Jackie Brown - Interview with Samuel L. Jackson (1998)

Samuel L. Jackson discusses various projects, including working with director Quentin Tarantino in "Jackie Brown"--the adaptation of Elmore Leonard's "Rum Punch"--and producing "Eve's Bayou."

[@YoursAnonymously]

Jackie Brown has to be the most underrated of Tarantino's films. It's so good, but is rarely mentioned with his best movies.

[@smokeylonesome4328]

Definitely his fourth best. 1. Pulp Fiction 2. Inglourious Basterds 3. Django: Unchained 4. Jackie Brown 5. The Hateful Eight 6. Kill Bill

[@spacedew]

How is Kill Bill last?!

[@essel23fly]

The problem with Jackie Brown is that it’s very subtle compared to his other movies. You have to watch it many times to appreciate it. I used to not like it but now it’s one of my favorites.

[@sammyhill69]

Someone said it's 'Pulp Fiction for grown ups'.

[@AnnaLVajda]

The first time I saw it I thought it was too slow paced sooo much walking around compared to fast action we are used to. I would like to watch it again now that I've matured.

[@terryvance2772]

Why Samuel L Jackson did not receive an Oscar nomination for Jackie Brown is a mystery! Ordell Robbie is one of his best characters and he gives an incredible performance.

[@mebeasensei]

He is spooky real! Way he sits down at the back of the court house.

[@terryvance2772]

TommyTwobats Without question man! I would run the other way if I saw Ordell Robbie walking down the street lol

[@Reggie2000]

For once I can fully agree on a discussion like this. Here is the list for Best Actor in 1997 Jack Nicholson - As Good as It Gets - WINNER Matt Damon - Good Will Hunting Robert Duvall - The Apostle Peter Fonda - Ulee's Gold Dustin Hoffman - Wag the Dog This is not only one of the weakest list ever, but they basically just threw a win at Jack, and he already had an two Oscars! No one that year thought that this was the best movie, or he was the best actor in a film. I remember watching that film back then a few times, and never again since. It's ok. But his romance is not believable. It needed a much younger actor. On that list, it should have been Matt Damon or Robert Duvall. Peter and Dustin were on it, just to be on it as well. It's sad. Of course Matt did win an Oscar that year anyway for best original screenplay, so there's that. It has one of the best lines ever though. Receptionist: “How do you write women so well” Melvin Udall: “I think of a man, and I take away reason and accountability”

[@EsthledoKid97]

Because of #OscarsSoWhite

[@gillesnewton993]

Would not have made any difference if he had got a Oscar the guy is a great great actor.

[@danajames8889]

Jackie Brown is Tarantino's best film. I thought that the first time I saw it and I still feel that way. I can't imagine any film critic not loving that movie.

[@John-X]

You know we don't have to put Tarantino's films into a hierarchy, I mean they're just all too different to compare. We should just keep Tarantino in his own category, because that's what he's done really, is upend the whole established order of Hollywood.

[@chrisrod2525]

John Doe nobody can say it better!

[@pepinogrande6930]

I found Robert Deniros character development underwhelming but overall great film - as to be expected of tarentino

[@pepinogrande6930]

@Ron Maimon Oh that makes a lot of sense. Still the last scene came out of nowhere to me and flipped his character 180 degrees. Wouldve preferred a more fluid development. Maybe that wouldve made a less powerfull scene however.

[@pepinogrande6930]

@Ron Maimon Great summary. Maybe I have to rewatch at some point.

[@shaneconaty1731]

As good as pulp fiction and reservoir dogs are, Jackie brown is Tarantino's masterpiece

[@joenelson3037]

Shane Conaty I agree. My all time favorite Tarantino movie.

[@stevenhosea4849]

Shane Conaty Happens. Bye

[@soundped]

It is 10 times better than reservoir dogs

[@anthonyatkinson8545]

Pam Grier and Samuel L Jackson had fantastic chemistry on screen together.... I mean really all of the actors played wonderfully off of each other. Tarantino is a brilliant director who is a master in constructing scenes and dialogue between characters.

[@boomerang905]

The casting of Jackie Brown is perfect. The pairing of Sam and Robert is unbelievably tight. MT top 5 favorite movie.

