Seeing Robert Forster, pictured above, make a great appearance in last week’s “Breaking Bad” episode reminded me of how writer/director Quentin Tarantino brought him back to prominence in Jackie Brown (1997). Recall that just a few years prior, Tarantino had revived John Travolta from the relative Hollywood-dead in Pulp Fiction (1994).
In addition to Forster, Tarantino goes all-in on 1970’s actors by featuring the famous blaxploitation cult genre star, Pam Grier, as the lead in this crime thriller, with plenty of sardonic wit along the way.
Adapted from the late, great Elmore Leonard’s novel, Jackie Brown is an entertaining film, complete with the memorable Kangol hat-wearing Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson), and Robert De Niro playing against type–When I say De Niro goes against type here, the fact that he plays a criminal is nothing new. But, rather, the fact that his character is a bumbling idiot is in stark contrast to some of the cunning characters he has played over the past few decades.
Also noteworthy are brief but funny performances by Chris Tucker, Bridget Fonda, and even Michael Keaton.
And there is yet another major “Breaking Bad” connection: Michael Bowen, who plays Todd’s Uncle Jack on “Breaking Bad,” plays Michael Keaton’s police partner in the film.
Really entertaing film. Incredible performances from the entire cast. One of my favorite roles Robert De Niro has taken, he’s absolutely hilarious in this.
Have you seen Tarantino’s latest movie, Django? Also quite good
He has had some big hits of late, but I still favor Tarantino’s 1990’s films.
I’m watching this right now on IFC good movie. The braintrust at Comcast gives it two stars out of four. Somehow “Ted” gets four stars.
LoL