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IMDb > Jacknife (1989)
Jacknife
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Overview

User Rating:
6.4/10   2,132 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 7% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
David Hugh Jones
Writers (WGA):
Stephen Metcalfe (play)
Stephen Metcalfe (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Jacknife on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 March 1989 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
Three buddies in Vietnam. Two survived. Only one is really alive.
Plot:
A conflict develops between a troubled Vietnam veteran and the sister he lives with when she becomes... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. more
User Comments:
An emotional accomplishment...as the video cover infers. more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Robert De Niro ... Joseph 'Jacknife' Megessey

Kathy Baker ... Martha Flannigan

Ed Harris ... David 'High School' Flannigan
Sloane Shelton ... Shirley

Ivar Brogger ... Depot Mechanic
Michael Arkin ... Dispatcher
Tom Isbell ... Bobby 'Red Sox' Buckman

Kirk Taylor ... Helicopter Gunner

Jordan Lund ... Tiny

Charles S. Dutton ... Jake, Veteran Encounter Group Leader (as Charles Dutton)

Bruce Ramsay ... Corridor Student
Jessalyn Gilsig ... His Girlfriend

George Gerdes ... Tony

Josh Pais ... Rick
Lois Dellar ... Cocktail Waitress
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Additional Details

Runtime:
102 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Filming Locations:
Connecticut, USA more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Originally set to be a star vehicle for Jeff Bridges. more
Movie Connections:
References Song of the South (1946) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 6 people found the following comment useful:-
An emotional accomplishment...as the video cover infers., 25 February 1999
Author: Rhodes Gardner (nrhodes@snowcap.net) from Colorado, USA

A good video selection of a movie, especially if you have not seen it before, ...if you can't find a New Release you'd like to look at. Robert De Niro, Kathy Baker, and Ed Harris supply a well rounded look of 'Healing'. Kathy Baker was just great as a supporting role.

I missed Viet Nam by one year, my draft number was high enough in the year that the severe de-escalation started. This is not a 'Platoon', or 'Full Metal Jacket'. This film is about a couple of Vets in the years' aftermath. Takes place back in the States, after the War is over. Very few flashbacks were done, but were neccessary to bring context to the film. Ed Harris plays the one person who is in the most pain, and is always on the edge of hurting others because of it. Kathy Baker plays his sister. Robert De Niro was just perfect for the part he played, as he comes into both their lives. It is not a perfect film, or screenplay; but the the actors pull it off. I believe Ed Harris was nominated for a certain award for his efforts (not Oscar, another kind).

You don't have to have been to Viet Nam to appreciate this movie. Though it is about the aftermath of Viet Nam experience, it can also be about Self. About how we have these opposites within ourself and how the best parts of ourself, even though they may be injured, try to reach out and save the most darkest part that we have. That movie describes what I just wrote and I could not avoid tears, myself, toward the movie's end. If you just stay with it; you may know or appreciate what I mean.

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Blu ray giant-11
filmed in my town sqre_biz
'nam 'ambient' sounds psyclone72
where is this movie from? sabalon1
DVD Release alex-khk
great flick ReggieDunlop7
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