Michael Keaton Highlights the Underrated Brilliance of Tarantino’s “Jackie Brown

Michael Keaton Highlights the Underrated Brilliance of "Jackie Brown"

Michael Keaton has shared his thoughts on “Jackie Brown,” offering insights into what makes the film special. Quentin Tarantino has been a prominent figure in Hollywood since the 1990s, achieving fame with his breakthrough movie “Reservoir Dogs” in 1992. Since then, Tarantino has directed several notable films, including “Pulp Fiction” and the “Kill Bill” series. His latest film, “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood,” was released in 2019 and received mostly positive reviews.

In a Wired autocomplete interview, Keaton expressed his admiration for Tarantino’s “Jackie Brown.”

Reflecting on the Tarantino film, Keaton remarked, “Jackie Brown’s great!” He praised the movie for simplifying everything to its core by “telling just a very simple narrative.” Beyond the film itself, Keaton also expressed high regard for Tarantino, stating, “all of his movies are great.” Here is Keaton’s full quote:

“Jackie Brown, I don’t know if you’ve seen Jackie Brown lately. Jackie Brown’s great! I mean, all of his movies are great, but it kind of broke everything down to its simplest form, telling just a very simple narrative and that vibe. It has some of the greatest shots I’ve ever seen, and a great, great soundtrack. Yeah, Quentin’s great.”

Why “Jackie Brown” Is An Overlooked Tarantino Film

“Jackie Brown” Was Overshadowed By “Pulp Fiction”

Released in 1997, “Jackie Brown” features Keaton as ATF Agent Ray Nicolette, who enlists Jackie in a sting operation to capture a gun runner. Like “Pulp Fiction” and “Reservoir Dogs,” the film boasts a stellar cast that enhances its appeal, including Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Bridget Fonda, and Robert De Niro. Although Forster earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, the film received no other Academy Award nominations. Nonetheless, “Jackie Brown” garnered favorable reviews, achieving an 88% Tomatometer score from Rotten Tomatoes critics.

“Jackie Brown” remains an often overlooked piece of Tarantino’s filmography, as the director is more renowned for works like “Reservoir Dogs,” “Kill Bill,” and “Pulp Fiction.” The earlier release of “Pulp Fiction” in 1994, which quickly attained both immediate popularity and lasting cult status, likely contributed to “Jackie Brown” being underrated. “Pulp Fiction” became the most significant Tarantino film of the 1990s.

Keaton’s observation about “Jackie Brown” telling its story in the “simplest form” is noteworthy. In contrast, “Pulp Fiction” features a non-linear, interwoven narrative that creatively experiments with structure and form. Audiences and critics recognized Tarantino’s stylistic prowess with “Pulp Fiction,” which might have made “Jackie Brown” appear more conventional by comparison. Over time, “Jackie Brown” has aged well, and Keaton’s suggestion for those who initially overlooked it to revisit the film is well-founded.

Source: Wired/YouTube

Jackie Brown

  • PG-R
  • Thriller
  • Drama
  • Crime

Jackie Brown is a 1997 crime thriller directed by Quentin Tarantino. Pam Grier stars as a flight attendant who outsmarts the authorities, her boss, and a ruthless killer after smuggling cash for a gunrunner. The movie counts with an all-star cast that includes Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro, Robert Forster, Michael Keaton, and Bridget Fonda.

Director
Quentin Tarantino
Release Date
December 25, 1997
Studio(s)
MiraMax
Distributor(s)
MiraMax
Writers
Quentin Tarantino
Cast
Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton, Robert Forster, Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro
Runtime
154 minutes
Budget
$12 million
Elliot Verde
Elliot Verde
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