Quentin Tarantino's follow-up to Pulp Fuction is a much more straightforward drama-comedy thriller about one woman just trying to get away clean, and with $500,000 in cash. Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Bridget Fonda, Robert De Niro and Michael Keaton star in this fun, though not-nearly-so-perfect film by the title of Jackie Brown.

Grier stars as the title character, a flight attendant who has been smuggling money across the border for a weapons dealer (Jackson). When approached by the feds, she decides to play both sides, asking for the help of her bondsman (Forster). She agrees to help the feds (namely Keaton), but also assures her boss that she won't turn him in. Things get complicated from there.

Jackie Brown doesn't have the comedic timing, the serious moments, or the perfect musical elements of Pulp Fiction, but it still is more than good enough to be recommended. Though a little long, it moves along at a steady pace, featuring a wide variety of characters that all have some major flaws in some way or another. Tarantino is a master at intertwining seemingly unrelated characters, and at the same time developing them in really strange ways; he does the same here.

It's fairly funny, somewhat thrilling and more than anything else, just plain entertaining. If you liked Tarantino's other movies, you'll like Jackie Brown. And if you liked Jackie Brown, you'll definitely like Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs.

Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.