Potential plot spoilers below...

I have seen The Jacket (...and the "drawer"... and Keira Knightley topless(!)) and it was a very pleasant surprise! Some of the local reviews I'd read were pretty discouraging if not hostile, so my expectations were low - but as it turns out there was no need - this is a solidly crafted little time travel mystery. And I pointedly use the word "crafted", because although the story on it's broadest level might be considered workmanlike, it's implementation and most especially it's logic (which is so critical to the time travel genre, and also so often faulty), was very precise and wonderfully done. The storyline took a bit of time to develop a head of steam, but once it got chugging along, it was emotionally resonant and pretty darn romantic. All of this positive review, and I haven't even had to mention how little I have enjoyed Adrien Brody's performances in the past (most notably, of course, his overblown work in The Pianist) - but wonder of wonders - I wasn't irritated by him at all today - as a matter of fact he did quite well with a role that required some finesse to pull off. Plus the aforementioned Miss Knightley (Nightly, please!), and an assortment of great supporting actors such as Kris Kristofferson and Jennifer Jason Leigh. As with any of these kinds of movies, I highly recommend you read as little as you can about it, if you plan to see it - especially some of those sour grapes reviewers who seem to feel justified in spoiling it with their sarcastic commentary.

Yes indeed, this is one nifty little time travel romance - an underpopulated genre combo. Hooray!

4 out of 5.

Originally posted by bookhead I have seen The Jacket (...and the "drawer"... and Keira Knightley topless(!)) and it was a very pleasant surprise!

While I wasn't surprised, I second this.

this is a solidly crafted little {bleep} mystery. And I pointedly use the word "crafted", because although the story on it's broadest level might be considered workmanlike, it's implementation and most especially it's logic {bleep}, was very precise and wonderfully done.

I second this too, with a small reservation that there were a couple of minor logical missteps. But no big deal at all.

The storyline took a bit of time to develop a head of steam, but once it got chugging along, it was emotionally resonant and pretty darn romantic.

Yup, yup. I'm continuing my seconding.

All of this positive review, and I haven't even had to mention how little I have enjoyed Adrien Brody's performances in the past (most notably, of course, his overblown work in The Pianist) - but wonder of wonders - I wasn't irritated by him at all today - as a matter of fact he did quite well with a role that required some finesse to pull off.

Adrien Brody did a fine job here, but I've also had no problems with his performances in the past, and I quit enjoyed his work in The Pianist.

Plus the aforementioned Miss Knightley (Nightly, please!), and an assortment of great supporting actors such as Kris Kristofferson and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

It appears I'm in a minority, but Keira doesn't really do it for me as far as the physical attraction is concerned. The supporting actors all did good work though.

As with any of these kinds of movies, I highly recommend you read as little as you can about it, if you plan to see it - especially some of those sour grapes reviewers who seem to feel justified in spoiling it with their sarcastic commentary.

Yeah, I agree. In fact, hopefully you're reading this after having seen the movie. I think it would have been a better experience had I not known about the {bleep} aspects of it.

KM

Astrakan, I find your agreement with my review deeply disturbing and I now plan on re-viewing it to see how truly bad a movie this must have been if you enjoyed it...



{Also, I apologize for my (unintentional) spoiler (in the title line no less!) - I had taken it for granted that all the promotional material had made that plot point clear. I have now corrected it. Sorry about that!}

Thanks for the info. From the trailers I have seen and the ads it did not appeal to me, but from your overview, review it now sounds interesting.

Originally posted by bookhead Astrakan, I find your agreement with my review deeply disturbing and I now plan on re-viewing it to see how truly bad a movie this must have been if you enjoyed it...

Yeah, I was pretty durn dubious about going to see it after having read your review, but I've been waiting for this one since I heard good things from the... Sundance? Toronto? festival, so I decided to take a chance on it. :P I guess it's one of the 10-15% were we agree.

{Also, I apologize for my (unintentional) spoiler (in the title line no less!) - I had taken it for granted that all the promotional material had made that plot point clear. I have now corrected it. Sorry about that!}

You may be right. I hadn't really seen any advertising materials about it. Just read a review a while back and have been intrigued since. Anyway, I've edited my response too.

KM

Spoilers hereinafter.

It's not a bad movie. Not a great movie either. Some of the time travel paradox stuff and chicken or the egg questions weren't thought out well enough. Definitely not as well thought out as say Primer.

But....

I'm thinking he actually died in Iraq and didn't come back alive, meaning the rest of the movie is a pre-death vision, kind-of like what happened in Jacob's Ladder. If so, the time travel stuff wouldn't have to make sense since it's all in his soon to be dead head.