit back and enjoy. Props to Pam Grier who played a great female lead though. Expand
  2. Mar 9, 2013
    8
    A well-written, fun film to watch. Even though though it doesn't provide the strong gleeful violence Tarantino provides, fans should be pleased with the spectaculary performances and the overall outline of this film.
  3. Jan 13, 2013
    8
    Jackie Brown is a solid effort from Tarantino. The dialogue has the usual flair and is occasionally laugh-out-loud funny. The plot is fairly interesting and the performances are good. That said, there's something missing in Jackie Brown that restrains it from achieving the same excellence as Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs. I can't put my finger on what it is exactly but I do know that it isn't quite in the same league. Expand
  4. Jan 12, 2013
    4
    The start of this movie was excellent, a classic Tarentino brutal fun ride but the drawn out build up and uninteresting characters bring it down to a mid level movie.
  5. Dec 27, 2012
    10
    Easily Quentin Tarantino's most underrated film, it had hilarious scenes mixed with great dialogue and soundtrack. The acting from everyone was superb especially the more quirky ones.
  6. Jul 4, 2012
    8
    I always check out Tarentino films and this one is in my collection of movies. I can watch it again and again. A true tribute to 70's blackploitation films. Plot is pretty basic but the all star cast brings out the dialog and intent of the film (Deniro kills it). Classic lines litter this flick but it is not Reseviour Dogs or Pulp Fiction, but among his best.
  7. May 8, 2012
    6
    Jackie Brown is a fairly good and watchable movie - it's got that Tarantino staple mark of building characters so you really get to know them, and doing this helps blur the simple line usually found between 'goodie vs baddie' for you to appreciate the film from a few different angles. It breaks tradition with the typical young, virile lead roles replaced by elder, more realistic characters and deserves recognition for doing so as it gives the film a more authentic flavour. It also delivers a nicely sequenced last 1/4, which flows well and finishes the film off satisfyingly. The trouble is, there's too many boring bits in it and it's slowly paced - the middle 3rd seems to drag especially. It's not a boring film overall, but it does have boring bits and it's a tough ask to watch it all the way through in one sitting without a beer break. Nothing mind-blowing, decent enough and with a great soundtrack, but nothing particularly memorable either. Expand
  8. May 26, 2011
    10
    I agree that this is a vastly underrated movie and as Roger Ebert asserts, anyone who complains that it is too long has developed cinematic ADD. Beautifully written and developed characters, suspense, believable but amazing turns and twists throughout. It is just more subtle than Reservoir Dogs and less manic than Pulp Fiction. Pam Grier is a real woman, and this is a great movie.
  9. Mar 6, 2011
    8
    A more mellower Tarantino film, Jackie Brown is a faithful tribute to 70's Blaxploitation films with Pam Grier starring, still looking amazing after years. While lacking in violence, Jackie Brown's strong point is its slow but carefully written plot but only appeals to the most dedicated and the most attentive. Acting is brilliant as in all of Tarantino's films accompanied by stylish directing and smart writing. Expand
  10. Aug 26, 2010
    7
    "Jackie Brown" is a fresh departure from Tarantino's other films (which is probably why it's the least appreciated), as it plays out mostly as a straightforward crime drama. However, all of the director's trademarks are still there - much of the movie is spent focusing on minutiae and non-progressive dialogue, though the film as a sum of parts isn't quite as fulfilling as his other features.
  11. JonL
    Aug 16, 2007
    4
    I can certainly see what Tarantino wanted to do--explore the characters, but these characters are so incredibly mundane that it's just painful at 160 minutes. I think Tarantino realized this and just padded it out, which is why every shot in the movie is held to an absurdity, which probably made it impossible to edit to something reasonable given the lack of weight in the material. The characters are boring rehashes (a waste of great talent), the dialogue Tarantino has so much obvious talent for is mediocre and the film is a good hour too long (maybe even more). What a shame. Expand
  12. DanS.
    Jun 22, 2007
    9
    This was a more mature and thoughtful film than the over-praised "Pulp Fiction". Violence was treated more seriously, and Tarantino took time in this one to explore the motives of the characters. The tale was really about everyone in the tale, not only Jacki Brown. All the actors were convincing, especially Robert Forster. Bravo !!
  13. JamesM.
    Dec 20, 2005
    10
    Only these words, written by Roger Ebert, can accurately describe how I feel about this film (and many other films too): Those who say it is too long have developed cinematic attention deficit disorder. How on earth you could call this masterpiece of writing, directing and acting overlong and boring I have no idea. Did you have too much red cordial before seeing the movie. Sometimes audiences have no idea what they're talking about, see The Green Mile, but in this case the people are right and the critics are just plain stupid. Collapse
  14. KyleA.
    Jun 27, 2005
    10
    His best by far. An actual "movie" rather than a collection of scenes. And what a movie it is.
