My double bills # 8 strong women

John Cassavettes directs Gena Rowlands in Gloria. The directorial style of Cassavettes is usually associated with improv and realism, this tale of one woman connected to a world of mobsters trying to do the right thing is gritty and more akin to the French Connection. The relationship between Gloria and the young boy she is charged with saving from the mob is almost one of husband and wife as well as mother and son.There are moments when Rowlands is like a Clint Eastwood, humbling tough guys but also moments of vulnerability.

Gloria is a fine film with a great central performance. When seeking this film out do not, I repeat do not, get it confused with the Sharon Stone remake

Quentin Tarantino directs Pam Grier in Jackie Brown, perhaps his most under rated movie, pro ably due to the subtlety of all the performances. The stellar cast includes Robert De Nero, Bridget Fonda Samuel L Jackson, Michael Keaton (reprising the same character he played in Steven Soderburghs Out of Sight) and Robert Forster.
Jacki is at the heart of the movie and she plays a character much like Gloria; in with the wrong people but attracted to that world. Those Tarantino fans who found the film hard work should give it another try, not least for it's soundtrack and uniformly cool performances

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_oBmkZllvs