grandpa_shig said:i think his greatest and most personal achievement was jackie brown. first off it was an homage to the south bay. detailing the lifestyle and landmarks of the backbone of los angeles. if you look close, it has a very provincial style almost in stark contrast to the rest of his movies. and its no secret that upon release it was widely hated, but i think that had a lot to do with his slight departure from an aesthetic he was known for, and expected to continue. but he didnt.
it was a love story first and foremost. a chick flick for men. sure, there are caper elements, but the intimacy of the love narrative is what is truly remarkable. the 2 main actors are really nothing to look at, i mean in the grander scheme of hollywood actors. past their prime, tired and old, yet dealing with crushes and lust and love for the mature set. a movie about 2 old coots that have made all the mistakes possible in love, and have come out the other end so seasoned that a nary a titty nor a kiss need be shown to imply the passion. it was so subtle in all its devices that i think in hindsight a lot of people have warmed up to it. for example take the device of the delfonics. jackie brown loved the delfonics. in time, the dude went to the record shop and picked up a copy. who among us hasnt been so influenced by a woman (or man) to the point that you have done the same. i know i have. she doesnt need the bad motherfucker wallet cuz she is the wallet. such a delicate touch on tarantinos part.
and the ending. part western part final scene of casablanca. forrester has to let her go because this is her world. the overarching theme is about men who understand this. that for such a macho director, to suggest that the woman is always the boss is the true macho archetype. and so contrary to his audience and their expectations. a straight up masterpiece that takes a lot of genres and flips them. rivaling if not besting the most underhanded of french movies. dude killed it. granted, everything else has been high octane in comparison, but this just illustrates his mastery.
How the fuck did I miss this? Beautiful stuff.
I've always considered Jackie Brown to be his masterpiece, and I agree that many people just didn't get it at the time. Me & my girl have watched it countless times, more than any of his other flicks. and it actually improves with repeat viewing in a way that his more celebrated movies perhaps don't. I read the ending in a different, more conventionally romantic way to you, but I nevertheless think it's a beautifully directed and played scene, probably my favourite cinematic moment of the last twenty years.