[@pamelaclary5869]

He played a very POWERFUL role in JACKIE BROWN.

[@alancapone423]

“M-F, look at me when I’m talking to you.”😎

[@dawicked2k8]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@AdamtheGrey02]

And just 2 years later, he makes another iconic film called 'Unbreakable' with Bruce Willis that is in my top 5 favs of the 2000s.

[@justinhunt4767]

Great movie

[@AdamtheGrey02]

@@justinhunt4767 Still my M Night fav.

[@nadecha5326]

I can watch Jackie Brown anytime it’s on tv no matter where in the movie it is. Love it.

[@zjaz8000]

The thing to be admired about Samuel L. Jackson is that he’s very balanced and practical in his approach to life and his view of it. He’s highly realistic about what life is and it’s dynamics. He doesn’t see people in terms of color so much as he sees and understands and accepts human nature and its workings for what they are. And he navigates life by the wisdom of the dictates of that understanding and knowledge. For him it’s not what color you are as much as it’s what you are and who you are at the core of your being located and centered deep beneath the mere surface and color of your skin. Wise man!

[@mirazusta2002]

This guy, Samuel L.Jackson is as sharp as it gets, both as an actor and as individual. All of his performances are damn good. Thank you very much for posting this great interview.

[@scottystcloud7086]

I think this guy has a chance to have somewhat of a decent career, I guess we'll see...

[@gordonowens7794]

Jackie Brown was the first Tarrantino movie that didn't have a gross out scene like the ear scene in Res. Dogs or the rape scene on Pulp Fiction, which made it easier for me to watch a second time and thoroughly enjoy, however I like True Romance also especially the battle of wits scene with Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper which is so nuanced it is like a rich mousse to be savored everytime I watch it.

[@donnacobb4027]

Samuel L Jackson is the best in this movie

[@danjones2838]

SLJ is so clever... I could listen/watch him talk about acting all day...

[@jeffdawson2786]

I like his idea of character biography.

[@MarcoGosatti42]

Jackie Brown is a stone cold classic. A hidden gem in films. 10/10

[@jamesharbin8848]

He's aged really well but you can see the youthfulness in him here

[@davidknight5863]

Without a doubt Jackie brown is one of the best films I have ever seen , the characters are dangerous at the same time so likeable in a humourous way , would love to see a film that can top this , I just don't think that is possible.

[@mattmacarthur520]

Hands down my favorite Tarantino movie and one of my all time faves in general!! Such a film , definitely a slow burn but man it’s worth it and the replay value is off the charts . I never get sick of it

[@AngerOfTheLand]

Watched Jackie Brown cause it was on a gangster movie list, watched and loved it. Took me like 10 plus years to get into older 70's movies and find coffy and foxy brown and realize just how awesome jackie brown was.

[@brandongacer1850]

Tarantino's best film

[@livefreehobbies4326]

So intelligent and talented.

[@biddylisduff]

The dialogue in "Jackie Brown" is so hilarious in places, some of the best foul mouthed exchanges and put downs! I loved how Jackie herself runs rings around Ordell and the cops, yet still has vulnerability. Her talking about having to keep starting over, and being scared of having limited prospects for earning /pension for old age, so accurate. Ordell is so slick and totally amoral, using people then disposing of them. So clever with all the money exchange tricks and Ordell's "associates" being just as amoral, which seems to shock him! Robert de Niro 's character was the only one really looking out for him, despite his shambolic life - got the blame for other's duplicity, though of course he was also dangerous. Great characters, even those who didn't have big roles - Chris Tucker's demise was tragic - just a kid so easily fooled and led astray. Love this film, I watch it whenever I want a reliably good, absorbing, well observed story with the bonus of fantastic soundtrack too!

[@Dave-qj1yg]

Interesting and eloquent interview. Love the Kangol hat

[@barinero.93]

Sam Jackson is one of the BEST !!!

[@Marius-vw9hp]

This is my favorite Robert De Niro casting ever

[@lpr5269]

I could listen all day to Samuel L. Jackson explaining how a key fob works. "Just point it at the car. Press the button. You hear a little ooh ooh ooh ooh. That means the doors unlocked and the alarms off. Get in." 😂😂😂

[@sexyhomeowner9345]

Eve's Bayou is a very good film.

