Geraldine Brooks, on writing:

I swim in a sea of words.

They flow around me and through me and, by a process that is not fully clear to me, some delicate hidden membrane draws forth the stuff that is the necessary condition of my life.

– Geraldine Brooks.

Jacob’s Ladder (1990) – A nightmarish final struggle:

Jacob’s Ladder (1990)

A nightmarish final struggle

 

Jacob’s Ladder (1990), directed by Adrian Lyne, released in the United States on November 2, 1990, and based on the screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin, is a rarity of the genre: an intelligent horror story.

Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) is a traumatized Vietnam veteran.

He works for the Post Office, and shares a cramped apartment with his girlfriend and co-worker, Jezebel (Elizabeth Peña), in a dilapidated block in Brooklyn, New York, during the 1970s.

Suffering from PTSD, Jacob is haunted by flashbacks from his time in the war, his pain compounded by the grief of losing his son in an accident.

His waking hours are invaded by bizarre and terrifying hallucinations of a locked underground subway station, and demons that stalk him wherever he goes.

He has disorientating periods when he awakes to find himself in an alternate reality where he is still married to his wife, Sarah (Patricia Kalember).

In these sections, his son Gabe (Macaulay Culkin) is still alive.

Jacob attempts to discover the truth about his condition and uncovers a conspiracy involving a failed drug experiment.

The title: Jacob’s Ladder, is a Biblical reference, from Genesis 28:10-21, in which a spiritual staircase, flanked by angels, provides a bridge between Heaven and Earth.

In the latter part of the movie, the chemist, Michael Newman (Matt Craven), describes the enhanced drug as: The Ladder.

Afflicted with back pain, Jacob visits his Chiropractor, Louis (Danny Aiello).

Louis is also his friend and confidante.

When Jacob confides his hallucinations, Louis offers solace and reassurance by quoting the 14th-century German theologian and philosopher, Meister Eckhart:

LOUIS:

Eckhart saw Hell, too. You know what he said? He said: ‘The only thing that burns in Hell, is the part of you that won't let go of your life, your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you,’ he said. ‘They're freeing your soul’ … So, the way he sees it: ‘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.’ It’s just a matter of how you look at it, that’s all.

Bruce Joel Rubin’s screenplay, available in paperback, is an essential read for anyone who appreciates the movie.

It provides a wealth of insight and background information on the development of the story, including the inspiration and meaning behind some of the movie’s most stunning and disturbing images, particularly the visions of the “vibrating” men Jacob glimpses.

The book includes deleted scenes, with reasons why they didn’t make the final cut of the movie.

The acting is understated and flawless.

The strong supporting cast includes excellent character actors: Jason Alexander, John Capodice, Matt Craven, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Eriq La Salle, Ving Rhames, Brian Tarantina, Anthony Alessandro, Brent Hinkley, S. Epatha Merkerson, and John Patrick McLaughlin.

Adrian Lyne, like Ridley Scott, knows how to use light to powerful and atmospheric effect.

Maurice Jarre’s soundtrack sets a melancholic and haunting tone.

So many movies rely too heavily on the jump-shock moment to compensate for lack of plot, or character development.

Jacob’s Ladder doesn’t make that mistake.

The script and plot structure have been carefully thought out.

Jacob Singer is the main character, but in no way heroic.

We feel Jacob’s pain, bewilderment, and terror.

He fights when he has to, particularly in the scene where he is abducted from the street and forcibly strong-armed into the back of a car.

Jacob’s demeanor is, for the most part, quiet, friendly and affable, making his mounting fear and vulnerability more believable.

The quieter sections of the story are emotionally involving enough to make the moments of jarring horror nightmarish and chilling, with a final reveal that is both subtle and moving.

Jacob’s Ladder succeeds on many levels: as part war story, tragedy, drama, horror, mystery, hallucinatory nightmare, and theological thriller, giving the viewer much to think about and discuss.

It’s a disquieting and unforgettable experience that improves with repeat viewings, compelling the viewer to examine reality, existence, and the question of what comes after.

Life is fleeting.

Death is a certainty.

One day, we all have to climb that spiritual ladder.

Ascend … or descend?

Heaven … or Hell?

Which direction and destination will be yours?

On this day in television history - Murphy’s Law (1988 - 1989):

Murphy’s Law

created by Lee David Zlotoff,

based on the Trace and Digger series of novels by Warren Murphy,

was released in the United States on November 2, 1988 and ran for one season until March 18, 1989.
Theme music by Steve Kipner.

Cast:

George Segal, Maggie Han, Josh Mostel, Sarah Sawatsky, Charles Rocket, Kim Lankford, Walter Marsh, Lynne Randall, Julia Sweeney, Elizabeth Savage, Robert Thurston, Valerie Mahaffey, Christine Belford, Carolyn Seymour, Patrick Macnee, Clyde Kusatsu, David Spielberg, Linda Darlow, Leslie Carlson, Gerard Christopher, Andi Matheny, Bill Morey, Robert Thurston, Alan Robertson, Steve Peterson, Joan Severance, Will Estes, Reni Santoni, Judy Landers, Jennifer Hetrick, Norman Fell, Garwin Sanford, John Standing, Jack Bannon, Bruce Gray, Richard Foronjy, Ronnie Claire Edwards, Jeffrey Byron, Ken Swofford, Joseph Cali, David Byrd, Marvin Kaplan, Tom O'Rourke, Diana Bellamy, Robin Mossley, Richard Roat, Jerry Potter, Sheelah Megill, Jano Frandsen, Nancy Isaak, Brian Knox McGugan, A.J. Freeman, Serge Houde, Frank Slaten.

