With Black History Month round the corner, I decided to revisit two films with links to the somewhat controversial Blaxploitation flicks of the 1970s. One, an action crime drama, and the other fun comedy parody of the Blaxploitation genre.
“Jackie Brown” (1997): Pam Grier versus Samuel L. Jackson
Pam Grier
Women in general, let alone Black women, did not have strong roles in Hollywood until the early 1970s. This makes Pam Grier stand out for me as an icon for strong African American Women. Tall, uniquely beautiful, with an acting ability and convincing athleticism, the films she starred in then, were not exactly award winning. But her mere presence makes them worth watching. Then she seemed to vanish.
With her return in Tarantino’s “Jackie Brown.” We see a slightly mature, but still as alluring Pam Grier playing the title role. As Jackie Brown, Pam Grier gets to tackle another excellent African American actor: Samuel L. Jackson.
And it’s their interactions, that makes the film a joy to watch.
Samuel L. Jackson
He is an actor that steals the scene in any movie. In Jackie Brown, he plays Ordell Robbie, an arms dealer trying to get his half a million into the U.S. And he’s using flight attendant Jackie Brown, as a mule. But ATF agents are on it, and arrest Jackie on her return to LA from Mexico.
The person they are really after is Ordell, and offer Jackie a deal to avoid jail time, if she can help trap him. But Ordell is as shrewd and dangerous as they come. He’s suspicious of Jackie, and uses bail bondsman, Max Cherry (Robert Forster) for her release from jail so he can kill her.
Meeting Max, provides Jackie an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: avoiding jail, and getting off with some of Ordell’s cash. But the plan is fraught with danger.
The Plan(s)
The cops plan is to lure and nab Ordell during a cash transfer in public. Seeing a common ground between her and Max, Jackie ropes him to slide into the scenario, and by deft of hand abscond with the majority of the cash.
Hold on! There are other parties involved too. Ordell’s newly released partner Louis (Robert De Niro), and his “surfer girl” Melanie (Bridget Fonda) with the latter having her own eyes on the cash.
So, Jackie and Max have a whole bunch of people to deal with while executing their plan. How does it work out? You would need to see the movie for the answer.
Why Jackie Brown is Tarantino’s Best
While Jackie Brown has all the hallmarks of a stylish Tarantino film, some stand out for me including:
The immediate pre-2000 era portrayal, capturing a period before technology took over our lives. The interaction between Ordell and Jackie in her apartment with the floor lamp – funny and scary at the same time. Ordell’s attitude and looks, interacting with “surfer girl” Melanie cracks me up every time.
Max and Jackie’s unspoken romance is legendary. Especially the final scene with Max is probably one of Richard Forster’s most memorable ones. Casting Pam Grier was a Tarantino master stroke and definitely central to the film. Elaborate storytelling, slick cinematography, cool soundtrack, and the rest of the cast giving their best rounds off in making Jackie Brown a classic for me.
“Undercover Brother” (2002): Fight Against “The Man”
Meet Undercover Brother, the coolest cat in town! He’s hip, cool, suave, sophisticated, in control, and …………. Black. The Undercover Brother (Eddie Griffin) aka Anton Jackson has all the ingredients of a character from Blaxploitation films of the ‘70s. He drives a Cadillac, wears 70s style threads, and has an Afro and sideburns to top off the look.
Then, there’s the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D, an underground organization fighting for black values, culture, and way of life. B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D’s principal members include The Chief (Chi McBride), Conspiracy Brother (Dave Chappelle), Smart Brother (Gary Anthony Williams), and Sistah Girl (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor).
Finally, there’s “The Man” (Robert Trumbull), the villain of this story. His aim is the destruction of all non-white culture. We never get to see who The Man is, but who cares? He is the sum of all that’s bad for non-white folk, and needs to be neutralized.
The Partnership for Good
Seeing The Man’s dastardly plan, and unable to counter it, B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D realizes the need for more potent help to deal with the threat. Sistah Girl sees potential in someone she’s seen in action: Undercover Man!
But what’s The Man doing that’s upsetting the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D? The country’s first potential African American presidential candidate, Gen. Warren Boutwell (Billy Dee Williams), has gone from campaigning for that position to opening up fried chicken franchises. What? How did that happen? It’s all The Man’s doing, and things need to be fixed as soon as possible.
Undercover Brother’s brought in, his “blackness” confirmed, before being introduced to the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D, and updated on what needs to be done.
Racial War, Taboo Subjects, and Switching Loyalties
Undercover Brother’s sent into The Man’s organization incognito to infiltrate, and counter his plans. But The Man, along with his henchman, Mr. Feather (Chris Kattan) is already on to him, and they have a deadly weapon up there sleeve too in the shape of White She Devil (Denis Richards)!
What happens next is a battle of wits as the struggle to thwart each other takes place. This is where things get outrageously funny, with a major play on racial stereotyping, a whole slew of unmentionable taboos rocked, sacred cows being tipped, and switching loyalties.
It’s not who wins, but how the victory is achieved that makes this a fun flick. In fact, even at the conclusion, with the we are left with an open ending for a possible sequel.
My Take
I think this is one of the most outrageously funny films that takes on racial stereotypes head on, and helps us laugh at them in the process. And thankfully, no one race is picked on, making it easier to watch. Resembling a Austin Powers film, it spoofs Blaxploitation films instead of the Bond genre.
The fact that it was made over a decade before America’s first black president makes it even more interesting. I’ve heard of other similar films parodying Blaxploitation flicks, but I would say this one is definitely up there with laughs a minute. Technically it may fall short on some level, but for me that doesn’t matter, and only makes it more fun. There was a sequel made in 2019, but I couldn’t go through it as it just isn’t the same level. And most importantly, the original central cast is missing to connect the two.
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