Why didn't Max go with Jackie to Spain?
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queenshan — 14 years ago(August 20, 2011 09:19 PM)
@Greg,
First of all, I love this thread! So many well-written and thoughtful ideas.
So, I am black (and a woman) - in terms of what Tarantino observed from white/black audiences in generalI took the scene to be love at first sight. It wasn't the music at first, although the music did help me eventually react that way. Yeah she was walking like a strong "sista", I got that.
But it was the look on his face as she walked. It was a long, lingering and interested look he was giving her. We were watching him watch her for a long time, not just us watching her. But he could only see her shadow, how could he even know anything about her? That's what I was wondering. And I figured it didn't make any sense but it was what it was.
He also had a smile on his face when he headed to his office and discovered that the gun was gone. Maybe he's just a generally content kind of guy who enjoyed his job.
But he definitely expressed that he had the hots for her immediately after he first saw her - asking her out for a drink after just bailing her out, and he even offered to let her keep his gun for awhile, and he continued to ask a lot of probing slightly jealous-sounding questions about Odell. As I watched, in my mind all of this supported the idea that he fell for her as soon as he saw her. So my belief grew stronger as I observed his actions throughout the rest of the movie.
The ending
He was obviously conflicted. He said "no" as a knee-jerk reaction. But then, even though he was professional to his core and cared very much about his job - he told the caller who desperately needed help for her son to WAIT. There was urgency as he hung up on her. But Jackie hadn't even hesitated, and sped away. If she hadn't been so hasty, maybe he would have walked out the door and said something else to her. But she hadn't. So he turned around, thinking about what could have been. The moment had passed - for both his time to make a choice, and his chance to change his mind.
Earlier in the film, she asked several times - "if/when the time comes would you be tempted to steal crime money?" And he couldn't really answer her at first. I think that the question was ultimately about more than just the money. In life there really are fork-in-the-road moments and choices that literally change everything. Sometimes you don't even realize it, while other times you know it and it hurts.
Here's the scene when he first saw her from the script:
MAX
Still reading his novel. We hear offscreen, a SHERIFF'S
voice.
SHERIFF (O.S.)
Max! Here she comes.
Max puts his book down and see -
Jackie being led into the Admitting Area by TWO SHERIFFS.
She's wearing her stewardess uniform and carrying a small
envelope with her belongings in it and her shoes. When
Max was imagining a woman in her forties, he had someone
with a bit of wear and tear on them in mind. But this
Jackie Brown's a knockout.
As he watches her, she steps out of the County Jail
slippers she was wearing and slips into her shoes.
He approaches, handing her his card.
MAX
Miss Brown I'm Max Cherry. I'm
your bail bondsman.
And here's the last part of the final scene from the scripts:
JACKIE
I didn't use you, Max.
MAX
I didn't say you did.
JACKIE
I never lied to you.
MAX
I know.
JACKIE
We're partners.
MAX
I'm fifty-five-years old. I can't
blame anybody for anything I do.
JACKIE
Do you blame yourself for helping me?
He shakes his head 'no.'
JACKIE (CONT'D)
'd feel a whole lot better if you
took some more money.
MAX
(smiling)
You'll get over that.
Jackie smiles.
MAX (CONT'D)
Where're you going?
JACKIE
Spain.
MAX
Madrid or Barcelona?
JACKIE
Start off in Madrid. Ever been there?
He shakes his head 'no.'
JACKIE (CONT'D)
I hear they don't eat dinner till
midnight.
Max doesn't say anything.
JACKIE
Wanna go?
MAX
Thanks, but you have a good time.
JACKIE
Sure I can't twist your arm?
MAX
Thank you for saying that, but no. My
business.
JACKIE
I thought you were tired of your
business?
MAX
I'm just tired in general.
JACKIE
Are you scared of me?
Max smiles and holds up two fingers, close to each other.
MAX
A little bit.
Jackie smiles back.
JACKIE
Come over here.
Max does.
They give each other a long, tender kiss.
She breaks it.
JACKIE (CONT'D)
I'll send you a postcard, partner.
THE END -
DMarkwick — 14 years ago(January 27, 2012 03:56 AM)
This is a great thread.
I haven't ever read the script, and it's been several years since I saw the film, but my impression of those two moments (the first and last meetings) seem to mirror this view. I live a Max-like existence myself, and while I'm still ten years away from his age, as a lonesome white guy in middle age I can fully empathize with his directionless yearning, and hopeless optimism.
As a middle-aged white guy with a minor job commitment and not much else, I wonder what my reaction to the last scene would be. I'd like to
think
that I would go, my pathetic optimism might drive that, but, we never really know what we'd do do we?
But this thread has given me one thing, a realisation that I'm waiting for my Jackie Brown
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grumpy_otter — 13 years ago(March 23, 2013 06:06 PM)
But it was the look on his face as she walked
Yes! Even if Tarentino never intended that scene to mean "love at first sight," Max Cherry fell in love with her at first sight. Well, maybe not love, but he was definitely intrigued.
I love Forster so much in this filmand that scene is one of the reasons whyhis face is epic. -
degree7 — 12 years ago(May 07, 2013 01:11 PM)
I love Forster so much in this filmand that scene is one of the reasons whyhis face is epic.
I totally agree. He's got this great, sort of deadpan look on his face in those scenes. Like, "am I really seeing this?"
Greatest Films Not in the IMDB Top 250
http://www.imdb.com/list/bc9x1QAFat0/ -
denny7777 — 14 years ago(August 28, 2011 02:17 PM)
Because she was just using him to get the money. A lot of writers name characters "Max" to indicate they have the personality of a dog (no offense to anyone named Max, but there are more dogs named Max than people named Max) - they are obedient, and don't understand when you leave them, just like Max.
Push the envelope, watch it bend -
moviestar26 — 14 years ago(October 28, 2011 08:41 AM)
Max began to feel insecure after speaking on the phone. Entering the back room indicated this. He may have began to have regrets regarding his decision. Perhaps a feeling of insecurity crossed his mind that Jackie would probably find another guy.
Meanwhile Jackie felt unhappy with going alone. -
fanaticita — 14 years ago(February 06, 2012 04:33 PM)
Scott -1441, I agree totally with your assessment:
"In the end scene, out of focus, Max breaks down, covers his face with his hand and cries, because he knew deep down he couldn't be with a woman who could plot someone's death. Jackie realizes the same thing as she drives away and sings along with the lyrics. They're from different sides of "110th Street." "
We don't always get what we want. Max and Jackie may have had an attraction, and in Max's case perhaps even love, but he realized that they lived completely different lives,and they could not be a couple. I doubt that they ever were i contact again after Jackie drove away. And yes, Max cried, but I think it was more that he realized she was out of reach, and therefore felt the deep loss immediately. -
deck007-1 — 14 years ago(March 14, 2012 12:10 PM)
nice post queenshan
I saw something in there that I forgot about. I love good dialogue in movies. Tarantino can be really good with that. And I love it if you think it is in step with what the character would really say.and if it's funny too.icing on the cake.
2 lines from the script u showed at the end.
Jackie - I'd feel a lot better if u took some more money
Max (smiling) - You'll get over that
Great line by Max there with truth & humor
One last remark about good dialogue & the right actors delivering it. Near the beginning of the movie when Ordell talks his poor buddy into getting in the trunk - the back & forth there was REALLY good by both actors!!!!