Jacknife (1989)
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64% of critics liked it
(14 reviews) -
43% of users liked it
(1,994 ratings)
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… More 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, Rovi
- Directed By
- Charles Dutton, Charles S. Dutton
- Genres
- Drama
R,
- In Theaters
- Mar 10, 1989 Wide
- On DVD
- Jan 23, 2007
- Studio
- HBO Video
Critic Reviews
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David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
Jacknife works best when illustrating a quiet grace.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This Vietnam vet melodrama is extremely well acted by De Niro, Ed Harris, and Kathy Baker.
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Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Gritty De Niro in hard core yarn
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Reveals the difficulties many Vietnam veterans have in readjusting to life at home.
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David Poland, Hot Button
Great actors... dissapointing movie
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
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Cast
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Robert De Niro
as Joseph "Megs" Megessey
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Ed Harris
as Dave
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Kathy Baker
as Martha
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Charles S. Dutton
as Jake
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Loudon Wainwright III
as Ferretti
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Michael Arkin
as Dispatcher
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Madison Arnold
as Sam Bartender
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Gabrielle Carteris
as College Girl in Bar
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Elizabeth Franz
as Pru Buckman
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George Gerdes
as Tony
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Tom Isbell
as Bobby Buckman
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Jordan Lund
as Tiny
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Walter Massey
as Ed Buckman
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Josh Pais
as Rick
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Tom Rack
as William Green
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Bruce Ramsay
as Corridor Student
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Sloane Shelton
as Shirley
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Kirk Taylor
as Helicopter Gunner
- Ivar Brogger
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Jessalyn Gilsig
as His Girlfriend
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John Boylan
as Frank Phys Ed
- Ivan Brogger
