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All rights reserved.The Jacket (2005, DVD)
John Maybury s THE JACKET 2005 - (What the heck?.).....Review created: 07/08/05
by: artbyjude -- a member of Epinions
Pros:
Adrian Brody, Keira Knightley, and all the cast, Cinematography, Thought provoking plot.
Adrian Brody, Keira Knightley, and all the cast, Cinematography, Thought provoking plot.
Cons:
Can be confusing . Trailer tells too much of the story.
Can be confusing . Trailer tells too much of the story.
Adrian Brody made an impression on me with his performance in THE PIANIST . Despite his rail thin physique and his large-ish nose, he has amazing eyes , and the boy can act a little. His looks put him in odd roles , not blockbuster movies, and a chance to be really versatile. He does a great job with any role, including Shimalyan s The Village, a total flop-except for Brody.
There are two things I did not like in this movie: 1) the fact that you are deliberately misled, and confused for the first 30 minutes of the film, and 2) the slow parts are really slow. I am not saying this is bad, just that I didn t like it. I could have done without the sci-fi sound effects too. I might also add that the entire plot is revealed in the theatrical trailer. Why would you want to see it if you ve already seen what happens?
DIRECTION AND WRITING
John Maybury was approached by Stephen Soderberg who was pumped up enough about his own success in TRAFFIC that he shared the wealth with some obscure film makers, who might be able to do something spectacular with access to Hollywood film studios and the best actors. John Maybury came across the pond to to make this film, because he liked the script. I think he did an outstanding job in creating an edgy , disturbing artsy type film. On the other hand, anyone who is favorably impressed with the acting skills of Kris Kristofferson, may require closer scrutiny.
The original story was based on a war veteran of the Viet Nam war, a fact which actually fits better with the sparse details that describe the events that Jack Starks experiences. In those days, it was not that uncommon to find living soldiers among the dead the morgue (or so they tell me) And, psychological experimentation was much more likely -along with several treatment modalities that in 1992, were no longer in use. Of course, the story requires some creative effort on the part of the viewer, anyway. The adaptation of the story by Bleeker and Rocco was done by Massy Tadjedin.
CINEMATOGRAPHY and SPECIAL EFFECTS
This is the area where Maybury s independent film spirit expresses itself strongly. The colors were deliberately reduced to two or three, with strong contrasts. It heightened the dramatic impact, and actually energized the appearance of the film. Instead of using the studio s CGI , Maybury had the special effects department do things a more old fashioned and experiential way. One visual effect, for example, was created by crushing butterfly wings and select bits of organic trash flattened against the film. Peter Deming (MULHOLLAND DRIVE) is the guy behind the camera. And Alan McDonald was responsible for production design.
MUSIC
If there was a theme or a soundtrack with musical notes, I didn t hear it. Most of the musical sounding notes seem to be used as sound effects, and they are occasionally effective, but more often merely annoying. I guess I get to blame Brian Eno, rock star and sometimes composer and music producer.
DVD extras
There is a short making of feature, introducing us to John Maybury, and telling us how the film came about. This feature also includes cast interviews with Brody and Knightley, and the deleted scenes and 4 alternate endings for the film. There is a separate feature on the creation of visual effects. There will be no voice commentary to lead you by the hand through this flick, and you may only really figure out the ending by watching the alternative endings.
***SPOILER ALERT-***
DISCUSSION
The essential question for the audience is, is it real? If so how it is done becomes problematic. However there are clues that you will discover if you watch this movie more than once that will make you realizer the most likely scenario-that Jack is truly dead the first time, and the entire story plays out in the instant before he dies. The way the story meshes together, with the morgue drawer being the place it happens is the first key, and a second one is the boy who one of the doctors is treating, who is obviously the same little boy who shot Starks the first time during a battle in Desert Storm. I believe this is a tight film, and there are no coincidences.
Even if you read these paragraphs before you watch the film, you should get something good from the extraordinary performances of Brody and Knightley, and the relevance of the experiences of a recent war veteran in these troubled times. Gulf War syndrome? That is another possible explanation for the events-although it would never have occurred to me.
