Review of The Jack Bull (1999) by Howard B — 04 Feb 2006

THE JACK BULL is an excellent adaptation of the Heinrich von Kleist classic tale, "Michael Kohlhaus." This story has been rendered in film in Europe, using the original time and place in the Germany of Luther's day, and in America via the novel RAG TIME. I have to wonder if the producers of RAG TIME realized that the novel they adapted was itself a retelling of the von Kleist story!

Here, in THE JACK BULL von Kleist is recast in the American west of the late 19th Century. It works suburbly well, thanks to the fine cast and relentless direction. I think the sheer look of this film must have influenced the producers of DEADWOOD, it's too bad the economic use of dialog hadn't influenced them as well. There are few speeches here, and no grandstanding, and when John Goodman dresses down the local judge at the end of the film, the language is bluntly elevating, and one realizes what a terrific actor John Goodman is.

In fact, Goodman's character has no real counterpart in the original story, but as the man who sets the record straight -- giving justice, finally, in the most heart-breaking manner -- he raises the tale to the level of tragedy found in the von Kleist original.

Fine work here by all concerned, John Cusak and John Goodman in particular.