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You won't be disappointed!

Highly Overrated But Still Good

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Jacknife is a 1989 American film directed by David Jones and starring Robert De Niro, Ed Harris and Kathy Baker. The film focuses on a small, serious story, with emphasis on characterization and the complex tension between people in a close relationship. Stephen Metcalfe, upon whose play, Strange Snow, the film was based, wrote the screenplay.Joseph Megessey is a Vietnam war veteran suffering post-Vietnam stress syndrome who is having trouble fitting in with society. He takes on the responsibility of drawing Dave, a fellow veteran now an alcoholic, out of his shell by coaxing him to enjoy life again, as well as urging him to face up to some of his darker memories.Megs finds himself attracted to Dave's meek sister Martha, who lives with Dave and looks after him. This attraction leads to a love affair, much to Dave's disapproval. Dave eventually vents his anger and frustration at a high school prom where Martha is a chaperon being accompanied by Megs. This leads to Dave finally facing his demons and acknowledging Megs and Martha for being there for him. Afterwards, despite initially ending what was a promising romance, Megs returns to Martha.This movie is extremely well acted by its performers particularly De Niro, Harris, and Baker.Despite the fact that the movie provides nothing new about the post-Vietnam experience,it still manages to become an eye-opener for the adjustments of Vietnam War soldiers at home.Still worth watching!!!

the bond between two men is explored in this tragic movie. it's about 3 buddies who come home from the Vietnam War. 2 survive .. one is only really alive. that's what the video jacket says, there are very few flashbacks to the war from the movie. instead this movie shows the deterioration of one man's life trying to even do something simple as get along with his sister in the same house,, the sister tries her best to take care of him, but he often belittles her and treats her like crap, his buddy takes a liking to his sister and then some problems start to develop, he doesn't want his sister going out on a "date" dressing up or anything for that matter, all he wants her to do is take care of him and the house, and to not let her have a life of her own. this is a very sad movie but It shows the bond between two friends that have suffered great tragedy, a movie definitely worth seeing.

You've seen crap like this before. De Niro plays an ex nam vet who is an extrovert and likes to meddle in every one's life. Harris is another nam vet but he is totally bonkers and yells at everyone all the time. Talk about overacting. Then there is kathy baker who plays harris' sis and de niro's girl friend. I liked her. She's cast as a 35 year old school teacher spinster who is less than beautiful but still attractive. Not much plot and of course no action. This is NOT about Vietnam, just the after effects. If you want to see people killed or beat up, skip this flik. This is for the kitchen-sink drama crowd only.PS - one thing i really hated is the way de niro and harris drive their cars 90 mph everywhere they go. Innocent people are killed by speeders everyday and there's no need to glorify such a deadly crime.

I stumbled on Jacknife playing on Bravo... I didn't know the title, but Robert DeNero is a damn good actor, so I started watching. And I started feeling like it was de javu, all over again... I knew the story. Then I realized why I knew it. It was originally a play called Strange Snow, and I did a production of it in collage. Play to screen allows for far more intricacies in story lines, but it is the same -- two survivors of Vietnam both reacting to the real world in different manners. The first thing I thought when I read the play after I was casted was this story is an interesting mixture of a discussion of PTSD and an parable of the Christ crucification ("Bobby"'s sacrifice of his own life in Nam being his... crucification). This movie is very much worth the time. An excellent collection of actors... the script equally effective. If you are looking for a techno-stunt movie, this is not it... it is not a deep plot movie... it is a slice of life. An excellent slice.