Quentin Tarantino scores with an explosive mix of intense action and edgy humor in his “twisty crime yarn” (Entertainment Weekly), now presented for the first time in 4K. What do a sexy stewardess (Pam Grier), a street-tough gun runner (Samuel L. Jackson), a lonely bail bondsman (Robert Forster), a shifty ex-con (Robert De Niro), an earnest federal agent (Michael Keaton), and a stoned-out beach bunny (Bridget Fonda) have in common? They’re six players on the trail of a half million dollars in cash! The only questions are… who’s going to get played… and who’s going to make the big score?

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Video Quality

Lionsgate presents Jackie Brown with a stellar 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer that handily trounces any previous release of the film. The Blu-Ray release from 2011 was a poor representation of what this stunning movie could look like. Thanks to this new master, audiences can finally appreciate this film in all of its glory. Detail and clarity are astounding thanks to the natural film grain remaining intact. There are mercifully no signs that any grain reduction has been applied, as you get a consistent sheen that resolves well. The texture unlocked in the costumes, within the environments, and in the makeup effects are a blessing. Any minor specks of damage seem to have been eliminated completely.

The Dolby Vision really makes the film come alive, as it captures the warmth and nuance of the visual palette. The stylistic intention of Tarantino seems deftly represented as each setting appears to be locked into the intended appearance. Skin tones look natural, if not just a touch warm in some instances. Color saturation does not stumble in any meaningful way. Highlights offer great stability without veering into blooming. Black levels maintain a significant amount of depth and detail in darker environments. This film has never looked better at home, so Lionsgate should be applauded for giving this one such grand video quality.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track which ideally handles the material. The soundtrack is used perfectly to establish the mood of the story, and this track handles every tune without issue throughout the duration of the film. There is never a moment where it threatens to overshadow competing sounds, and it maintains a good balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. The track leans on the front channels given the importance of Tarantino’s dialogue, but overall there is a fairly notable soundscape that captures the precise sound design of the film with respectable fidelity.

The track features some engaging activity in some of the more lively developments. The environmental sounds are delineated effectively alongside everything else. The low end response provides some welcome texture to the proceedings, especially in instances of gunshots. There do not seem to be any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear to this one. Lionsgate has given this film a fantastic audio presentation that serves the movie well. Optional English, Spanish, and English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

This release comes with an optional sleek new SteelBook exclusively at Lionsgate Limited that is quite fetching in person. The SteelBook features a removable clear slipcase displaying an artistic rendering of Jackie Brown in her uniform, and the rear features an artistic rendering of most of the major players in the ensemble. The interior sports an animated depiction of the main character in profile. Video of the SteelBook can be found at the top of this review.

Breaking Down Jackie Brown: A 44-minute critics’ roundtable featuring Elivs Mitchell, Scott Foundas, Stephanie Zacharek, Tim Lucas and Andy Klein, offering their opinions on the film.

Jackie Brown – How It Went Down Documentary: A 39-minute documentary that explores the making of the movie through interviews with Quentin Tarantino, Pam Grier, Robert Forster, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton, Elmore Leonard, and various crew members.

A Look Back At Jackie Brown – Interview with Quentin: A 55-minute interview with the filmmaker that offers terrific insights into the creation of the film.

Chicks with Guns Video: The five-minute uncut infomercial found in the film.

Deleted and Alternate Scenes: Six unused scenes totaling nearly 16 minutes of footage are provided here.

Siskel & Ebert At The Movies – Jackie Brown Review: A five-minute look at the original impressions of the movie from the iconic critics.

Jackie Brown On MTV:

- Jackie Brown Promotional Contest: A minute-long promo for a lucrative giveaway.

- MTV Live Jackie Brown: A nearly 15-minute interview on MTV with Quentin Tarantino, Pam Grier, and Bridget Fonda.

Marketing Gallery

- Trailers

- TV Spots

- Posters

Still Galleries

Enhanced Trivia

Trailers & Radio Spots

- Robert Forster Trailers

- Pam Grier Trailers

- Pam Grier Radio Spots

Final Thoughts

Jackie Brown is one of the more underrated titles from the output of Quentin Tarantino. There are not as many quotable exchanges in this saga, but the spin that Tarantino puts on the Elmore Leonard source material is unmistakable and entertaining as hell. As always, the ensemble assembled here is beyond reproach with excellent performances abound, especially the legendary Pam Grier. Tarantino has yet to miss in our estimation, and this one is as deserving of love as all of the rest. Lionsgate has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a gorgeous A/V presentation and a nice array of legacy special features. If you are a fan of the film, this new release is a must-have. Highly Recommended

Jackie Brown is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in a Standard edition and SteelBook edition exclusively through Lionsgate Limited.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Lionsgate Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.