Jacknife (1989)

Directed by David Jones. Starring Robert De Niro, Ed Harris, Kathy Baker, Charles S. Dutton, Walter Massey, Loudon Wainwright III, Tom Isbell. [R]

Moody, intense drama of Vietnam vet De Niro struggling to help fellow traumatized vet Harris, who lives an immobile existence, dependent on the sister (Baker) who takes care of him. It becomes even harder for Harris to cope with his ragged emotions once De Niro and Baker enter into a cautious romantic relationship. The three central performances are quite effective, rarely making a false move; even the eruption of rage in a school hallway, which could have easily slipped into over-the-top melodramatics, works because it feels like a release of all the simmering pain, grief and anger that the two men can’t find a way to overcome. However, it’s mostly shopworn material with minimal fresh insight; similar high-profile films from the late-70s (including the De Niro-starring The Deer Hunter) are more affecting and memorable. Adapted by Stephen Metcalfe from his own play, Strange Snow.

60/100