Written by: Stephen Metcalfe
Starring: Robert De Niro, Ed Harris, Kathy Baker, Sloane Shelton, Ivar Brogger
Rating: [3.5/5]
When stuck in a place and having nowhere to go emotionally, sometimes a jolt to the system by someone from the outside can do more good than initially expected. Like the protagonist we follow in Jacknife he may ruffle some feathers along the path but undoubtedly makes a positive impact as two Vietnam vets try to help each other get acquainted with their lives and build something new.
Suffering with his own issues such as post-Vietnam stress syndrome, Megs (Robert De Niro) seeks to reconnect with fellow service member, Dave (Ed Harris), who struggles with his own alcoholism. Both in a place where they need someone, Megs forces his way into helping Dave despite his protests, which also sparks a romance between the former and the latter’s sister, Martha (Kathy Baker).
Certainly not the first film one thinks of when looking at the filmography of Robert De Niro or Ed Harris, watching Jacknife came from an intrigue to watch Robert De Niro’s earlier films and seeing the poster of the actor wearing a Boston Red Sox hat gave me some trepidation as a Yankees fan. However, viewing what this film had to offer displays the enjoyment that can be found in watching these underseen earlier films by these actors where one could find a real gem as with this film. Nothing necessarily special in the filmmaking on display but it delivers a solid and emotionally touching story to follow with characters that have their eccentricities but have a good heart.
We certainly see this play out with each of the players of this story as Megs will do whatever he can to help Dave get better, even if the latter continually tries to push back. In the process we see two types of care applied to Dave and his alcoholism where his sister, Martha, in a way enables him. She just takes care of him and does not push him to get better to the degree she should for his well-being. It puts her in a risky place as someone who wants to care for a loved one who has suffered an affliction as a result of a service he provided to this country in Vietnam but it gets to the point where the man will wear away if not for some direct intervention. Therefore, Megs appears in the picture and pushes Dave out of his comfort zone to help him progress in ways others will not because they both served, experienced similar things, and both suffer because of it in their own ways.
This dynamic between Megs and Dave becomes an intriguing one because the way Megs interacts with Dave one would think they were the best of friends while over in Vietnam. However, in a conversation Dave has with Martha, he shares the truth of them just being part of the same group, which then raises the major question of why does Megs have this invested interest in helping Dave with their lack of relative closeness. I certainly cannot speak to it as someone who has never served but it makes sense that this sense of camaraderie no matter the closeness of the relationship deeply matters when it comes to the love those who served together feel. Having gone through Vietnam proves its own ordeal altogether, and seeing the joy Megs brings to Dave and Martha’s life displays a raw and beautiful forging of connections.
Helping in defining the success of the feature, we have a trio of actors putting in some strong work. Kathy Baker represents the heart of this film in the way she unconditionally loves her brother but also opens herself up to receive it from someone else. Robert De Niro does so well as the abrasive but loving Megs as he tries to do what’s best for his friend but Ed Harris proved best in this feature. Displaying a beautiful vulnerability, he certainly received the best material for him to get to chew and he makes the best of it. Each of these three actors play off each other so well and help overcome the film’s deficiencies.
Containing a simple beauty in its messaging and plenty of love emanating between the characters, Jacknife has so much to appreciate. Sure, it has an overly cheesy score and the direction by David Jones does not do anything relatively eye-catching but at the root of the story we have three characters each trying to get over a particular hurdle and use each other as a means in doing so.
Films with Josh 
