Review of Jacob's Ladder (1942) by Chad G — 17 Mar 2009

Jacob's Ladder is a very unique film. It's incredibly surreal and the director (Adrian Lyne) did an excellent job setting the mood of the film with creative shots and interesting camera techniques. The entire movie works very well, although the ending is somewhat easy to call shortly after the mid-point of the film.

I think the two best things about this film are its pacing and Tim Robbins' amazing performance. Although the movie bounces between the surreal and some "normal" seeming moments, you're always on the edge of your seat, wondering what is going to happen next. The flashbacks and visions are well-spaced out and they work perfectly.

Of course, this movie would've tanked without a great performance from its lead and Tim Robbins delivered tenfold. He's incredible in this film. He's 100% believable in the role and it's easy to get lost in the story because of how great he is.

Overall, this is a film that I highly recommend. It's great. If you're in the mood for something creative and unusual, this is a movie that you should rent.