Quentin Tarantino, the renowned filmmaker of Hollywood, has collaborated with numerous movie stars throughout his successful career. Notable actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, and Samuel L. Jackson have all had the opportunity to work with Tarantino. However, when asked about the greatest actor from his perspective, Tarantino named the Oscar-winning Robert De Niro, with whom he collaborated on the 1997 film Jackie Brown.

Tarantino has always been outspoken about his opinions on cinema and the individuals he has worked with. During an interview with Charlie Rose, he praised De Niro, stating, "He deserves his reputation as possibly the greatest actor of his generation.

I’ve never seen an actor so completely consume himself in character – in true character work during the work."

In Jackie Brown, De Niro played the role of Louis Gara, a character whom Tarantino commended for his commitment to his craft and ability to fully embody the characters he portrays. Tarantino expressed, "When Robert is playing Louis… he is Louis."

Interestingly, one small detail convinced De Niro to take on the role of Louis Gara in Jackie Brown. Tarantino revealed that it was the character's choice of shoes that intrigued De Niro.

As Louis had been in jail for five years, he only had "a clunky pair of old black" shoes. This attention to detail resonated with De Niro, ultimately leading him to work on the film.

Jackie Brown, based on Elmore Leonard's novel Rum Punch, follows the story of a flight attendant who becomes entwined in a complex money-smuggling plot. Alongside De Niro, the movie starred Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, and Michael Keaton in supporting roles. The film garnered critical acclaim and commercial success, earning Robert Forster an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.