Jacknife (1989)

Ok, I'm a Kathy Baker Fan

I do admit that I'm a Kathy Baker fan so i'm sure i'll have a review soon about Picket Fences Season One. I first saw her in "Clean and Sober" with Michael Keaton, then saw this film, and then was thrilled to learn she would be in "Picket Fences." That being said, I think the most powerful perfomance in this movie was by Ed Harris - I don't know why I never made the connection, maybe I wasnt paying attention, but I never realized that it was Ed Harris playing that role - this film has three very powerful actors in it, actors who are known for getting into their roles - Baker has always given a strong performance and it just feels like she comes across naturally, so believably, on the screen - to me, it feels like you're seeing her natural personality. DeNiro, of course, gives a magnificient performance too, although maybe just a wee bit over the top.

Maybe this DVD goes to show that if you wait long enough, eventually everything will come to DVD - I think it would be fun to be at the major studios and listen in how they discuss what old films and TV shows to put out on DVD. June 27, 2007

Go, Red Sox

Being a child of the 1980s and having a father who served in the military during the 1960s, a very large portion of the movies I watched with my father concerned the Vietnam War. Some of these films such as Hamburger Hill (1987), Platoon (1986), and Full Metal Jacket (1987) left quite an impression on me and led to me and my neighborhood friends to play "Vietnam War" in our backyards. As time passed though, and with the death of my family's first VCR, I watched fewer films based on the Vietnam War and its aftermath, but during the years in which I was a neophyte cinephile I saw a number of times the cover of Jacknife (1989) which sports the image of a long haired, bearded, Boston Red Sox cap wearing Robert De Niro and became interested in watching the film. However, it was not until a couple of days ago while watching one of the cable film channels with my father that I finally sat down and watched this film.

Jacknife opens with a scene of a cold morning in Connecticut with Joseph Megessey (De Niro) making his way to his friend David Flannigan's (Ed Harris) home for a day of early morning fishing. However, Meg had invited Dave to fish some five weeks earlier, so Dave is stone drunk when Meg arrives. Yet, instead of being locked out in the cold, Meges meets Dave's uptight sister Martha and after a near altercation, the three head off to fish for rainbow trout, or it would be better to say Meg and Martha fish while Dave drinks himself into a stupor. Meg and Martha become fast friends, but it is soon revealed that Dave truly dislikes the boisterously loquacious Meg and wants little to do with the man. However, this dislike stems more from the association of Meges with the death of their mutual friend Bobby in Vietnam than a personal level. Dave is determined to bury his memories in a sea of alcohol, but Meg is determined to make Dave confront his demons, but, of course, Meg has some of his own as well.

Like many films similar to this such as Oliver Stone's Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Jacknife mainly focuses on issues such as Post-traumatic stress disorder and the general reception of Vietnam War Veterans when they returned to America. Harris's character's being is just as much damaged from the events that he suffered in Vietnam as the general reception he received upon his return to America. Instead of finding consolation and help, he found his only solace in alcohol. His being an alcoholic, of course, not only makes him suffer, but those around him as well. Yet, the only way that he can truly help himself is by facing his own demons, but that can be just as frightening as diving into the heat of battle. June 20, 2007

Great unknown drama

If it wasn't for the fact that typically I reserve five stars for absolute masterpieces--like Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai"--I definitely would have given this film that rating. At least four and a half. This virtually unknown film, directed by David Jones, is a tour de force for actors DeNiro, Ed Harris, and Kathy Baker. Each of them is so good it's impossible to find a single line--even a single word--that's out of place, or a misstep, or just plain wrong.

The script is by Stephen Metcalfe who adapted his stage play "Strange Snow" to the screen and did a masterful job. It's the story of two Vietnam vets (Harris and DeNiro) who both found jobs working with vehicles--Harris as a truck driver and DeNiro as a mechanic. But Harris has become a drunk because it's impossible for him to forget what happened to their mutual bud Bobby, tragically killed in Vietnam.

Emotions run high here, yet this is anything but melodrama. It's high drama, yes, but the dialogue is very smart and heartfelt and as strong as steel. There's no phony tears, no strident or schmaltzy words, no false moves anywhere. DeNiro--Megs--visits Harris and Baker (playing Harris' sister) to rouse Harris out of his drunken stupor, to go fishing with him, to remind him, in essence, that the two of them both have lives to lead, that the past is the past and that while it will never be forgotten, it should never get in the way of living life the way it was meant to be lived.

Megs is a larger than life character, and DeNiro handles this role like he was born for it. His nickname is the film's title. The real foil for his character is Baker, who is also perfect as the biology teacher who feels, who knows, that below Megs' surface craziness is a true heart that wants to be happy.

A terrific piece of work, and very highly recommended. June 18, 2007

Good Story Followed by Great Performers

My position may be a lit biased because I am a big De Niro fan, but I really enjoyed this movie. The story line following war vets from Vietnam was a good fit for many of the charactors. You get the true feeling of brotherhood but at the same time you feel that same brotherhood being betrayed. You can't help but think of someone that you know and their point of view on the whole story. So to anyone who is wondering if they should purchse the film or not I say "if you feel you want to watch a movie with a good story line that you can personally relate to...watch this movie." May 16, 2007

The Harsh Realities for Soldiers Coming Home

JACKNIFE is a fine adaptation of Stephen Metcalfe's play 'Strange Snow' (the screenplay was also written by Metcalfe), sensitively directed by
David Hugh Jones, that explores the too frequently forgotten effect of battle on veterans damaged permanently by the heinous cruelties of war. It is especially poignant to return to this 1989 film now as we watch the soldiers returning from the war in Iraq and the raw treatment they are receiving in our Veterans' Hospitals.

Three friends went off to the Vietnam War together and only two returned alive: the problem is that while both men suffered in battle the one David 'Highschool' Flannigan (Ed Harris) is so severely damaged by posttraumatic stress syndrome that he 'exists' in a drunken vacuum with his very plain schoolteacher sister Martha (Kathy Baker). As David deteriorates his buddy Joseph 'Jacknife' Megessey (Robert De Niro) returns to the town in an attempt to help his friend. In the course of events Jacknife at first offers succor to Martha and eventually the two date - at a Prom Martha must attend - and at that prom drunken David completely falls apart, destroying relics in the school and terrifying the townspeople and students. Jacknife makes Dave relive the moment in Vietnam when they lost their buddy and in doing so brings David to the point where he can begin his climb toward recovery. And the longsuffering Martha finds her needs tended by Jacknife, too.

All three actors give astonishingly fine performances: Ed Harris offers one of his most fully realized roles while De Niro and Baker maintain the high standards set by their careers. More people should help resurrect this all but forgotten film as it is a brittle reminder of the damages our wars bring to the men who fight them and to the families who receive them after battle's end. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, March 07 March 7, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...