First, the “Jacket” (film), the audience’s reviews speak about it unanimously, recalls the work of Mathieu Kassovitz “Gothic” (and several similar thriller films about mental hospitals or the mentally ill), after - “Highway to Nowhere” by David Lynch (also shot by the cameraman Peter Dimming), then the “Dead Zone” by David Cronenberg, and with the culmination of the final episode, it seems that this is the real Frank Capra.
Thriller-horror entourage
Reviews on the movie "Jacket" by John Maybury with all the thriller-horror surroundings call him romantic and even fabulous, like "Shine." It is almost as formally deliberately fantastic as the brainchild of E. Bress and J. M. Gruber, The Butterfly Effect. But his charm and power lie somewhat beyond acting or the adventurous sloppiness of the psychiatric bias of both films. Adrien Brody (as noted by reviews and reviews of the film “Jacket”) is an extremely charismatic actor, and a considerable proportion of detective intrigue is present in the script, but the power of the picture lies in serious tragedy, in real, on the verge of hysteria, genuine emotions.
Plot
The plot of the story is extremely confusing. It is recommended to watch the movie “Jacket” carefully. The film’s description says that during a military operation codenamed Desert Storm in 1992, Jack Starks miraculously survived - an Iraqi boy shot him almost point blank. After returning, Jack is diagnosed with permanent amnesia, which is not so bad, given that he could not survive at all. A few months later, the main character returns to his hometown. Starks has an attack of amnesia, after which he finds the corpse of a policeman. Jack has no evidence of innocence. The last memory remains little girl Jackie and her mother, whom he helped to start the car. The hero is sent to a mental hospital, where he must undergo the treatment under the supervision of Thomas Becker, the head physician.
Dr. Becker practices his methods of healing the mentally ill, which do not at all correspond to the Hippocratic oath. Jack is injected with narcotic substances and locked up for the night in a cell - a morgue chamber. Such therapy contributes to the destruction of the brain. While in this cell in a straitjacket, Starks is physically or mentally transported to the future, in 2007, where he accidentally meets an already adult Jackie. After visiting his own grave, Jack tries to make a difference in the present and past.
Two reasons
Interest in the film can arise for at least two reasons:
- The film is produced by George Clooney and Stephen Soderberg.
- The director of the project, an Englishman, John Maybury, became known to the general public after the rental of the aesthetic biopic “Love is the Devil” about the original artist Francis Bacon.
In addition to the mentioned incentives, one should take into account the persistent fashion in the film industry for films about time travel, the beautiful and professional acting ensemble and the provocative endless desire to see the denouement of the intrigue of the cinema.
Not at all "beautiful far away." Reviews about ….
The film "Jacket" by John Maybury clearly stands out from the impressive stream of paintings, the plot of which is dedicated to traveling to the beautiful far away. The mental movements of the protagonist Jack Starks are, rather, a metaphysical character. And the reason is not even that until the climax, the question of the nature of the character’s visions remains open (do not discount the very drugs that veteran of the Iraq war is introduced before each teleportation), but most likely, in the atmosphere of the movie, far away from established and generally accepted canons of science fiction.
Fighting Madness
In the literal translation of the original name of the painting "The Jacket" - "Jacket". Film reviews are more likely to be called a "straitjacket," it was worn before the next night test on Starks. And this is right, because ultimately the story unfolds before the viewer the struggle of the protagonist with his own madness. Maybury’s previous works help to better connect together everything that happens on the screen with the meaning and moral message that the author is trying to “voice” in his film. It’s definitely not worth waiting for the stock story from the student and follower of Derek Jarman.
John Maybury drastically expands the scope of the Hollywood movie mainstream. Details that are insignificant at first glance, work with casting (it is worth noting especially Daniel Craig, who brilliantly managed to translate the image of Mackenzie, a good-natured psycho on the screen), a visual series. In addition to the above, a spectacular atmosphere is supported by Peter Daming's camera and sound from Brian Eno. Peaceful and lingering in its static-lyrical sound, and then crazy, dramatic, sharp and steep. At the same time, the visual solution and the musical accompaniment from the first minutes of timing do not try to please everyone, but they fit perfectly into the outline of the director’s ideas. “Jacket” (film) reviews are not classified as entertaining films, but are classified as exceptions in the film industry that prompt thoughtful perception.
Stupid genre production
The skillful combination of all the above components in the end is a bold genre production, which during the period of glossy standard disposable tapes a la Hollywood causes genuine interest and admiration. “Jacket” (film) reviews are called a bold experiment, because it discards the elaborate genre fetters and rejects Hollywood predestination. Strange, but it’s nowhere indicated that the motifs of Jack London’s under the title “Star Wanderer” slip on the basis of the tape, which tells about a prisoner who once got the opportunity to travel to different time periods.
Indescribable pleasure
“Jacket” is an unusual and stunning film, a true philosophical and mystical drama, full of deep meaning, a thriller about the possibilities of choosing life options, meaning, a tape about death and the unique value of each lived moment. In fairness, it must be mentioned that after all, an optimistic ending gives the beholder a share of hope after all the madness and the search for truth. If you accept the proposal of the creators and fully get used to the image, try to cram yourself in a jacket / straitjacket in oppressive darkness, then the indescribable pleasure of watching a movie is provided to the viewer.