Directed by:
John MayburyScreenplay:
Massy TadjedinCinematography:
Peter DemingComposer:
Brian EnoCast:
Adrien Brody, Keira Knightley, Kris Kristofferson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kelly Lynch, Brad Renfro, Daniel Craig, Steven Mackintosh, Brendan Coyle (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
Adrien Brody stars as a Gulf War veteran wrongly accused of murder, and subsequently committed to a mental institution. A controversial treatment regimen sends him on a mind-bending journey into the future, where he can foresee his death - and must try to stop it. (official distributor synopsis)
Videos (1)
Reviews (8)
The Jacket is a film that should be appreciated for its interesting subject and cast, but the final execution disappointed me, especially in contrast to the very decent rating on FilmBooster. Unfortunately, my expectations were higher than what I watched. The plot seemed too chaotic to me, which was due to both the script and the direction, and there were logical inconsistencies in it. However, some moments certainly had a great atmosphere. In several cases, the crazy editing bothered me as well. Overall impression: 45%.
()
I like strange films and "The Pianist" reminded me a lot of the movie "Jacob's Ladder", which left a strong impression on me. "The Pianist" also attempted something similar, which ultimately succeeded, although I must say that my evaluation ultimately seems a bit exaggerated. But I liked the film. The romantic aspect is highlighted mainly by the performance of the two main actors - Adrien Brody and Keira Knightley -, and together they work really well, regardless of what opinion you may have about either of them. A big positive is the fact that the film is simply strange. The character played by Adrien Brody dies, but we still experience his fate. Some in the present, some in the past, some in the future. The time dimension is very difficult to grasp and it cannot be precisely explained why and how different times intertwine. Is the mental institution a time machine? Or does the patient himself reach a state where he is able to travel into another body in a different time? I think in this regard the film is quite interesting and I must say that I enjoyed it. It won't please everyone, it's just strange, but when you come to terms with its logic, it's an interesting romantic film where goodness can triumph over evil, or at least overcome it and keep living. The film is not a major contribution to world cinema, but I think it can captivate for a while. It succeeded with me, although what got to me the most was the romantic aspect, which is not terribly cheesy, but very bearable. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/11/prada-tlumocnice-sveraci-kazajka.html
()
The Jacket certainly wanted to offer a lot: the cruelty of a mental institution, time travel, and a strange romance. All this promised an atmospherically unpleasant spectacle, which director John Maybury more or less succeeds in doing. Partially combining the content of Forman's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and the taut visual form of Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream, it presents a raw spectacle that surprisingly doesn't feel like it was stolen from somewhere. The division of two time periods is done forcefully but non-intrusively, only with the help of camera stabilization and especially Keira Knightley's presence, who finally showcases an acting performance that surpasses even her physical attractiveness, because on a lady who "cools off" every puff of a cigarette with a good sip of rich liquid, there's not a lot to look at. Adrien Brody's radical weight loss is a testament to his efforts to get into the role properly, which he does very well. However, out of the whole collection of (semi)lunatics, Daniel Craig stands out the most, as he managed to instantly captivate all the attention despite having a smaller role. It took me a long time to decide how to evaluate The Jacket. My final decision to give it three stars is not so much an expression of a "happy medium" as it is a reasonable assessment of a film that, while offering a lot, ultimately delivers nothing anyway.
()
The Jacket has an interesting idea, it attracts the names of good actors and sort of promises an experience from that "higher film league". I give it three slightly above average stars, mostly for the acting. Brody was probably born for such roles, Keira Knightley and Kris Kristofferson are also very convincing, but all of them (in my opinion) were overshadowed by Daniel Craig. In a relatively small space, he showed what is called a perfect transformation, he is almost unrecognizable (not only thanks to his black hair) and he visibly enjoys the role. As far as the story is concerned, this is where The Jacket disappointed me. It lacked any twists that would have made it more interesting, it was hardly dramatic except for a few scenes, and it didn't surprise me with anything. That’s too bad, because it looked more promising. This is how you actually find out from the main character in the middle of the film how it all turns out... And then you're just waiting to find out he was right.
()
The director focused on individual details, but he couldn't perfectly piece together the whole. Technically, the film is brilliant. You can feel the rawness in the image (toning and filters) and there is not much sentimentality. However, several of the themes do not fit together completely in the end and you cannot help but feel that maybe you were expecting something more. The ethereal and very subdued music surprisingly has a strong effect and completes the already very oppressive atmosphere full of fear and loneliness.
()
Ads