***END OF SPOILER ALERT***
THE PLOT
John Starks is sargeant in the Navy. The movie opens with him in the middle of a battle in Desert Storm. He goes to help a little boy caught in the crossfire, and the child pulls out a gun and shoots him in the head. The next view we have is of some hospital personnel bagging and tagging, when they discover they have a live one. Although he recovers physically, John is going to have problems. He has complete amnesia. The Navy dumps him and he s on the street. Hitchhiking on a snowy day in Vermont, he runs across a little girl , Jackie, and her mother-who is drunk , passing out in the bar ditch. He gets their truck started and moves on. There is a blank spot, and he is on the road again, and gets picked up by a guy . Flash forward, and John is in front of a Jury, being tried for the murder of a highway patrolman. He can t remember any of this, so they call him crazy and he goes into a looney bin for criminals. There, a Dr. Becker is doing experimental therapy, which includes applying a straight jacket, and putting him in a morgue box for hours on end, to reset his mind. But something odd happens when John is in there. He flashes to another time, 15 years from the time he is in. And he falls for a girl-who turns out to be the little girl he met on the road earlier. Coincidence? . He returns to his time when they take him out of the morgue box. Whenever he is put in the morgue drawer, another piece of the puzzle is discovered. It is interesting that none of it relates to a time before he was shot in Desert Storm. John Starks is , as he says, only doing what we all do-he is trying to beat the odds.
CAST AND PERFORMANCES
Adrien Brody as John Starks. It is an interesting choice for the role, and I think maybe the fact that he does not look like a recruiting poster marine makes the performance more authentic. There is no question that the entire movie depends on whether you believe this guy. I think he pulls it off. Brody had small parts in many movies dating back to his childhood (He was in ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD, among others.) He came to be a star in Polanski s PIANIST for which he earned an Oscar. Interesting that he gave a little anti-war speech at the awards ceremony.
Keira Knightley as Jackie Price-an outstanding performance as well, by this very young British actress. ( She was 19 at the time of the filming) . This girl has to show two sides, one side , a jaded, angry young woman, heading for nowhere. The other, a bright young woman with a purpose. She is bruised, angry, and disappointed in the world, but yet still is willing to help a guy she thinks is a homeless bum. You have to see her as the hardened Diner waitress, and you also have the see the potential for something much better. Not a trace of the British accent, by the way. Well done.
Kris Kristofferson-as Dr Becker- You may have to decide whether he was a good guy or a bad guy. He seems to be a bad guy, and at very least does some outrageous things to his patients. Kristofferson is one of two people who have to physically age for the 15 year gap. In the older Doctor, there is even some slight slurring of his speech, implying a stroke. Kristofferson has been in some of the worst movies I have ever seen, and he was not the best performance in any of hem. But he won a Golden Globe for A STAR IS BORN.
Has the best line in the movie. You can t break something that s already broken.
JENNIFER JASON LEIGH- as Dr. Lorenson. Lorenson is the talkie psychiatrist (versus the experimenter) who tries to help Jack. This is an excellent performance as well. In the future she is withholding some information. I just saw Jennifer in THE MACHINIST . Her versatility is impressive.
Kelly Lynch as Jean Price. She has some good scenes and is a super good , mean drunk. Kind of nice to see someone really nail this way of being drunk. Most Hollywood drunks are slow moving , staggering around and harmless. She is self destructive behavior incarnate.
Brad Renfro as The stranger. This guy picks up John and is involved in the crime that gets John into the hospital. A psycho serial killer? Renfro has done a bunch of small parts in movies I will never see.
Daniel Craig-as Rudy Mackenzie- This is another Brit playing an American-impeccably . Rudy is the only truly psychotic person we meet in this movie. And he was believable.
Stephen Mackintosh as Dr Hopkins-plays a young doctor who questions Becker s methods.-but doesn t stop him. Remember him as Winston in TWO SMOKING BARRELS?
Brendan Cole as Damon-he is the orderly who frequently manhandles John into the straight jacket, and the morgue drawer. He has a bad bully side which was in the deleted scenes. His slamming the drawer shut with John on it is an impressive physical sweep, a memorable gesture from this film.
MacKenzie Philips as Nurse Harding- I never would have recognized her from ONE DAY AT A TIME.
