Well I already have my tickets for a special benefit screening of JACKIE BROWN on the 20th of December here in Austin, and I'm dying to see it. This month I've seen screenings of FOXY BROWN, SHAFT and RESERVOIR DOGS on the big screen. And for my birthday I got the two CD soundtrack to SUPERFLY which rocks hard. So I'm ready to go.... But we seem to be witnessing a full spread of reviews on JACKIE BROWN. Everything from "really cool" to "his best success" to Hallenbeck's "gawd awful, tedious, pointless, down-right crappy piece of filmmaking." So far the reviews have been coming in mostly positive, with Hallenbeck issuing the most venomous review thus far. So take a look at this group of spies and judge who you agree with. Personally I'm going to hold off judgement till it's before my own eyes, check em out.
The first spy's name is Oliver Ackbar, a fat suit wearing underwater extra from Fish Police, so read on...
Hey! I just came from an early preview screening of Jackie Brown and this movie is really cool!!!! It's very different from Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs maybe it's because it's an adaptation of a book and that Tarantino didn't write the original screenplay. There is much less violence than you expect and all the actors are doing great. I especially loved the scenes between Robert De Niro and Bridget Fonda. By the way, Bridget looks fine!!!!
The best part of the movie is when Quentin tells the same scene about 3 different point of views. That was so cool! I saw Robert Forster for the first time in a movie and i think he might have a good chance in the Oscars. Anyway, this movie is really good but don't expect a new Pulp Fiction, just watch and enjoy it!
Then the Honeybear Pipe, that magical toking device that once embraced the lips of Brad Pitt himself, says the following about Jackie Brown...
The honeybear pipe here. I was able to sneak into a Mirimax preview of Jackie Brown in Minneapolis,MN last night. Here's the spoiler-free review:
Quentin has achieved his best success in Jackie Brown. It has a power and dedication to slowly developing the characters and plot that is so refreshing in Hollywood these days. Quentin has left his over the top violence and gimmicks (both of which worked very effectively in Fiction, True Romance, and Dogs) for straight storytelling. The film has a wonderful laid back feeling with a great 70's groove that is strongly supported by an amazing soundtrack.
The acting is amazing:
SLJ: strong, funny, likeable, scary as hell, great
Deniro: totally new territory (think Pitt in True Romance and you have 1/2 of his character)
Tucker: a great cameo, very funny
Keaton: strong, edgy, watch the way he eats his food
Fonda: she was pretty good, sexy and funny
Breakthrough performances:
Grier: WOW...powerful, in control, sexy, unpredictable. You could tell that Quentin has a thing for her. He made her glorious.
Forester: This guy rocks. He completely metamorphs on screen thanks to an excellent script that lets him develop as the story unfolds.
The characters are so good, and the acting so great, that all Quentin had to do was frame them and let them go. He did, and created a signature feel that you won't forget anytime soon.
Five out of Five bowls
the honeybear pipe
A little green army man sent in this "mixed" review of Jackie Brown, does he sound like you?
Just saw Tarrantino's new flick, Jackie Brown, and sadly I have to report that I came out disappointed. It is clearly worse than both Resevoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. There are some very good parts to the movie, which usually occur when the dialogue is at its best with the jokes working perfectly, but the movie drags at parts and is probably 20-30 minutes too long for its own good.
The all star cast was good, as you would expect. Robert DeNiro stole the show, and Samuel L. Jackson was fantastic also. Bridget Fonda performance was pretty good but was not as good as she . Too bad it was only a tease, as she showes nothing. Pam Grier is hoping this will do for her what Pulp Fiction did for Travolta, but I doubt that will happen. She is fine, but nothing extraordinary.
Jackie Brown has the look of Tarrantino's other works, with the dialogue to match. That is what makes it a disappointment. Some of his best directorial stuff comes when he shows the same scene take place 3 times, each from a different point of view. That showed his true genius and was the best part of the film.
The biggest problem with the movie I think is that the wrong tone was used for the storytelling. It is not lighthearted enough, at times taking itself too seriously. Get Shorty was great because it had the right tone, which was whimsical, the same way Elmore Leonard always write (movie was based on his book, Rum Punch). The chracters are so strange that it almost cries out to be light hearted, but it is too dark in spots.
Once again, people in the theatre I was at were laughing when someone got shot, Tarrantino has a knack for doing that. It is a disturbing trend if you ask me.
To sum up, Jackie Brown is ok, but not great, and certainly not a worthy successor to Pulp Fiction. Good parts, but the sum doesnt add up.
Then here comes Hallenbeck's. Now I actually took issue with Hallenbeck early today via telecommunications about his review. First off, the point of this review should be judging Tarantino's latest film Jackie Brown, but here he launches in a complete dishing of everything Quentin has done. Now I don't think Tarantino is the greatest director in the world, but I'll be damned if he doesn't entertain the shit out of me. (cussing comes in here because well it's an intro for a Hallenbeck review) Now I happen to know that Joe likes Reservoir Dogs, True Romance and Pulp Fiction (Joe says later next week he will explain his position more indepth). This is Joe's opinion, and over the phone he told me that most of his friends even die hard Quentin lovers hated this film. Hmmmm... We'll see. Joe was among the lone dissenting voices on Alien Resurrection, and I agreed with that one, but we have disagreed before. We'll just have to wait and see. Joe isn't a blaxpoitation film lover, and I've heard that this is Quentin's entry in that genre, soooo it might not be for all tastes. But then have any of Quentin's films?
Harry, my dear boy. Joe Hallenbeck here. I just got back from the World Premiere of Jackie Brown...Tarantino's latest opus. First off, let me point out that Tarantino's a fuckin hack! I know many of you out there are now preparing to place my head on a spike because of that blasphemus statement, but before you do, just hear me out.
