Megs (Robert De Niro, The Deer Hunter) and Dave (Ed Harris, The Right Stuff) are two Vietnam veterans coping with their own mental-health issues post-war. When it becomes clear that Dave is struggling with alcoholism, Megs attempts to help him come to terms with his past as a soldier while, at the same time, falling in love with Dave’s sister, Martha (Kathy Baker, The Right Stuff). While Dave is at odds with the love shared between Megs and Martha, he comes to realize that they all need each other.

Adapted for the screen by Stephen Metcalfe, from his own play Strange Snow, Jacknife marks the first American feature film for noted British director David Jones (84 Charing Cross Road). Shot almost entirely on location in Connecticut by British cinematographer Brian West (84 Charing Cross Road, Wake in Fright) and featuring a trio of exemplary performances from its three lead actors, including Ed Harris’s Golden Globe®-nominated turn, Jacknife is a long-overlooked entry in post-Vietnam war cinema of the 1980s. Cinématographe is proud to bring David Hugh Jones’s intimate drama to Blu-ray for the first time in the world, in a brand new restoration.

For thoughts on Jacknife, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

This new Blu-Ray debut from Cinématographe gives Jacknife an AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 derived from a 2K restoration of the 35mm Interpositive. Any movie starring legends such as Robert De Niro and Ed Harris deserves a quality presentation, so it is a shame that it has taken this long to receive a proper HD release. Thankfully, Cinématographe has come through once again with a gorgeous transfer that treats the film with the respect it deserves. This exhibition retains the natural film grain of the presentation that is impactfully textured but with a refined look rather than anything appearing clumped together or processed.

The presentation delivers a grand viewing experience with image stability and delineation never faltering. Black levels are pretty deep with no egregious instances of crush or banding that we observed. Highlights similarly delight with nothing appearing overly bright or harsh. Instances of print damage such as nicks and scratches have been eliminated with overall clarity and detail in top form. It is clear that the utmost care was put into this release thanks to the lack of blemishes. This rustic photography captures the deep, complex colors of the locales with rich nuances shining through. This is a wonderful presentation for a film that has been begging for a proper release.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with the original DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track that translates this soundscape without a hiccup. Dialogue and background noises complement each other within the different environments. The occasionally heated exchanges provide some of the most emotionally impactful moments in the film, and every word emerges with great clarity. The score from Bruce Broughton sets the appropriate mood and radiates with ideal fidelity. This track shows no exceptional age-related wear and tear such as hissing, humming, or popping. Cinématographe continues to provide top quality for its audience. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included for the feature film.

Special Features

The Limited Edition version of Jacknife comes beautifully packaged in a hard outer slipcase that opens up to a MediaBook that includes a bound booklet featuring new essays by film critics Murtada Elfadi, Glenn Kenny and Dan Mecca, plus select archival photo reproductions. These essays delve into the film from multiple angles and provide a great analysis in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentary: Film historians Daniel Kremer and Bill Ackerman provide a new commentary track that dives into the production history of the film, the way the story evolved from the stage play, the style of director David Jones, how this fits into the careers of the performers, and more.

Interview with Actor Ed Harris: A new nine-minute interview with the actor in which he discusses how he came to this project, what about the story appealed to him, his friendship with Kathy Baker, real-life stories that made him understand the pain of the script, his affection for the feature, and more.

Interview with Actress Kathy Baker: A new 13-minute interview with the actress in which she discusses her memories of the production, her history with Ed Harris, the complexity of her role, the in-depth rehearsal process, bringing truth to her performance, practical jokes on set, and more.

Interview with Producer Carol Baum: A new 22-minute interview with the producer in which she discusses how she was sent this project, projects that she didn’t get credit on, her relationship to writers, writers she helped discover, assembling the ensemble for Jacknife, and more.

Interview with Actress / Writer Illeana Douglas: A new 20-minute interview with the creative figure in which she uses her book Connecticut in the Movies as a way to examine the importance of Connecticut in moviemaking, why it is such a great place to make movies, and more.

Final Thoughts

Jacknife is a thoughtful, emotional little gem nestled in the momentous career of Robert De Niro, who uses his innate charisma to manifest all the facets of his multidimensional character. While quite jovial in many respects, he plays things moderately in order to give Ed Harris room to deliver one of the best performances of his career. You similarly cannot overlook Kathy Baker, who too seldom has gotten a chance to be a key lead in a film and makes the most of her time here. Some may find this to be too reserved to spark passion, but the simmering tension and pain break through to achieve something quite moving. Cinématographe has provided a Blu-Ray that features an impressive A/V presentation and an invaluable assortment of supplemental features. If you are a fan of any of the talent involved, this one is worth a look. Recommended

Jacknife is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Cinématographe has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.