Laura Marano as young Jackie. This little girl has to show the innocent potential of our leading lady, the part of her that needs to be nurtured and taken care of. She is bright, she is pretty and very believable.
The rest of the cast is also excellent.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
This movie is one of the more interesting movies we have watched lately. Even Granniemose wanted to see this one again, and never slept a wink during either showing. I find it a difficult film to watch, with long silences, and a stark look. It requires some concentration. But it is worth it.
There are two things I did not like in this movie: 1) the fact that you are deliberately misled, and confused for the first 30 minutes of the film, and 2) the slow parts are really slow. I am not saying this is bad, just that I didn t like it. I could have done without the sci-fi sound effects too. I might also add that the entire plot is revealed in the theatrical trailer. Why would you want to see it if you ve already seen what happens?
DIRECTION AND WRITING
John Maybury was approached by Stephen Soderberg who was pumped up enough about his own success in TRAFFIC that he shared the wealth with some obscure film makers, who might be able to do something spectacular with access to Hollywood film studios and the best actors. John Maybury came across the pond to to make this film, because he liked the script. I think he did an outstanding job in creating an edgy , disturbing artsy type film. On the other hand, anyone who is favorably impressed with the acting skills of Kris Kristofferson, may require closer scrutiny.
The original story was based on a war veteran of the Viet Nam war, a fact which actually fits better with the sparse details that describe the events that Jack Starks experiences. In those days, it was not that uncommon to find living soldiers among the dead the morgue (or so they tell me) And, psychological experimentation was much more likely -along with several treatment modalities that in 1992, were no longer in use. Of course, the story requires some creative effort on the part of the viewer, anyway. The adaptation of the story by Bleeker and Rocco was done by Massy Tadjedin.
CINEMATOGRAPHY and SPECIAL EFFECTS
This is the area where Maybury s independent film spirit expresses itself strongly. The colors were deliberately reduced to two or three, with strong contrasts. It heightened the dramatic impact, and actually energized the appearance of the film. Instead of using the studio s CGI , Maybury had the special effects department do things a more old fashioned and experiential way. One visual effect, for example, was created by crushing butterfly wings and select bits of organic trash flattened against the film. Peter Deming (MULHOLLAND DRIVE) is the guy behind the camera. And Alan McDonald was responsible for production design.
MUSIC
If there was a theme or a soundtrack with musical notes, I didn t hear it. Most of the musical sounding notes seem to be used as sound effects, and they are occasionally effective, but more often merely annoying. I guess I get to blame Brian Eno, rock star and sometimes composer and music producer.
DVD extras
There is a short making of feature, introducing us to John Maybury, and telling us how the film came about. This feature also includes cast interviews with Brody and Knightley, and the deleted scenes and 4 alternate endings for the film. There is a separate feature on the creation of visual effects. There will be no voice commentary to lead you by the hand through this flick, and you may only really figure out the ending by watching the alternative endings.
***SPOILER ALERT-***
DISCUSSION
The essential question for the audience is, is it real? If so how it is done becomes problematic. However there are clues that you will discover if you watch this movie more than once that will make you realizer the most likely scenario-that Jack is truly dead the first time, and the entire story plays out in the instant before he dies. The way the story meshes together, with the morgue drawer being the place it happens is the first key, and a second one is the boy who one of the doctors is treating, who is obviously the same little boy who shot Starks the first time during a battle in Desert Storm. I believe this is a tight film, and there are no coincidences.
Even if you read these paragraphs before you watch the film, you should get something good from the extraordinary performances of Brody and Knightley, and the relevance of the experiences of a recent war veteran in these troubled times. Gulf War syndrome? That is another possible explanation for the events-although it would never have occurred to me.
