Sunday, August 21, 2005

Movie Review: The Jacket

There have been lots of movies that play around with time and time travel. John Mabury's The Jacket creates an intriguing fresh story using an old premise. Jack Starks (Adrian Brody) has returned from the Gulf War where he was traumatised to the extent that he lost his memory. He doesn't know who he is or where he is. He is arrested by the police for murder -- a murder he cannot remember committing. He's found not guilty by reason of insanity and placed in a psychiatric institution where Dr Becker (Kris Kristofferson), his psychiatrist, treats him using a controversial method where he is tied up in a straitjacket, given drugs, and enclosed in a mortuary drawer -- this is supposed to help Jack regain his identity. While he is there he hallucinates as a result of the sensory deprivation and travels from a forward into the future where he discovers he only has four days to live in the time he has come from. Jack has to work out what is going on and what he will do to solve his dilemma. This film is a real mind bender. It also explores some interesting ethical issues. It also stars Keira Knightley as a love interest for Jack. If you're looking for an interesting movie that will provoke your thinking and stay with you after you leave the cinema, then The Jacket will fit you well. My Rating: **** (out of 5) Positive Review 'The first great film of 2005.' - Luke Y Thompson/Dallas Observer Negative Review 'In this case, the adage would go something like "material, material, material," also known as the Nicolas Cage Rule: Good acting can't overcome bad taste.' - Ann Hornaday/Washington Post Content Warning violence, language and brief sexuality/nudity

3 comments:

  1. i just watched the jacket and was looking for some comments and ideas as to the "meaning" of the movie.

    your is all i found on the blogosphere.

    at any rate, it is very possible that there was no meaning intended. that makes me like it even more.

    i wasn't troubled by the sex scenes, they were tasteful and abstract and essential to the story.

    i liked the ending as it lets (or for some requires) you to come to your own conclusions - is this all a part of his dilusions? is he stuck in this cycle of travel and then back into the jacket? what is the true nature of reality? perhaps that is the point of the movie, namely that reality is not something we can or should take for granted, we should be (if we are conscious) be skeptical about our perceptions of reality.

    that is all

    blog on.

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  2. Thanks for your comments Fletch. I thought the movie was excellent. As to its meaning... maybe you are right -- it has no meaning -- just a fun bit of playing around with time. Is it also a statement about the fact the the present can have consequences in the future?

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  3. Love the details. Making was exeellent and all actors are working great in this movie.Great Job.

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