Jackie Brown has become one of Quentin Tarantino's forgotten films, but unlike Death Proof, the movie deserves all the praise it can get. Along with the film, a lot of wonderfully colorful characters have been lost as well. One of these characters is Max Cherry, a bail-bondsmen, who - again not technically a private eye - finds himself on this list by fulfilling a more abstract set of character criteria, both classic and innovative. In a classical sense, his professional and personal experience have given him insight into human behavior. Like any P.I., this life-time surrounded by crime, violence, and disappointment has led to a hard-boiled, cynical outlook. He knows "the angles" and how to manipulate them in his favor. But, more importantly, he knows when doing so is worth his effort. His intuition is showcased in his tracking down of criminals on the run, but most fully illustrated in Jackie Brown through the way he navigates the landscape of criminals and Federal Agents for love. This is one of the more original and likable qualities of the Max Cherry character: Despite his cynical understanding of human nature, he's willing to fight for what he wants and believes in. Whilst also scraping a little extra off the top. Why not?
While studying English and Philosophy at Rutgers University, Andrew worked as a constant contributor to the The Rutgers Review. After graduating in 2010, he began working as a free-lance writer and editor, providing his input to numerous areas including reviews for the New York Film Series, The Express-Times, and private script and story consulting. He is currently the Director of Film Studies at The Morris County Arts Workshop in New Jersey and publishes essays on the subject of film and television at his blog, The Zoetrope.
