Themes: Home From the War, Haunted By the Past, Alcoholism
Main Cast: Robert De Niro, Ed Harris, Kathy Baker, Charles S. Dutton, Loudon Wainwright III
Release Year: 1989
Country: US
Run Time: 102 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
This little-known Robert DeNiro film is set several years after the war in Vietnam. DeNiro plays an unpredictably explosive war veteran, while Ed Harris co-stars as his army buddy, who's trying his best to forget his Vietnamese experiences by crawling into a bottle. While visiting Harris and Harris' sister Kathy Baker, DeNiro frightens both with his neurotic ramblings. Still, Baker is grateful that DeNiro's presence seems to be lifting Harris out of his deep funk. She encourages DeNiro to stay on for a while, thereby setting the stage for a blossoming romance. Baker has no way of knowing that Harris' depression has been brought about by the death of a wartime pal--a death he blames on DeNiro. Violence threatens to erupt at every turn in Jacknife, but the film refuses to play down to its audience by wallowing in the obvious. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Michael Arkin - Dispatcher; Madison Arnold - Sam, Bartender; Gabrielle Carteris - College Girl in Bar; Elizabeth Franz - Pru Buckman; George Gerdes - Tony; Tom Isbell - Bobby Buckman; Jordan Lund - Tiny; Walter Massey - Ed Buckman; Josh Pais - Rick; Tom Rack - William Green; Bruce Ramsay - Corridor Student; Sloane Shelton - Shirley; Kirk Taylor - Helicopter Gunner; Ivar Brogger; Jessalyn Gilsig - His Girlfriend; John Boylan - Frank, Phys Ed
Credit
Carol Baum - Co-producer, Robert Schaffel - Co-producer, David Jones - Director, John Bloom - Editor, Bruce Broughton - Composer (Music Score), William Barclay - Production Designer, Edward Pisoni - Production Designer, Brian West - Cinematographer, Sandy Gallin - Producer, Everett Creach - Stunts, Stephen Metcalfe - Screenwriter, Stephen Metcalfe - Play Author
Jacknife is a 1989American film directed by David Jones and starring Robert De Niro and Ed Harris. 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 (1982), the film was based, wrote the screenplay.
Plot
The film follows Joseph Megessey (known to most everyone as Megs), 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 (Ed Harris), a drunken truck driver, 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. Joseph then finds himself attracted to Dave's sister Martha (Kathy Baker). This attraction leads to a love affair, much to Dave's disapproval. Eventually, Dave vents his anger and frustration at Martha's high school prom, where she has been accompanied by Megs. This leads to Dave finally facing his demons and acknowledging Megs and Martha for being there for him. Afterward, despite initially ending what was a promising romance, Megs returns to Martha.
