The Jacket (2005)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

John Maybury

Writers (WGA):

Tom Bleecker (story) and
Marc Rocco (story) ...

Release Date:

4 March 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Terror has a new name.

Plot:

A Gulf war veteran is wrongly sent to a mental institution for insane criminals, where he becomes the object of a Doctor's experiences, and his life is completely affected by them.

Plot Keywords:

Morgue | Shot In The Head | Vermont | Amnesia | Veteran

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Adrien Brody	...	Jack Starks
Keira Knightley	...	Jackie Price
Kris Kristofferson	...	Dr. Thomas Becker
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Dr. Beth Lorenson
Kelly Lynch	...	Jean Price
Brad Renfro	...	The Stranger
Daniel Craig	...	Rudy Mackenzie
Steven Mackintosh	...	Dr. Hopkins
Brendan Coyle	...	Damon
Mackenzie Phillips	...	Nurse Harding
Laura Marano	...	Young Jackie
Jason Lewis	...	Officer Harrison
Richard Dillane	...	Captain Medley
Jonah Lotan	...	Intern #1
Angel Coulby	...	Intern #2

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and brief sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

103 min | Turkey:94 min (TV version)

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

France:-12 | Germany:12 | Indonesia:Dewasa | Taiwan:R-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (edited version) | Argentina:16 | South Korea:15 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-15 | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:NC-16 (cut) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Australia:MA | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva)

Filming Locations:

Bangour Village Hospital, Dechmont, West Lothian, Scotland, UK

Company:

Mandalay Pictures

Trivia:

Mark Wahlberg and Colin Farrell were both considered for the role of Jack Starks before Adrien Brody landed the role.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Early in the movie the female Corpsman/Medic says, referring to Jack, "This Soldier is alive." In modern US military language, a "Soldier" is a member of the US Army (just as a "Sailor" would be in the Navy, an "Airman" in the Air Force, or a "Marine" in the Marine Corps). Yet Jack Stark is clearly a Marine, as his dog tags show, reading "USMC" for US Marine Corps. US Marines are never called "Soldiers." Also, the other Corpsman mentions that Jack's fuller biographical details will be sorted out later at the "Naval Hospital," the place well out of the combat zone where wounded or dead Marines and Sailors would be sent but not Soldiers or Airmen.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jack Starks: [Walking over to Iraqi child who's breathing hard] How's it going little man? You all right?
[Babak pulls out gun. Jack puts his hand up in a stop gesture but Babak shoots Jack in the head. Jack falls to the ground]

Movie Connections:

References Mothlight (1963)

Soundtrack:

Quiet Inside

Artsy Twilight Zone

"The Jacket" has gotten some bad press because the plot has a lot of holes in it, but if you suspend belief and just enjoy the movie, it is a lot of fun.

Any film that involves time travel requires that you suspend belief, and "The Jacket" is no different. What makes "The Jacket" better than most sci-fi thrillers is the production quality. The scenes in the hospital are done in muted colors which look like hand painted black and white. The scenes in the future are done in super saturated colors. I thought the super close-ups added to the disorientation and claustrophobia of the protagonist.

The acting is first rate. Adrien Brody is convincingly haunted. Kiera Knightly does an acceptable American accent.

Fans of "The Twilight Zone" should like this one. It is rated "R" for language, nudity, sex, violence, and disturbing images in a mental hospital; so you are getting your money's worth. If you like good production quality and want to go for a thrill ride, check this one out.