Jacob's Ladder (1990)
Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) is a soldier stationed in Vietnam who undergoes a traumatic experience on the battlefield - the nature of which is initially unclear. The film then moves into his post-Vietnam experience in 1970s New York, where he feels consistently traumatized, but can never quite remember exactly what happened to him in Southeast Asia or to free himself from his anxieties over the recent tragic death of his young son (Macaulay Culkin). Though well educated, Jacob works as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service and has become romantically involved with one of his co-workers, Jezzie (Elizabeth Pena), after divorcing his wife. Soon, Jacob's tenuous hold on reality starts to slip as horrifying events befall him; he is nearly run over by a subway train, pursued by faceless demons in cars, and spots reptilian tails and horns protruding from the bodies of those he encounters. Jacob also suffers severe panic attacks related to the chaos that may be reality, or may exist only in his mind. He seeks counsel from Louis (Danny Aiello), a kindly chiropractor, as his ex-wife Sarah (Patricia Kalember), fellow Vietnam vet Paul (Pruitt Taylor Vince), and enigmatic stranger Michael (Matt Craven) all try to help the tortured soul. Jason Alexander, Ving Rhames and Eriq LaSalle highlight the supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, (more)
- Director(s):
- Adrian Lyne
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Format(s):
- DVD
|
Blu-ray
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Synopsis of Jacob's Ladder
A tortured man finds himself caught in a middle-ground between hallucination and reality in this supernatural thriller, scripted by Bruce Joel Rubin of Ghost (1990) and My Life (1993).
Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) is a soldier stationed in Vietnam who undergoes a traumatic experience on the battlefield - the nature of which is initially unclear. The film then moves into his post-Vietnam experience in 1970s New York, where he feels consistently traumatized, but can never quite remember exactly what happened to him in Southeast Asia or to free himself from his anxieties over the recent tragic death of his young son (Macaulay Culkin). Though well educated, Jacob works as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service and has become romantically involved with one of his co-workers, Jezzie (Elizabeth Pena), after divorcing his wife. Soon, Jacob's tenuous hold on reality starts to slip as horrifying events befall him; he is nearly run over by a subway train, pursued by faceless demons in cars, and spots reptilian tails and horns protruding from the bodies of those he encounters. Jacob also suffers severe panic attacks related to the chaos that may be reality, or may exist only in his mind. He seeks counsel from Louis (Danny Aiello), a kindly chiropractor, as his ex-wife Sarah (Patricia Kalember), fellow Vietnam vet Paul (Pruitt Taylor Vince), and enigmatic stranger Michael (Matt Craven) all try to help the tortured soul. Jason Alexander, Ving Rhames and Eriq LaSalle highlight the supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 116 mins
Complete Cast of Jacob's Ladder
- Tim Robbins - Jacob Singer
- Danny Aiello - Louis
- Ving Rhames - George
- Jason Alexander - Geary
- Patricia Kalember - Sarah
- Brian Tarantina - Doug
- Brent Hinkley - Jerry
- Becky Ann Baker - Nurse
- Stephanie Berry - Partygoer
- Nora Burns - Hospital Patient
- Thomas A. Carlin - Doorman
- Jaime Perry - Field Medic
- Billie Neal - Della
- Byron Minns - Orderly
- John Patrick McLaughlin - Army Officer
- A.M. Marxuach - Field Doctor
- Michael Tomlinson - Field Doctor
- Raymond Anthony Thomas - Policeman
- Mike Stokie - Field Sergeant
- Dion Simmons - Street Singer
- Dennis Green - Attendant
- Carol Schneider - Nurse
- Patty Rosborough - Drunk
- Arleigh Richards - Paul's Wife
- Antonia Rey - Woman on Subway
- Bellina Logan - Emergency Ward Nurse
- Holly Kennedy - Hospital Patient
- Gloria Irizarry - Mrs. Carmichael
- Barbara Gruen - Mourner
- Alison Gordy - Hospital Patient
- Ann Pearl Gary - Mourner
- Christopher John Fields
- Sam Coppola - Taxi Driver
- Elizabeth Peña - Jezzie
- Matt Craven - Michael
- Pruitt Taylor Vince - Paul
- Macaulay Culkin - Gabe
- Eriq La Salle - Frank
- Anthony Alessandro - Rod
- Elizabeth Abassi - Hospital Patient
- Doug Barron - Group Leader
- Lewis Black - Jacob's Doctor
- John Capodice - Army Officer
- Scott Cohen - Resident Doctor
- Evan O'Meara - Sam
- Chris Murphy
- S. Epatha Merkerson - Elsa
- Reggie Mc Fadden - Partygoer
- Alva Williams - Masked Man
- Davidson Thomson - Evil Doctor
- Blanche Irwin Stuart - Hospital Patient
- Kisha Skinner - Street Singer
- Suzanne Shepherd - Hospital Receptionist
- Perry Lang - Jacob's Assailant
- Jan Saint - Santa
- Jessica Roberts - Hospital Patient
- James Ellis Reynolds - E.M.T. Bearer
- Joe Quintero - Street Kid
- Brian Larkin - Jed
- Diane Kagan - Nurse
- Brad Hamlet
- John-Martin Green - Partygoer
- Kyle Gass - Tony
- John Louis Fischer - Machine Gunner
- B.J. Donaldson - Eli
- Director(s):
- Adrian Lyne
- Writer(s):
- Joel Blasberg, Bruce Joel Rubin
- Producer(s):
- Bruce Joel Rubin, Alan Marshall
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Profanity, Adult Situations, Violence, Adult Language, Not For Children, Nudity, Graphic Violence)
- Categories:
- Mystery & Suspense
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