Jacknife

Jackknife is a somber Deer Hunter follow up.

Jackknife is a pretty somber drama based on a play featuring Oscar Winner Robert DeNiro as Meggs a Vietnam vet who visits his fellow vet, David (Oscar Winner Ed Harris) and his sister, (Kathy Baker) for opening day of fishing season. David is a bitter drunk who still can't shake the trauma of the war while Meggs is trying to live and enjoy life as much as possible while working as a mechanic and fishing, of course. While David continues his deep drunken state, Meggs and his sister get closer together and develop a relationship together despite their differences emotionally but do find common ground and everything comes to an explosive conclusion as David's emotions completely boil over. The film in a way it's a follow up to The Deer Hunter with DeNiro the more subtle character much in that film and a pretty solid relationship with Baker as his love interest while Harris is powerful in his scenes. This is the blu ray debut for the film which is a solid restoration in its' original aspect ratio since the dvd wasn't and has some solid special features to boot. Jackknife is a pretty much forgotten film by all standards despite getting good reviews when it was released and somewhat of a minor entry into the legendary career of Robert DeNiro after making hit films like The Untouchables and Midnight Run before this one and Good Fellas soon after which propelled him to legendary status soon after. It's a downbeat film but it worth exploring for the strong performances and that great 80's film look which gives the film atmosphere.

Genuine, intimate film whose star totally is Kathy Baker

Intense and unfiltered.

De Niro and Ed Harris give it their all in this powerhouse of a drama. As the two clash often about their time in the war, a budding romance with Ed’s sister threatens his whole world and protection. Everyone steps it up and there are genuine moments of both fear, anger and ultimately grief about their trauma relating to the conflict. Hard to watch, yet essential for those into war and drama films