Movie review
The Jacket is Torture
Reviewed by Heather Adams and Diana DeFazio
Perhaps it would have been better for us to have caught a preview or done some research on The Jacket before we ventured to see it; however, we both agree that sometimes the truest reaction is one that comes from little prior knowledge or bias.
Knowing that going to the movies in the weeks after the Oscars presents the bleakest choices of the year, we were relieved to find a film that looked promising-The Jacket. Starring Adrien Brody, academy award winning actor for his role in the highly acclaimed film The Pianist (2002), we thought the film couldn’t be too bad. And, being suckers for the Gulf War bait-and-hook tactic that suggested a war time moral under the veneer of a psychological thriller, we were optimistic about the film. From the first few minutes, The Jacket was an assault to the senses and our conscience --a claustrophobic mix of darkness, invasive images, and a weak plot. We felt betrayed by the synopsis blurb which we had read online and which had intrigued us. How could we have so innocently entered the theater to be subjected to such a pointless, disturbing, not to mention badly acted film? We were squirming in our seats-not because we were scared, but because we felt tortured and disturbed by the film.
Our reaction was visceral. About 45 minutes into the film, we simply stood up and walked out of the theater. So much for writing our first review, we thought. Couldn’t even make it through half the movie. We agreed that neither of us are the type to jump ship that early, especially with movie tickets as expensive as they are.
The Jacket is about a military veteran who returns to his native Vermont suffering from bouts of amnesia. He is accused of murder and lands in an asylum where a doctor puts him on a heavy course of experimental drugs, restrains him in a jacket-like device, and locks him away in a body drawer of the basement morgue. The process sends him on a journey into the future, where he can foresee his death.
We were hoping for more from lead Adrien Brody, and were disappointed at just how little connection we felt to his character--someone who obviously is meant to evoke at least minimal sympathy from the viewer. As a matter of fact, little of the action or story--at least that which we could endure--resonated with us, leaving a discernable emptiness between subject and viewer. Flagrant gaps in the plot and a cheap thrill mentality lessened credibility, so much so that we couldn’t imagine what larger meaning we missed by leaving early. Not all movies are, or should be, meaningful, but even The Jacket’s entertainment value flagged quite a bit as the movie twisted and turned through a confusing set of events.
After the film, we discussed our reaction, and whether or not it was even worth sharing our thoughts with Alaska Humanity News readers. Yes, we determined. Maybe some other hopeful film-goer will be spared a vulgar romp when just hoping for some decent suspense. It’s possible that had we stayed through to the end we would have found some point to the film. Maybe director John Maybury was trying to evoke the mind-shattering experience of war. But it would be impossible for the film to be redeeming enough to make up for the damage done in the first 45 minutes.
The non-sensical drama was a real blow to our senses. Fortunately, it was much easier for us to slink out of the dark theater than it would ever be to find our way off a battlefield.
Entertainment Value: 1/2 star
Meaning: 1/2 star
Emotional Impact: 3 stars
Product Placement: 3 stars
Gratuitous Violence or Sex: 3 stars
Overall Quality: 1 star
Overall Impact: 1 star
(Out of five stars)