This document provides a case study analysis of the opening sequence of Quentin Tarantino's film Jackie Brown. It summarizes how the opening establishes Jackie Brown as the central character and focus of attention through a long tracking shot that reveals her professional attire. It also contrasts shots from Jackie Brown and Animal Kingdom that provide insights into the characters through what they are watching on TV. Further comparisons are made between shots in the two films that mirror each other in establishing characters and hints about their intentions through costume choices and power dynamics.

1. Case Study:
Jackie Brown
How Quentin Tarantino
establishes the thriller genre.
By Nature Wesby

2. Opening Sequence
The film begins with a medium
close up of Jackie’s confident
posture, and intimidating facial
expression. It establishes as the
center of attention not just for the
audience but for everyone
around her. The abnormally long
tracking shot of 3:40 reveals her
professional attire and shows that
she is a serious business woman.
The continuous subject of Jackie
passing the changing colours of
the background is not only
interesting, but since the colours
are pale, Jackie’s bright blue suit
stands out even more.

3. 
In this shot, Jackie is racing against time. The plane passing her is another
example of a generic thriller convention because the characters seem to
always be on a mission, or just on the move (whether it’s running, speed
walking, driving a vehicle, etc.) Although this screenshot only lasts for a
couple of seconds, it’s a small trigger that hints at this movie being a thriller.
Jackie appears vulnerable here because she quickens her pace and that
suggests that she is no longer in complete control. It’s a slight contrast from
her previous confident strut.

4. Contrast
The first picture is from Jackie
Brown, where Ordell and Louis
are watching something
directed to men, and the
second picture is from Animal
Kingdom, where Joshua is
watching a more family aimed
show. What they’re watching
reveals the type of characters
they are straight away.
Because of what Ordell and
Louis are watching, one could
assume that they could be
typical, immature, egotistical,
ignorant guys who objectify
women. What Joshua is
watching doesn’t shout too
much other than that he could
be a typical mainstream
teenager.

5. Ordell and Louis are
comfortably watching
tv, which the audience
can see in their casual
attire and their setting
of a basic house in
California. Whereas
Joshua and his mother
appear relaxed in a
similar setting except in
Australia, but actually
Joshua’s mother is
dead so he seems
uncomfortable and
tense.

6. Unlike directly showing Jackie, Melanie is presented very subtly which suggests
that she has a minor role and is unimportant. Melanie’s feet are shown, then
her hands, her back, and her face is last. Jackie had a long detailed
introduction in the opening of the film, and Melanie is barely seen. That is ironic
because woman weren’t usually main characters, and even if they were, they
were not biracial. Although Melanie fits the generic conventions of being a
woman, Jackie subverts them.

7. These shots mirror each
other with effective
generic thriller non
ambient lighting, un
glamorous location, and a
character coming to get
another character. Ordell
arrives with style in all
black, which hints at
possibly doing some dirty
work, with the intention of
being deceitful. Although
Joshua’s grandmother
deceives him towards the
end of Animal
Kingdom, she is dressed in
a less intimidating light
blue, and her intention is
more genuine in this shot.

8. These two shots mirror each
other once again with the
resemblance of bars from a
jail cell and hinting at future
imprisonment. The first shot
shows Ordell infront
because he’s dominant
and Beaumont follows
behind him just like Billy
follows behind Jason in
Essex Boys. In the second
shot Billy is infront, but in this
case, Jason being in the
back is more powerful
because it is clear that he
has control over Billy.
Beaumont is not as
intimidating as Ordell
because he has on a lighter
color, which could also be
assumed with Billy and
Jason.