REVIEW MOVIE
‘The Jacket’ fits loosely with viewers BY KRISTINA RIDENOUR Daily Titan Staff
The opening sequence of “The Jacket,” may have you wondering if you are in the right theater. As an unexpected war sequence flashes on the screen, it might not be one of the first times confusion strikes while watching the film. The main character in the movie Jack Stark, played by Adrien Brody, doesn’t seem to have much luck in his life, and that might be an understatement. Fighting in the Gulf War in Iraq in 1991, Stark reaches out to a boy amidst the fighting, who decideds to repay him by shooting him point-blank. Shockingly, Stark makes it out of the war alive. On a slow but haunting journey he travels through Vermont, where it seems normal to walk down snow-laden streets with no apparent destination. He encounters a girl and her drugged-out mother on the side of the road with the burden of a broken down car. He helps them, and feeling a connection with the little girl, he gives her his dog tags. The next portion of the movie is rushed through, where he is picked
up by a hitchhiker and a cop is killed. You won’t fully grasp what happens until you see flashbacks later on. He is then convicted of the crime and is sentenced to a mental asylum. The scenes in the mental hospital are exhausting and very slow, as disturbing images are prevalent at every corner. The methods doctors use to supposedly reprogram Stark are not easy to watch, especially if confined small spaces are not something you particularly enjoy. Stark is placed in a full-body straight jacket contraption, hence the name, “The Jacket.” He is forced to spend excessive amounts of time in a boxlike compartment, like ones at a morgue. Instead of dwelling on the horrible situation, he decides to use this alone time to his advantage, to time travel. At first, the purpose of him going to the future, 2007, to be exact, isn’t clear. When he is in the future, he comes across a lost soul–the little girl he met on that desolate day in Vermont.
‘Be Cool’ not hot BY DANIEL MONZON Daily Titan Staff
“Be Cool,” the sequel to “Get Shorty,” is being released 10 years after the original came out in theaters. While “Get Shorty” was an instant hit, the same can’t be assumed about this movie. Based on the novel of the same name by Elmore Leonard, “Be Cool” is about Chili Palmer’s (John Travolta) transition from movie producer to music producer. Frustrated with the movie industry, Chili decides to partner himself up with his friend’s wife (Uma Thurman) on their indie record label. Having discovered a singer, he believes has talent Chili sets out to promote her and make her a success. But first he has to contend with the Russian mafia, a rival music producer (Cedric the Entertainer) and her manager (Vince Vaughn), who refuses to let her out of her contract. John Travolta has fun with the role and plays it to the full effect. He plays the role with a lot of charm and charisma and is able to capture your attention to what is happening on screen with Chili. Although Christina Milian’s role is minimal, she does what she can with the character she was
given to play. Her screen time consists mostly of her singing. If she has any acting potential, the movie didn’t let her show it here. Uma Thurman is excellent in her role as the co-founder of the indie label. Her and her character fit together; She comedic ability comes naturally and isn’t forced. Additionally, Uma Thurman and John Travolta display the natural chemistry they seem to have between the two of them. In a scene in a nightclub they both revisit the dance scene from “Pulp Fiction” and both seem to not have lost that magic. It didn’t hurt that the Black Eyed Peas provided the music. Also, the Rock turns in a hilarious performance as a gay bodyguard who wants to make it into the movies. He’s shown in his past films, as he does here, that given the right role he can definitely act. While this movie is a sequel, you do not need to have seen the first movie to understand anything or who anyone is to enjoy this movie on its own. You won’t feel as if you are missing out on anything. Judging by their laughter, they really enjoyed themselves. In short, it is a good movie that will entertain and not disappoint anyone who likes a good laugh.
Once they realize their connection through well-placed dog tags, he finds out he is going to die and how screwed up this little girl turned out. Keira Knightley plays the little girl in the future in which she plays a miserable American surprisingly well. The real star of the movie is Brody, but Knightly brings in some angst that wasn’t brought about through torture, but a messed up childhood. After Stark realizes he is going to die in four days, he is on a mission to figure out how he dies. As the time inches closer to his looming death, thinking of ways to come out alive and change the course of history so the little girl doesn’t grow up to be a jaded chain-smoking drunk, is Stark’s mission. Altered states of consciousness, good acting by Brody and good old-fashioned time travel are the main highlights of this film, but the movie doesn’t seem to deliver to its full potential. Some of the sequences don’t seem to make sense, and while you might like the ending, you may feel drained and bored with the route that got you there.
Warner Brothers
Adrian Brody stars as the troubled Jack Stark in “The Jacket.”
Flashback Favorite
Take day off with Bueller BY AMANDA PENNINGTON Daily Titan Staff
Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it. Truer words were never spoken. So what philosopher, academic or pundit spoke thesewords? It was none other than high school student and hero Ferris Bueller. In 1986, John Hughes introduced the world to Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) in the hit movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Ferris, a high school senior, savors his ninth sick-day by traipsing around Chicago with his friend, Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck), and girlfriend, Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara). Ferris begins his day by playing sick and faking out his parents, a talent all students have tried to emulate, (made easier by his how-to instructions). He proceeds to convince the always-nervous, hypochon-
driac Cameron to come out on an adventure, break Sloane out of class and steal Cameron’s father’s prized Ferrari. Broderick was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, to no surprise. Young people around the country had someone to look up to and adore, yet could also relate to. Throughout the movie, Ferris speaks into the camera and to the audience, breaking the fourth wall that is usually up in conventional films. He quips about the situations he finds himself in, as well as gives valuable advice to anyone wishing to ditch school and make the most out of a perfect day, as Ferris puts it. Ferris has the innate ability to get what he wants at all times, and have everything go his way. During their day-off, the three drive to downtown Chicago, park the priceless Ferrari in a garage and walk about town. They basically are acting like they are
grown-ups, something all adolescents do, visiting museums and a fancy French restaurant. Ferris has only two nemeses his jealous sister, Jeanie (Jennifer Grey), and a prying dean of students, Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones). They both strive to bust Ferris for ditching and create their own problems in trying to do so. The ever-entertaining movie strikes a chord with everyone who has gone through highschool. Everyone has had a teacher like the one Ben Stein plays, who talks monotonically at the students about issues they don’t care about. Adolescents find a hero amongst themselves in Ferris Bueller. The movie blends a high school student’s reality with movie make-believe. The whole of Chicago is pulling for Ferris, and so does the audience, even 19 years later.
Daily Titan March 10, 2005
FULL EFFECT 5
