"Eckhart saw Hell too. He said: The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of life, your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you, he said. They're freeing your soul. So, if you're frightened of dying and... and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the earth."
Louis in Jacob's Ladder
I missed seeing Jacob's Ladder in theaters when it first came out, and only recently began hearing a number of respected movie critics sing its praises. Then when one of my movie-reviewing friends strongly recommended the film to me, I decided that this was time to purchase the DVD version. The cover made the movie sound even more intriguing when it promises a "horrifying journey with a shocking ending that will haunt you forever."
Before that scares you from watching Jacob's Ladder, let me assure you that that I was still waiting for the "shocking ending" after the end credits. I found the ending completely predictable and far too pat for what had preceded it.
Perhaps the ending will surprise if you only watch traditional plot laden films that follow a linear fashion, but I think most people will discern where the film is heading very quickly. After all, rudimentary Biblical knowledge about Jacob visualizing a ladder to heaven cues you in to the eventual payoff. For that reason, I may spoil the plot in the next few paragraphs, so read no further if you fear plot spoilage.
Synopsis
Jacob's Ladder essentially equates to a visual interpretation of Christian mystic Meister Eckhart's above quotation, and is partially repeated to make sure that you understand its significance. Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) sees demonic flashes throughout the film like faster takes of Ridley Scott's Alien, meant to disorient the viewer and challenge us continually to figure out what we have just seen and whether it is real or a dream. Linear thinkers will find this extremely frustrating.
Jacob's Ladder is reminiscent of The Sixth Sense on acid taking a bumper car trip through the darker reaches of the Twilight Zone. There are some nice opening visuals and sounds of hueys in Viet Nam, and we do realize that our protagonist must have undergone a horrific experience in the war. This will be revealed through visual flashbacks as the film proceeds through its inevitable course.
I say inevitable because immediately we are thrust into a situation that just doesn't seem right. Jacob is a postal employee (substitute the idea of "messenger" here) riding on a virtually empty NYC subway train, save for one stone faced woman and a homeless guy who seems to have a serpentine tail. Singer gets off at an exit designed in Hell since both underground entrances to the streets are locked and blocked, and he nearly gets run over by a train when he crosses the rat infested tracks. This won't be the last time, as cars and faceless demons pursue him, friends get blown up mysteriously, and a hospital gurney takes him through a gory trip through halls that look like Freaks being filmed on the set of Dawn of the Dead.
We also switch between scenes with Jacob's wife and mistress Jezzie (her name providing another blatant Biblical clue). The only time Jacob seems to gain peace and safety are the moments he spends with his chiropractor Louis (Danny Aiello), who is often show from a low angled camera and bathed in a white back light to visually highlight the angelic moniker that Jacob uses for him.
Film elements
OK, so the essential message and ending are not the big payoff that the box promises. That doesn't mean that Jacob's Ladder doesn't have value. While its spiritual message may give some comfort to people struggling with their own demons, I find some pleasure with the acting performances and visual artistry of the film.
Tim Robbins stands as one of our finest actors, who continues to shine even if he appears in an inferior vehicle. Jacob's Ladder allows the boylike Robbins to go through a whole range of layered emotions from fear to anxiety to contemplative happiness. With a less likeable actor we would give up on the film after 20 minutes, but Robbins' charisma allows us to continue through his careening visions.
Also effectively creating a complex supporting character is Elizabeth Pena as Jezzie. You may remember her from Lone Star. Pena is not given a lot to do in this film, but she does remain memorable. Even more so does Danny Aiello in his most memorable role since Do the Right Thing, as he delivers the core spiritual message of the film.
Director Adrian Lyne adopts much of the MTV generation visual style that directors Oliver Stone and Aron Aronofsky seem so fond of, yet it doesn't seem as frenetic and empty in his hands. We get occasional lengthier sequences that allow us to experience Robbin's breaking down over his dead son, for example. While other directors favor this fast cutting style to attempt communicating complexities, which only reduces the emotional content, Lyne does seem to reach an acceptable balance in Jacob's Ladder.
Finale
I realize that some people have found profound spiritual meaning in Jacob's Ladder while others are still trying to figure out what they've seen. How you react to the film will depend a great deal on your own spiritual and film experiences as the director essentially takes you along for the ride.
Some will absolutely hate this movie while others will love it. It depends on how willing you are to get on Lyne's roller coaster and descend to Dante's Inferno and ascend to something akin to What Dreams May Come. It's a worthwhile journey, expertly crafted. It just didn't blow me away.
It seems that I've been there before - without the drugs.
Note: If Epinions allowed half stars, I'd rate this 3.5. I'm rounding down this time-maybe feeling more Scrooge-like today, a couple days before Christmas. If I ever review The Sixth Sense, I'll probably bump this up to a 4 because I would rate that film 3 stars. Jacob's Ladder is better.
Adrian Lyne's JACOB'S LADDER moves in time and space between Vietnam and New York with hallucinatory force. Something bad happened on the Mekong Delta...More at Family Video
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