***END OF SPOILER ALERT***
THE PLOT
John Starks is sargeant in the Navy. The movie opens with him in the middle of a battle in Desert Storm. He goes to help a little boy caught in the crossfire, and the child pulls out a gun and shoots him in the head. The next view we have is of some hospital personnel bagging and tagging, when they discover they have a live one. Although he recovers physically, John is going to have problems. He has complete amnesia. The Navy dumps him and he s on the street. Hitchhiking on a snowy day in Vermont, he runs across a little girl , Jackie, and her mother-who is drunk , passing out in the bar ditch. He gets their truck started and moves on. There is a blank spot, and he is on the road again, and gets picked up by a guy . Flash forward, and John is in front of a Jury, being tried for the murder of a highway patrolman. He can t remember any of this, so they call him crazy and he goes into a looney bin for criminals. There, a Dr. Becker is doing experimental therapy, which includes applying a straight jacket, and putting him in a morgue box for hours on end, to reset his mind. But something odd happens when John is in there. He flashes to another time, 15 years from the time he is in. And he falls for a girl-who turns out to be the little girl he met on the road earlier. Coincidence? . He returns to his time when they take him out of the morgue box. Whenever he is put in the morgue drawer, another piece of the puzzle is discovered. It is interesting that none of it relates to a time before he was shot in Desert Storm. John Starks is , as he says, only doing what we all do-he is trying to beat the odds.
CAST AND PERFORMANCES
Adrien Brody as John Starks. It is an interesting choice for the role, and I think maybe the fact that he does not look like a recruiting poster marine makes the performance more authentic. There is no question that the entire movie depends on whether you believe this guy. I think he pulls it off. Brody had small parts in many movies dating back to his childhood (He was in ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD, among others.) He came to be a star in Polanski s PIANIST for which he earned an Oscar. Interesting that he gave a little anti-war speech at the awards ceremony.
Keira Knightley as Jackie Price-an outstanding performance as well, by this very young British actress. ( She was 19 at the time of the filming) . This girl has to show two sides, one side , a jaded, angry young woman, heading for nowhere. The other, a bright young woman with a purpose. She is bruised, angry, and disappointed in the world, but yet still is willing to help a guy she thinks is a homeless bum. You have to see her as the hardened Diner waitress, and you also have the see the potential for something much better. Not a trace of the British accent, by the way. Well done.
Kris Kristofferson-as Dr Becker- You may have to decide whether he was a good guy or a bad guy. He seems to be a bad guy, and at very least does some outrageous things to his patients. Kristofferson is one of two people who have to physically age for the 15 year gap. In the older Doctor, there is even some slight slurring of his speech, implying a stroke. Kristofferson has been in some of the worst movies I have ever seen, and he was not the best performance in any of hem. But he won a Golden Globe for A STAR IS BORN.
Has the best line in the movie. You can t break something that s already broken.
JENNIFER JASON LEIGH- as Dr. Lorenson. Lorenson is the talkie psychiatrist (versus the experimenter) who tries to help Jack. This is an excellent performance as well. In the future she is withholding some information. I just saw Jennifer in THE MACHINIST . Her versatility is impressive.
Kelly Lynch as Jean Price. She has some good scenes and is a super good , mean drunk. Kind of nice to see someone really nail this way of being drunk. Most Hollywood drunks are slow moving , staggering around and harmless. She is self destructive behavior incarnate.
Brad Renfro as The stranger. This guy picks up John and is involved in the crime that gets John into the hospital. A psycho serial killer? Renfro has done a bunch of small parts in movies I will never see.
Daniel Craig-as Rudy Mackenzie- This is another Brit playing an American-impeccably . Rudy is the only truly psychotic person we meet in this movie. And he was believable.
Stephen Mackintosh as Dr Hopkins-plays a young doctor who questions Becker s methods.-but doesn t stop him. Remember him as Winston in TWO SMOKING BARRELS?
Brendan Cole as Damon-he is the orderly who frequently manhandles John into the straight jacket, and the morgue drawer. He has a bad bully side which was in the deleted scenes. His slamming the drawer shut with John on it is an impressive physical sweep, a memorable gesture from this film.
MacKenzie Philips as Nurse Harding- I never would have recognized her from ONE DAY AT A TIME.
Laura Marano as young Jackie. This little girl has to show the innocent potential of our leading lady, the part of her that needs to be nurtured and taken care of. She is bright, she is pretty and very believable.
The rest of the cast is also excellent.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
This movie is one of the more interesting movies we have watched lately. Even Granniemose wanted to see this one again, and never slept a wink during either showing. I find it a difficult film to watch, with long silences, and a stark look. It requires some concentration. But it is worth it.
Review ID: 10000000000666324
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