[@jamesluke5961]

Jackie Brown is my favorite movie.

[@jackedkerouac4414]

A rare instance of a movie being much better than the book. Rum Punch was a chore to read

[@ggff3761]

Thank god Tarantino didn’t play ordell that would’ve been so bad

[@mj6258]

You're not wrong , great writer/director - acting is piss poor.

[@walkedoverwater]

M J lol his acting isn’t piss poor are you slow bro

[@StarfieldRailway]

Tarantino should never play anything more than a bit role with very little to no speaking in his movies, which are extremely good.

[@assvibes3866]

He works well in From Dusk Til Dawn. The reward of having Selma hayeks foot in his mouth kept him focused

[@justinhunt4767]

Great movie Sam's the man

[@vincentkosik403]

These two can have an engaging intelligent exchange...very rare

[@johnplaid648]

I felt such pity for Ordell Robbie. Everybody ripped him off.

[@mackavelly]

i hated that he died

[@robertgibbs7513]

Yeah he did get done dirty he got ripped off major

[@patrickbateman1960]

Jackie Brown is my favourite, just ahead of Pulp Fiction and Django

[@ModernEphemera]

When he’s talking about a lively set and a director who’s involved, and not just staring at a screen, you know he’s comparing it George Lucas during production for the prequels

[@Usf837]

Yes good film

[@RadhaKrishna-it4pq]

Love you ROBBIE

[@nemo227]

I disagree with the interviewer about the layman/audience missing certain little things the actors do. We viewers don't focus on such things the way the actors may but, it it's a false move or a false note, we'll notice it because it will stand out as a distraction. When an actor does a bit of business that is part of the characterization it's not supposed to stand out or be noticeable. We audience members don't watch movies as though we are film critics or acting teachers; we're there to ride along with a good performance. The story is the thing.

[@ldp2212]

"Talk about bob"

[@benrosn8154]

Jackie Brown is such an amazing film

[@karinaoran9405]

Pourquoi c pas traduit en français?????????

[@castlefrank9693]

Old school interviews

[@talllala]

Right?! Where they asked intelligent questions and let the person they're interviewing answer fully without interruption or jumping quickly to another question.

[@davidguiney1746]

"How is working with Quintin?" 18 years later they're still worked together on Hateful Eight so that answers that.

[@OntarioAndrews415]

'The Negotiator' was a very good movie.

[@justinhunt4767]

He did the movie with the girl from The matrix where he was a brutal interrogator of a terrorist it is real good

[@geoffedwards-tb4kp]

Back lash cos it's not pulp fiction. Well like Samuel says it's Elmore Leanard book adapted to the screen. I've read lots of Elmore stuff. Jackie Brown is Rum Punch on Screen. Now for Quentin to turn written Words into characters you recognise from the book is a talent and achievement. In itself. Let me tell ya.. Quentins the bad boy of film making. I'm from the 90's. A bad boy decade. His stuff was something else a multi genre film man Quentin. He can do it all. Exceptionally and some actor not doing so good parts wise. Q will get back in the game. He's done it in every film. When it comes to films. He's the bollocks.

[@douglasgillespie2109]

Nigga a fuckin legend!!!

[@rumisfordrinkingnotburning]

No cap lofll

[@blackanta3303]

Close your eyes than you hear only Officer Tempenny

[@mysterio1570]

Sam Jackson is great. He looks 38 in this although he wouldbe around 49 or so.

[@geoffedwards-tb4kp]

Yes Samuel, gets into character by going back. Wheres he born, what's he eat, where's he been etc. Samuel a " baad mufafuckar ".

[@pberPSR]

i remember those kangaroo hats

[@lucastavares7703]

Frank Tenpenny

[@Schoolboyfrm5th]

Wait until he plays Stephen😂😂😂 No redeeming quality

[@jkickass]

did they really have to cancel this dude? he was one of few decent interviewers

[@Loonypapa]

1998: "I've never played a character with no redeeming social qualities what so ever." 2012: "So I get to play Stephen, the worst n----- in history."

[@dallesamllhals9161]

Wait! Is he sorry about..?

[@benbritton1984]

If she didn't want dialogue with the director why was she at the table?