Movie Review Archive - J

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The Jacket (R)
Jack Starks (Adrien Brody), a 1991 Gulf War Vet who was nearly killed in action, returns home to Vermont and is falsely accused of murdering a State Trooper. Plagued by amnesia, he is sent to a mental institution where the doctor's (Kris Kristofferson) unorthodox treatments include drugging and straitjacketing the patient, then tossing him into a morgue drawer for hours at a time. While in the drawer, Starks is somehow able to travel ahead in time, and attempts to track down the real killer. If this all sounds a little weird, it is but somehow it works. Also starring Keira Knightley, MacKenzie Phillips (the years have not only been unkind, they've been malicious) and Jennifer Jason Leigh. 102 minutes.

Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back (R)
After reading Roger Ebert's review of Kevin Smith's Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back, I didn't think that I would bother with it. Although I'd enjoyed his film Dogma I had not seen Mall Rats, Clerks or Chasing Amy.  The characters Jay and Silent Bob are "connecting threads" that run through all four movies and if you have not seen them all, so we were told, we would not get Strike Back. I went anyway and really enjoyed it. Sure it's crude, sophomoric and silly. But It's also smart, fast paced, well written and features tons of cool guest appearances. In short, everything Rat Race and American Pie 2 aren't. You will undoubtedly get more out of this film if you are familiar with Smith's earlier work, but even if you're not, don't let it keep you from this hilarious motion picture. This movie is definitely not for kids or conservative adults. Starring Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes with many cameos.

Jeepers Creepers (R)
I am not a big fan of horror movies but I know good ones when I see them. The Night Of The Living Dead and The Exorcist were two of the most memorable cinematic experiences I ever had. Jeepers Creepers, a B-movie if there ever was one, starts out with a bang but ends up being totally laughable. I could only recommend this film to horror fanatics under the age of thirty with nine dollars and ninety minutes to kill.

Jerry Seinfeld Comedian (R)
A digital camera follows Jerry, his friends and aspiring comic Orney Adams. We get a glimpse of Seinfeld developing a brand new act in hotels, cars, airplanes and in the small comedy clubs that he started in. Some routines work. Some routines need work. Some routines don't work. As the film progresses, his set gets longer and more polished. An interesting behind the scenes look at one of America's top funny men. Unfortunately, the film is grainy (that new digital technology) and presented in standard (square) format. Also, the background music and incidentals obscure some of the dialogue. I'm sure that director Christian Charles made these "creative" choices but I found the look and sound of Comedian annoying at times. Also starring Colin Quinn, Chris Rock, Bill Cosby, Kevin Nealon, Gary Shandling, Jay Leno and the terminally smug Robert Klein. 104 minutes.

John Q (PG13)
Denzel Washington stars as John Q. Archibald, a man who's young son needs a heart transplant. The trouble is, his HMO will not cover a "catastrophic illness" such as this. John's wife Denise (Kimberly Elise) admonishes her husband to "do something." John Q. produces a Glock, takes over the hospital's ER and holds a dozen or so hostages. He demands that his son be put at the top of the donor list. This clich� ridden film picks up steam as it goes along and is quite watchable. They should have edited out the last few minutes. The producers would have saved a bundle. The now familiar Larry Kings and Jay Lenos speaking on their shows about a fictitious movie character has been done to death. Also starring James Woods, Anne Heche, Robert Duval and Ray Liotta. 118 minutes.

Joy Ride (R)
In Joy Ride, brothers Lewis (Paul Walker, one of the worst elements of The Fast And The Furious) and Fuller (Steve Zahn, one of the best elements of the classic That Thing You Do) embark on a cross country drive in Lewis' newly purchased '71 Chrysler. Jokester Fuller installs a CB radio in the car and the two proceed to use it to play an embarrassing prank on a trucker who turns out to be a psychopath. The trucker identifies the car and begins to terrorize the brothers and Venna, a female friend that the brothers pick up shortly after the prank. A great set up for a horror movie. I suspect that this film will be a hit for the under thirty set. There were too many implausabilities for me. How does the trucker manage to identify and kidnap Venna's roommate (who is not with them) while keeping up with the trio on the highway? How does the trucker paint messages over numerous road signs on the highway without being seen? I was snickering when I was supposed to be scared. And I hate candy bars. This ride is bumpy and nauseating. The worst part about this silly little film is that it sets itself up for a dreaded sequel. Also starring Leelee Sobiesky (whom we are now now beginning to see see way too much of).

Jurassic Park III (PG13)
Good sequel-sequel. The cast includes Sam Neill (The Dish), Tea Leoni (don't be fooled by the exotic name) and the versatile William H. Macy (Boogie Nights, Fargo). I needn't go into the story. Let me just say that once again some minor characters get trod upon and eaten by those pesky dinosaurs. Pass the A1 Mr. Speilberg.

Just Married (PG13)
A couple goes on the honeymoon from hell in the new romantic comedy Just Married. Great locations (France and Italy) and likable stars (Brittany Murphy and Ashton Kutcher). Unfortunately, the dialogue, situations, gags and gross-outs are by and large sophomoric and trite. In addition, all of the newlywed's problems are the direct result of the groom's naivety and stupidity. I guess she loves him simply because he's good looking. Too bad because this is the movie that Murphy's legion of fans have been waiting for. 95 minutes.

Just My Luck (PG13)
A successful young advertising executive who possesses The Midas Touch (Lindsay Lohan) kisses a handsome but down on his luck would-be music manager and their fortunes become reversed. Lohan is very likable and this is a good plot premise but Just My Luck is so predictable and so cluttered with ridiculously phony characters and situations that it is barely watchable. 108 minutes.