Grier, Forster Go Down Memory Lane for ‘Jackie Brown’

26 Sep, 2011 By: Chris Tribbey

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Actress Pam Grier (Larry Crowne, “The L Word,” Mars Attacks!) doesn’t like to share the fact that she kept a journal about her experience in the 1997 Quentin Tarantino film Jackie Brown.

And no, you can’t read it.

“It doesn’t feel that long,” Grier said about the 14 years since the film’s release. “It feels like it was yesterday. It was so important to me. I don’t want to let go of those memories.

“Quentin provided this wonderful platform for me to work with Samuel [L. Jackson] and Robert [DeNiro] and Bridget [Fonda],” she continued. “Every scene where I worked with someone, with the rehearsal process, each actor has a different way, a different process of working and that’s exciting to see how other people get there.”

Actor Robert Forster (“Heroes,” Mulholland Dr., Me, Myself & Irene) may not have kept a journal, but he remembers how there were two weeks of on-site rehearsals, how actors would talk about the next day’s scenes with each other late at night over the phone, how Samuel L. Jackson knew everyone else’s lines along with his own, and how he remembers being more than a little impressed at the talent Tarantino had gathered for the film.

“This was exceptionally written,” said Forster, who earned a 1997 Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. “This guy writes great dialogue. You don’t have to fight it. It comes out of your mouth the way thoughts come out of your mouth. He gave a piece of direction early on, and it applied to every single take. He said, ‘Just make me believe it.’”

Lionsgate releases Jackie Brown on Blu-ray ($19.99) Oct. 4, with bonuses including a new critic’s retrospective, a “Jackie Brown: How It Went Down” featurette, an interview with Tarantino, deleted and alternate scenes, a music video, trailers, a stills gallery, TV spots, a Siskel & Ebert “At the Movies” Jackie Brown review, a trivia track, radio spots and more.

Grier doesn’t have a Blu-ray player yet, but hinted she might make the leap for this, and Pulp Fiction, also out on Blu-ray Oct. 4.

“[It was an] extraordinary place and time for me, with actors you never think you’re going to work with, and, of course, working in someone’s else’s dream is amazing,” Grier said. “If I never work again, this did it for me. Can’t beat it.”

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