THE JACKET
Can anyone help Jack Starkes (Adrian Brody)? A
military veteran, he travels home to Vermont after
his stint only to be accused of a violent murder.
Suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder,
including spells of amnesia, he has no recollection
of the incident, and, therefore, no defense.
Confined to a mental institution, Jack suffers under
the authority of Dr. Becker (Kris Kristofferson) and
his henchmen as they subject him to a torturous,
experimental course of treatment. (Personally, I feel
it would be a spoiler to go into detail about the
treatment.)
As he is not truly insane, the torture becomes
unbearable until one day, the experience transcends
his reality and he travels through time to piece
together the mysteries of his predicament.
Based loosely on a 1913, Jack London novel, "The
Star Rover"in which a prisoner is able to transcend
his situation with the tightening of the straps of his
restraining jacket and venture to other times and
places.
Director John Maybury hands us a thriller, but some
of the pieces are missing. As with all time travel
plots the audience often gets confused as to where
they are in time at any given moment. "The Jacket"
is no exception to the rule.
military veteran, he travels home to Vermont after
his stint only to be accused of a violent murder.
Suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder,
including spells of amnesia, he has no recollection
of the incident, and, therefore, no defense.
Confined to a mental institution, Jack suffers under
the authority of Dr. Becker (Kris Kristofferson) and
his henchmen as they subject him to a torturous,
experimental course of treatment. (Personally, I feel
it would be a spoiler to go into detail about the
treatment.)
As he is not truly insane, the torture becomes
unbearable until one day, the experience transcends
his reality and he travels through time to piece
together the mysteries of his predicament.
Based loosely on a 1913, Jack London novel, "The
Star Rover"in which a prisoner is able to transcend
his situation with the tightening of the straps of his
restraining jacket and venture to other times and
places.
Director John Maybury hands us a thriller, but some
of the pieces are missing. As with all time travel
plots the audience often gets confused as to where
they are in time at any given moment. "The Jacket"
is no exception to the rule.
Mary's comment
Fine acting by Adrian Brody as the tortured
victim of a somewhat mad scientist.
Exhaustingly brutal scenes capture the
mood of the film. But none of the factors
can compensate for the fact that the plot is
very confusing.
Fine acting by Adrian Brody as the tortured
victim of a somewhat mad scientist.
Exhaustingly brutal scenes capture the
mood of the film. But none of the factors
can compensate for the fact that the plot is
very confusing.
Brenda's comments
Jack Starkes’ fate is sealed in the first few
minutes of the movie. All the rest is just icing
on a very scary cake. Scenes of torture and
confinement are well done, furnishing the
extreme terror necessary to the story. Jack
may understand what is happening to him, but
I'm not sure the audience does.
Jack Starkes’ fate is sealed in the first few
minutes of the movie. All the rest is just icing
on a very scary cake. Scenes of torture and
confinement are well done, furnishing the
extreme terror necessary to the story. Jack
may understand what is happening to him, but
I'm not sure the audience does.
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY
Publishers: Brenda S. Ladd & Mary K. Morgan
Publishers: Brenda S. Ladd & Mary K. Morgan
Movie Details
Official Movie Website
Theatrical Release
2005
Home Video
Not Available
MPAA Rating
Rated R for violence,
language and brief
sexuality/nudity
Running Time
1 hour 42 minutes
Directed by
John Maybury
Cast
Adrien Brody, Keira
Knightley, Jennifer Jason
Leigh, Brad Renfro, Kris
Kristofferson, Daniel Craig,
Kelly Lynch, Mackenzie
Phillips
Studio
Warner Independent
Theatrical Release
2005
Home Video
Not Available
MPAA Rating
Rated R for violence,
language and brief
sexuality/nudity
Running Time
1 hour 42 minutes
Directed by
John Maybury
Cast
Adrien Brody, Keira
Knightley, Jennifer Jason
Leigh, Brad Renfro, Kris
Kristofferson, Daniel Craig,
Kelly Lynch, Mackenzie
Phillips
Studio
Warner Independent