Let's briefly analyze his movies:
Pulp Fiction -- Look at any Hal Hartley movie and you will see just how much Tarantino stole from this his fellow filmmaker.
True Romance -- This was practically plagerism. This movie is so much like Malick's masterpiece Badlands it makes any self-respecting movie geek ill. He not only ripped off the VO(same style. Same accents), but he(and Tony Scott) had Zimmer rip off the score. A blatant rip off if I've ever seen one.
Reservoir Dogs -- City on Fire. 'Nuff said.
From Dusk 'Til Dawn -- Do I really need to examine this one?
All these movies are carbon copies of movies Tarantino watched while working at the Video Store. They are blatant rip-offs on superior films that few people have seen. This man is not a pioneer, he's a FUCKIN' HACK!!! I think it's high time someone points this out to all you impressionable young minds out there who think the man is a filmmaking genius. He's a good writer who liberally borrows from classic films then claims them to be his own creation! Now, with Jackie Brown, it's another story. This puppy was actually adapted from an Elmore Leonard novel, so I can't gripe about how much he stole from other films. I can, however, go on one of the most mean-spirited, yet honest and heart-felt review I have ever written.
So now, let me, the Mighty Joe Hallenbeck, bestow upon ye the most insiteful and painfully honest review I can write....
The Plot - As cliched as most of my reviews. You've seen this story unfold countless times on the big and small screen. It's the old must-try-to- outwit-the-cops-and-the-bad-guys-and-try-to-get-away-with-the-money routine. How many times must we see this kind of story told? Everybody's trying to scam everybody and people are bound to get hurt. PA-LEASE!!! At least do me the favor and add a different twist to the proceedings.
The Directing - First of all, I want to point out that Tarantino can't direct his way out of the parking lot at Del Amo Mall. He just puts the camera down, yells "Action" and goes and has a drink. The actors do their schpeel for several minutes, he comes back after they are through and yells cut. That's not talent, that's lazziness(not to mention a lack of imagination). Watching most of his movies(especially this one) is like sitting through a student film. God forbid he should ever shoot a conversation that wasn't a two-shot. He just kept the camera on the actors for no reason. It's as if he forgot the damn thing was on. This movie, in particuliar, moves slower than Ray Charles through an Antique Crystal Shop. Pick up the pace for christsakes. I couldn't believe I was actually fidgeting throughout the movie...ME -- FIDGETING?!!! I've never done that(except during B&R). I sat through the movie twiddling my thumbs. At one point I started thinking about who I have left to shop for for X-Mas. I got a rash on my ass from fidgeting so much. An uncomfortable experience all around. This movie is the most boring piece of shit to come to the screen since At Play in the Fields of the Lord. I would have rather stayed at home and had a rabid pitbull perform oral sex on me. THAT would've been a less painful experience to sit through. Oh, and uh, the movie was in dire need of an editor. I've never seen a movie that took place in a few weeks that actually played out that long!
The Writing - Some good one-liners and a cool riff about The Killer, but the conversations just wouldn't end. They kept on going and going. Most of the time they were pointless. As far as plot and story structure go...YUCH!!! This thing was a mishmash of boring characters thrown into a predictable and highly coma-inducing story. Some kind of rewrite was definitely needed for this puppy! A true insult to any of his fans.
The Acting:
The Cool - Sammy and Bobby -- These boys can watch a tennis match and still look cool. Unfortunately their characters were so blase that I don't even remember their fuckin' names!
The Uncool -- Where to begin...
Pam Grier and Robert Forster - I know see why these two haven't worked in ages -- THEY BOTH SUCK AS ACTORS!!! Between their acting and Tarantino's directing I felt as if I was at USC watching a student film. The scenes where the two are together are embarassingly bad. Pam(who looks like Mean Joe Green with breasts) tries to act all tuff and cool, but unfortunately she doesn't cut it as an actress. There was a reason why she starred in all those bad blaxploitation flicks -- SHE CAN'T ACT! And as for Forster...the man looked like he just got out of the 12-step program. I was expecting to see those spider-web purple viens on his cheeks during the close-ups. He must be thanking Tarantino from rescuing him from that Dumpster behind Denny's. Too bad for him he'll be going back there some time next year.
Keaton and Fonda - Man, did I want to love Mikey in this film. Too bad his character was so underwritten and lame because I think he would've been a cool actor in a "Tarantino" film. As for Fonda...let's just say Grandpa Henry must be rolling over in his grave after seeing her performance in this movie.
***SPOILER IN NEXT LINE***
(HARRY NOTE: SORRY FOLKS THERE AIN'T NO WAY I WAS GONNA LET THIS THROUGH)
***END SPOILER***
The Music - Tarantino is a master at coming up with cool tunes for his flicks. Unfortunately, like the movie they are in, the tunes are terrible and unmemerable.
To call this movie a boring, wretched piece of shit is an insult to other boring, wretched piece of shit movies. I and many of my colleagues were stunned by how BORING and down-right bad this movie is. If you think I hated this film you should hear what my hommies have to say about this pathetic excuse of filmmaking.
Was I too harsh on this movie? -- HELL NO!!! I've held back because I know a lot of you out there will break down and cry if you hear any more about how truly awful this movie is. I'm being nice because it's that time of year. If this were...say....April? -- Oh man, you would truly hear the wrath of Hallenbeck fully unleashed upon this gawd awful, tedious, pointless, down-right crappy piece of filmmaking! This movie, in my eyes and my fellows compadres, ranks right down there with B&R and Speed 2 as one of the worst films of the year. Man, what a boring piece of elephant shit!!!
My quote: "Like Kane in Kung-Fu, Jackie Brown wanders about aimlessly until you wished Tarantino would just drop dead!"
T.T.F.N.,
Joe Hallenbeck