On this day in movie history - Paris, Texas (1984):

Paris, Texas

directed by Wim Wenders,

written by L. M. Kit Carson and Sam Shepard,

was released in the United States on November 2, 1984.
Music by Ry Cooder.

Cast:

Harry Dean Stanton, Sam Berry, Bernhard Wicki, Dean Stockwell, Aurore Clément, Claresie Mobley, Hunter Carson, Viva Auder, Socorro Valdez, Edward Fayton, Justin Hogg, Nastassja Kinski, Tom Farrell, John Lurie, Jeni Vici, Sally Norvell, Sharon Menzel, The Mydolls, Brandy Tipton.

On this day in music history - Bad Attitude, by Meat Loaf (1984):

Bad Attitude,

by Meat Loaf,

was released on November 2, 1984.

On this day in movie history - The Ocean Waif (1916):

The Ocean Waif

directed by Alice Guy,

written by Frederick Chapin,

was released in the United States on November 2, 1916.

Cast:

Carlyle Blackwell, Doris Kenyon, Edgar Norton, Fraunie Fraunholz, William Morris, Augusta Burmeister, Lyn Donelson.

Born on this day – JD Souther:

JD Souther

Actor

Composer

November 2, 1945 – September 17, 2024

Credits:

Songs:

Banging My Head Against the Moon; Believe Me; Best of My Love; Black Rose; Border Town; Faithless Love; Fallin' in Love; Go Ahead and Rain; Hearts Against the Wind; Heavenly Fire; How Long; I’ll Take Care of You; If You Don’t Want My Love; If You Have Crying Eyes; I'll Be Here at Closing Time; Little Victories; New Kid in Town; Safe at Home; Silver Blue; Simple Man, Simple Dream; Smoke Gets in Your Eyes; Something in the Dark; Songs of Love; The Fast One; The Last in Love; The Moon Just Turned Blue; The Sad Café; ’Til the Bars Burn Down; White Rhythm and Blues; Wishing on Another Lucky Star; You're Only Lonely.

Albums:

20 Songs (1999); Black Rose - Live At The Troubadour Nightclub, West Hollywood, Ca. April 8Th 1976 (2016); Black Rose (1976); Border Town: The Very Best of J.D. Souther (2007); Call Out My Name (2019); Hanging By A Thread (2024); Home by Dawn (1984); If the World Was You (2008); John David Souther (1972); Midnight In Tokyo (2012); Natural History (2011); Rain - Live at the Belcourt Theatre (2009); Tenderness (2015); The Souther–Hillman–Furay Band (1974); You're Only Lonely (1979).

Movies and television:

1991 MTV Video Music Awards (1991); 41st Annual Country Music Association Awards (2007); About Last Night (1986); Always (1989); American Masters (2011); Anything But Love (1989); At This Hour with Kate Bolduan (2019); Bernadette Peters in Concert (1998); Bob Hearts Abishola (2020); CMT Hot 20 Countdown (2007); Coast to Coast (1980); Cry-Baby (1990); Deadline (2012); Don Henley: The Heart of the Matter (1990); Doom Patrol (2019); Eagles: Hell Freezes Over (1994); Eagles: How Long (2007); Eagles: The Best of My Love (Live 1977); Eagles: The Farewell 1 Tour - Live from Melbourne (2005); Encore! (1980); Entourage (2005); Fire with Fire (1986); Florida Georgia Line: Dirt (2014); FM (1978); Glenn Frey Strange Weather Live in Dublin (1992); Good Day L.A. (2013); History of the Eagles (2013); How to Make the Cruelest Month (1998); I Love Trouble (1994); J.D. Souther: Go Ahead and Rain (1984); James Taylor & J.D. Souther: Her Town Too (1981); John Waite: If Anyone Had a Heart (1986); Laurel Canyon (2020); Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (2019); Lost Angel: The Genius of Judee Sill (2022); My Girl 2 (1994); Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1997); Nashville (2012–2017); NBI: Epimaco Velasco, the True Story (1994); Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights (1980); Once Upon a River (2019); P.O.V. (2015); Permanent Record (1988); Postcards from the Edge (1990); Providence (2000); Pure Country (1992); Purgatory (1999); Queens Logic (1991); Roswell (2001); Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night (1988); Roy Orbison: Black and White Night 30 (2017); Saturday Night Live (2001); Sex and the City (2008); Strictly Come Dancing (2014); The Best Little Girl in the World (1981); The Color of Money (1986); The Last Horror Film (1982); The Midnight Special (1972); The Old Grey Whistle Test (1973); The Pennsylvania Miners' Story (2002); The Rivermen (1980); The Seventies (2015); The Simpsons (2005); The Sure Thing (1985); The Wraith (1986); Thirtysomething (1989–1990); To Cross the Rubicon (1991); Top of the Pops (1977); Troubadours (2011); Urban Cowboy (1980).