DramaWar

Jacknife

- Three buddies in Vietnam. Two survived. Only one is really alive.

A conflict develops between a troubled Vietnam veteran and the sister he lives with when she becomes involved romantically with the army buddy who reminds him of the tragic battle they both survived.

Release Date : 1989-10-05

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Cineplex-Odeon FilmsKings Road EntertainmentSandollar-Schaffel Productions

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Joseph 'Jacknife' Megessey

Original Name : Robert De Niro

Gender : Male

Character Name : Martha Flannigan

Original Name : Kathy Baker

Gender : Female

Character Name : David 'High School' Flannigan

Original Name : Ed Harris

Gender : Male

Character Name : Depot Mechanic

Original Name : Ivar Brogger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tiny

Original Name : Jordan Lund

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jake, Veteran Encounter Group Leader

Original Name : Charles S. Dutton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Corridor Student

Original Name : Bruce Ramsay

Gender : Male

Character Name : His Girlfriend

Original Name : Jessalyn Gilsig

Gender : Female

Character Name : Rick

Original Name : Josh Pais

Gender : Male

Character Name : College Girl in Bar

Original Name : Gabrielle Carteris

Gender : Female

Character Name : Helicopter Gunner

Original Name : Kirk Taylor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tony

Original Name : George Gerdes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cocktail Waitress

Original Name : Lois Dellar

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ferretti

Original Name : Loudon Wainwright III

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bobby Buckman

Original Name : Tom Isbell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Shirley

Original Name : Sloane Shelton

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ed Buckman

Original Name : Walter Massey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pru Buckman

Original Name : Elizabeth Franz

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sam, Bartender

Original Name : Madison Arnold

Gender : Male

Character Name : William Green

Original Name : Tom Rack

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Dave, Megs and Martha. Jacknife is directed by David Jones and adapted to screenplay by Stephen Metcalfe from his own play Strange Snow. It stars Robert De Niro, Ed Harris and Kathy Baker. Music is by Bruce Broughton and cinematography by Brian West. De Niro and Harris play two Vietnam War veterans trying to come to terms with their lives post the war. Things are further complicated when De Niro gets romantically involved with Harris sister played by Baker. Wonderfully sedate and intimate, Jacknife, whilst not creating anything new in the “coming home from Nam” genre of film, is somewhat refreshing in how it relies on dialogue and believable character interactions. Some cliches do find their way into the play later in the day as Harris’ character starts to come out of is troubled shell, but this is mostly a thoughtful treatment of loneliness and the on going effects of the war. The three up top performances are well delivered, with De Niro unsurprisingly carrying the film with ease. A box office flop on release, there’s a good chance that Jones’ film came too late in the Vietnam War movie cycle. It’s also safe to say that the slow pace and the dialogue heavy nature of it made it only appealing to a certain demographic of film lovers. It’s worth seeking out now as an anti-dote to blunderbuss blockbusters, because it’s good film making that has a story that is touching and often humorous, and for many of a certain era, it’s all too real. 7/10