film: review

> THE JACKET (2005)
A disturbing trip worth taking

By John C. Lyons
Film Critic

The Jacket

Starring: Adrien Brody, Keira Knightley

Directed by: John Maybury

Written by: Tom Bleecker, Marc Rocco, and more

Genre: Thriller

Our Rating: 9/10
Expecting to see another Japanese horror remake ranging from the good (The Ring) to the bad (The Grudge)? It seems like every other movie coming out these days is just that, but luckily you aren’t going to see any of that here, and hopefully won’t go into the theater expecting it. The Jacket is a great psychological thriller, and doesn’t need any long-haired ghostly children to provide a good disturbing storyline, just a tight jacket, some experimental drugs, and a morgue drawer.

Jack Starks (Adrien Brody) is a soldier from the first war in Iraq who receives a gunshot wound to the head that kills him. But unbelievably he awakes and later recovers from his injury. Returning to his hometown we slowly learn that there is more going on here than a bit of amnesia. As luck (or lack thereof) would have it he is involved in another attack, this time he finds himself in a mental institution, wrongfully accused of murdering a police officer. Things get real twisted and disturbing once Dr. Becker straps him into the “jacket” and forces Jack into his thoughts. Through his mind Jack enters his future and encounters a now grown-up girl he met before entering the asylum who tries to save him from his fate.

I enjoyed each aspect of the film and feel that it will be even more rewarding on repeat viewings. The directing is top notch. Editing, like the movie itself, is disjointed and oftentimes misleading. And the acting is very solid. Both Brody and Knightley are great and surprisingly play well off one another. I was intrigued by this film once I saw the trailer and was really happily surprised how much I enjoyed it. If you’re a fan of the psychological and twisted I highly recommend The Jacket.

I saw this film at Cinemark’s Tinseltown 17 Theatres on Peach Street in Erie, PA.

 

(05-0305)

related links:
The Jacket - official site

MPAA rating: R
for violence, language, and brief sexuality/nudity.

length: 102 minutes
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