  15. J.RyanG.
    Jun 17, 2005
    10
    Like the most enjoyable Sunday afternoon of your life, Tarantino's best storytelling to date unwinds slowly and gracefully, the end of the day inevitable and something to dread.
  16. DaneS.
    Apr 21, 2005
    10
    Great film. Even better than the masterpiece novel. Quentin Tarantino's worst... but it is better than a lot of films out there!
  17. wongit
    Mar 12, 2005
    7
    Good but not his best. it had great characters and great dialogue, but the story just isnt as captivating or interesting as tarantino's other masterpieces. its good but, its not tarantino's usual works of art. I did enjoy it however, it was still a very fun movie.
  18. Tom
    Dec 17, 2004
    8
    The thing that makes this movie is just a couple of outstanding scenes. The Beamount scene for example, is pure genius. Perhaps overlong, and not always as engaging as Pulp or Dogs, but more so than Kill Bill, this manages to keep our attention till the very end. A must see, though just for a few scenes.
  19. TylerC
    Dec 15, 2004
    5
    If you look up Tarantino in the dictionary the meaning should be violence and stupid seventies music. The ALL-STAR cast is the only thing that saves it.
  20. MichaelM.
    Oct 23, 2004
    9
    This is actually very different from Quentin Tarantino's two earlier films 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Reservoir Dogs'. First of all, it isn't nearly as violent as those films, but still has some intense brutal violence. Second of all, this wasn't an original screenplay, it was an adaptation of Elmore Leonard's novel 'Rum Punch'. This really didn't differ all that much from Rum Punch, accept Jackie Brown was white instead of black. I think this different kind of Tarantino movie is actually a masterpiece! I think this is a fantastic film, with great writing, directing and especially acting (like all of Quentin's films). The story is about a middle-aged black woman Jackie Brown (Pam Grier) who is a stewardess for a crummy airline that flies from L.A. to Cabo San Lucas. When she gets caught by two police detectives Nicolette (Michael Keaton) and Dargus (Michael Bowen) for transporting drugs and money for a brutal thug Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson) she ends up in jail. When she gets out of jail on bail, an older bail bondsman named Max Cherry (Robert Forrester) who is Ordell's bail bondsman as well, falls for her. Out of jail, she must help Nicolette to catch Ordell, but if Ordell finds out her plan, he will have absolutley no problem killing her. With the choices of helping Ordell and risking going to jail and helping Nicolette and risk getting killed, she decides to play them both and work with Max to get $500,000 from Ordell, turn Ordell into the cops, and run off with the money. This film also stars Robert DeNiro as Ordell's partner in crime, Louis, Bridget Fonda as Ordell's girlfriend, Melanie, and Chris Tucker as a loud mouth petty thief, Beaumont Livingston. Great performances given in by Pam Grier, Robert DeNiro, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Keaton, Bridget Fonda and especially, Robert Forrester in the role which earned him an Academy Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actor of the Year in 1997. This film is great, and I highly recommend you see it. Although not as good as 'Reservoir Dogs' or 'Pulp Fiction', this is still going to be a memorable Tarantino film. Rent it Today (But see 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Pulp Fiction' first). (2/27/03) Expand
  21. PatC.
    Sep 27, 2004
    7
    Essential Tarantino, and an original idea even if understated and shoddy. Seems indisputable here that foxy chicks doing drugs and spontaneously undressing appear in his films because he likes them there, regardless of whether artistic merit and plot continuity is served. And with this film I now strongly suspect, while admiring his insights into criminal behavior, that on some level of Quentin's life he has been a participant in his celluloid depictions and must be guilty of something. Aren't we all? If this kind of film appeals to us, that must be his point. Glad I finally figured that out. Expand
  22. BillB.
    May 21, 2004
    10
    One hell of a film, Tarantino rules!!!!
  23. JaredS.
    Oct 15, 2003
    9
    Drastically underrated. Tarantino never disappoints, and this film is no exception, as most people would like you to believe. It's not as intensely charged as Pulp or Dogs, but still is entertaining. This is just a change of pace for QT, and the only thing different is the lack of violence. Although, there is some, there's not as much as his previous films. The dialogue provides the necessary twists in the film. See it, you won't be disappointed. Expand
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 23
  2. Negative: 1 out of 23
  1. But for all its enthusiasm, this film isn't sharp enough to afford all the time it wastes on small talk, long drives, trips to the mall and favorite songs played on car radios.
  2. 75
    Tarantino keeps things moving along nicely, with a heavier dose of humor and less violence than in Pulp Fiction, but, on the whole, this movie seems more like the work of one of his wannabes than something from the director himself.
  3. 78
    It's a straight-ahead caper flick, very cool, and very, very Seventies (although it takes place in 1995), from production and costume design on down to the soundtrack.